KATHRYN ZHANG
RECENT PROJECTS
TRACE
Series of 8
10x11
Charcoal on Stonehenge and Polyester Mesh
A Familiar Space
Triptych
17x22
Graphite on Stonehenge, Photograph Print on Cold Press Paper, Charcoal on Stonehenge
i’m sorry, mom
22x30
Graphite and Charcoal on Stonehenge
Digital Intervention
17x22
Graphite and Charcoal on Stonehenge
TRACE
2025
Series of 8, 10x11
Charcoal on Stonehenge and Polyester Mesh
My artist practice is rooted in the exploration of perception, nostalgia, and the ephemeral nature of memory through drawing. I am captivated by the unpredictability of charcoal, where each mark feels both deliberate and accidental, reflecting the fragile nature of recollection. I work with layering, smudging, and erasure to create surfaces that hold traces of what was once present, allowing past gestures to linger even as they fade. I am interested in the ways memory distorts and fractures over time, and how emotional resonance often survives where clarity does not. My work explores the idea of uncertain familiarity, an uneasy recognition that feels both intimate and distant. I aim to evoke a sense of eerie nostalgia through the absence of bodies and an emphasis on the spaces they leave behind. Rather than reconstructing a coherent narrative, I focus on fleeting moments that resist clarity, embracing ambiguity and denying full comprehension. This is done deliberately to allow each viewer’s own memories and perceptions to surface, creating tension between individual experience and collective memory.
ABOUT
My name is Kathryn Zhang and I am a Chinese Canadian artist. I am a recent Studio Art (BA) graduate from the University of Guelph. My practice explores themes of perception, nostalgia, and the ephemeral nature of memory. Working primarily in graphite and charcoal, I use drawing as a way to slow down and examine the subtle moments that often slip past in everyday life. I also work with printmaking and photography, using these processes to further explore and expand on the ideas I am interested in.
Outside of my primary studio practice, I enjoy a range of creative pursuits that continue to enrich my work. Scrapbook journaling allows me to experiment with composition and layering in a tactile format, while graphic design gives me the opportunity to further develop my digital creative skills. I am also interested in fashion as it emphasizes my awareness of colour, texture, and form. I previously served as the Head of Layout and Graphic Design for Monarch Magazine and volunteered as a graphic designer for Gryphon Gaming, creating digital assets and supporting their student-led initiatives.
i'm sorry, mom
2025
22x30
Graphite and Charcoal on Stonehenge
This work captures a seemingly simple subject, but is based on a deeply personal experience. This overwhelming pile of crumpled paper bags is a nod to the lunches I would bring to school as a child. Lunches filled with food from my Chinese culture, packed with love and care, but ultimately left uneaten. Caught up in the tension between my culture and the pressure to conform to the norms of my peers, I hid these uneaten lunches from my mother in order to protect her from the hurt and disappointment. The bags themselves also serve as a metaphor for the guilt, embarrassment, and shame that accompanies the subject matter. The food that once connected me to my heritage became a symbol of alienation. This drawing speaks not only to my personal experience, but also to the emotional weight of feeling out of place, the constant negotiation between self-pride and the desire to fit in.
A Familiar Space
2025
Triptych 17x22
Graphite, Charcoal, Photographic Print
In this self-directed project, I explored the concept of memory through photography and drawing, focusing on three key aspects: Documentation, Recollection, and Erosion. To represent these themes, I created a triptych centered around a space rich with personal memories, my kitchen. Choosing this familiar yet universal setting allows the work to remain open-ended, inviting viewers to connect with their own experiences. The central piece of the triptych is a photograph printed on cold press paper, depicting my kitchen window and sink area. This image represents the documentation of memory, as a photograph serves as a precise snapshot of a moment in time. To the left, a graphite drawing on Stonehenge paper portrays my oven area, symbolizing recollection. Graphite, with its precision and ability to capture fine details, allows me to recreate the scene with depth. The presence of numerous bottles and jars on the counter adds complexity to the composition. However, just as a drawing can never be an exact replica of a photograph, our recollection of a memory is never a perfect reproduction of the actual experience. On the right, a charcoal drawing on Stonehenge paper depicts a counter area, representing the erosion of memory. The soft, smudged marks of charcoal mirror the way memories fade and blur over time, simplifying and distorting details.
Digital Intervention
2024
17x22
Charcoal and Graphite on Stonehenge
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