Liwen Zhang is a new member of the Jasper Artist Guild. She was born in a mountain town in China and now resides very happily in the heart of the Canadian Rocky Mountains.
She has always felt a deep connection with mountains. For her, they are not just a place, they are a presence. “Whenever I am among them, I feel as though I am breathing with them, my heartbeat in rhythm with theirs,” she says. Through this connection, she senses the vibrant energy of all living beings within them. In many ways, she considers herself a mountain spirit.
Liwen believes every element of the natural world has its own personality. Even a rock holds its own consciousness. “Nature is not only alive, but also deeply expressive, sensitive, and inherently playful, much like a curious child,” says Liwen. This perspective strongly influences her art.
Her creative journey began in childhood with an eagerness to work with any available materials. She drew on media ranging from paper, to rocks, to sidewalks, and sand. Liwen crafted toys including “magic sticks” and ragdolls. Over time, she developed skills in highly detailed pencil drawings.
Following university, Liwen pursued a business career that incorporated creative elements through graphic design and UI design. While art remained a hobby during this period, her desire to become a full-time artist intensified in her mid-30s after she began daily meditation practice. This coincided with her move from city life to the mountains.
That geographic transition marked a turning point. In 2023, in order to explore which materials and techniques were most suitable for her work, Liwen set an ambitious goal to complete one drawing or painting daily. By year’s end, she had produced over 300 artworks.
Currently, Liwen focuses primarily on acrylics while continuing to experiment with other mediums. Her work reflects a deep spiritual connection to the mountain environment, capturing both the visual beauty and what she perceives as the living essence of the Rockies. She aims to build a visual communication channel to bring the healing vibration of natural beings to viewers and encourage people to bring playfulness into their daily lives.
Liwen’s work can be seen at the Jasper Art Gallery, which is open Tuesdays through Saturdays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
