Xiang Zhang (Texas / China, b. 1953), "Ropers", oil on canvas

sight: 12 x 16 in., frame: 24 x 28 in.

Provenance: Property from the estate of a prominent San Antonio, Texas businessman

Xiang Zhang, born in China, is a classically trained artist known for his evocative paintings of cowboy life, inspired by frequent visits to a ranch in the Texas Panhandle. During China's Cultural Revolution, Zhang's family was forced to move to the countryside, where he began studying anatomy under an exiled medical professor. After the Revolution, Zhang received formal training at the Central Academy of Drama in Beijing, where he studied theater and fine art. This foundation earned him a full scholarship to Tulane University in New Orleans, where he designed for Mardi Gras and theater productions. Settling in Plano, Texas, he became a full-time artist and gained recognition in 1995 with his first solo show, hosted by art patron Dorothy Coleman. Known for his blend of traditional painting techniques, strong academic draftsmanship, and a unique mix of realism and abstract patterns, Zhang continues to explore the American West through a distinctively cross-cultural lens.