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
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. 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. I am currently completing my Bachelors as a Studio Art major at the University of Guelph.
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.
