Amanda Zheng

Artist Statement

In an era where traditional notions of femininity are in question today even more than they were in the 1970s— my own personal revelation with femininity is informed not by societal biases, but by the unconditional love I hold for my mother.

Shortly after I was born, my father left for Shanghai, China, driven by the need to support my family financially. Before my first birthday, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. Despite this life-changing diagnosis, she was determined to remain by my side. She balanced motherhood and chemotherapy treatments, with the help of my grandmother’s enduring support. This profound period of adversity forged a deep bond with the women in my life and instilled in me a lasting admiration for the strength and resilience we, as women, possess.

I am a New Zealand oil painter and multimedia artist based in New York City, the subjects in which I paint revolve around the themes of fantasy, female subjectivity and hyperfemininity. My work reflects the sensitive and idealistic views that colors my experience as a young woman navigating the burgeoning creative scene of art and fashion in New York.

The feminine themes within my work reflects my relentless pursuit of beauty, within my practice, and as a young woman myself. My work touches on the topics of inner conflict, restrictive cultural ideals and the pressures of ambition and youth. These themes connect my art with my day to day experiences, and they have profoundly impacted the direction and assimilation of my work as a young female artist.

The visual language within my work consists of repeating feminine symbols; eyes, flesh, mouths, indulgent clothing, and exotic wildlife, all linked by an iconographic red palette, and tender pink tones, hues. These elements immortalize my growing selfhood into the identities that I paint within my works. They represent the unrefined parts of myself as well as the ideal woman that I aspire to be.

As an Asian woman from a low income background, I am painfully aware of the “frivolity” that often coincides with my chosen career as an artist, and the act of being a painter in general. Yet, this very awareness propels my ambition. Through my art and personal journey, I want to show that necessity can drive creativity, and give permission for artists to thrive, not survive. I want to redefine the traditional notion of the ‘starving artist’ into a thriving and aspirational career for young women all over the world. This is expressed through my depiction of the poignant transition from girlhood to womanhood, with a palpable tension between an idealized female utopia and a reality marred by subjectivity and distortion. This duality offers deeper temperaments within my work, and frames my female subjects in an emancipated light. Inspired by my mother’s triumph over breast cancer, my aim is to illustrate that true beauty extends beyond surface appearances and that resilience in the face of adversity is what truly defines us.

Biography

Amanda Zheng is a New Zealand artist based in New York City, whose oil paintings depict contemporary youth culture and femininity with a unique awareness of fashion and social media.

Amanda was born on March 30, 2004, in Auckland, New Zealand. She attended her early and high school education in New Zealand, facing challenges fitting in as an Asian student in a predominantly Western school and culture. Often, she struggled to communicate with her peers and spent most of her time drawing alone as her creative outlet. During high school, Amanda further developed her artistic interests by competing as a ballet dancer, and attending art classes and clubs that her mother encouraged her to participate in. On Amanda’s 13th birthday, she received a set of oil paints from her father which catalyzed her passion for painting.

Amanda continued taking art courses throughout her high school education under the British International Cambridge Educational curriculum, achieving top honors in AS and A-level Art and Design. Amanda graduated in 2021 and was awarded Top in New Zealand in A-Level Art and Design due to her outstanding portfolio and student work. Throughout high school, she consistently received recognition for being top of her class in Art & Design from 2018 to 2020. Her works were exhibited in numerous youth art exhibitions across New Zealand, including the Puketāpapa Youth Foundation’s Visual Arts Showcase, Whitecliffe’s Vanguard Creative Awards and Exhibition, and Silo Park Art Exhibition, as well as receiving opportunities to showcase internationally at Brick Lane Gallery in London.

Amanda moved to New York in 2022 to attend Parsons School of Design on an academic scholarship. She is currently pursuing a bachelor's in Communication Design and is set to graduate in 2026. During her time in New York, she has been recognized as a finalist in prestigious awards such as Adobe’s Digital Edge Awards and BeStill Media in 2023. She has also showcased her work in the World Of My Own fashion show and art exhibition L’Appel Du Vide in New York, as well as Taco Bell’s Scholar Art Showcase in Florida.

From a young age, Amanda has shared her artistic journey and work on social media, amassing over 130,000 combined followers across all social media platforms and garnering over 65 million views across her visual photo and video content. She uses her platforms to document the behind-the-scenes of her art making process and captures the day to day experiences as an artist and student in New York. Through leveraging social media, she has partnered with leading industry brands such as Adobe as an official Adobe and Photoshop Ambassador, notably for their Photoshop Fashion campaign during the 2024 Met Gala. Other collaborations include fashion and beauty brands such as Nars Cosmetics, Frame, Vitaly, and more. As an artist and a member of the younger generation, Amanda utilizes contemporary media and platforms and is a leading voice in today’s online creative space.

Amanda Zheng is an emerging artist and oil painter exploring modern femininity. Her recognition as a young creative in the online space makes Amanda a multifaceted artist in an age where ingenuity is the way forward.

Second Skin_2024_Oil on wood_22 x 22 inches
Perforated_2023_Oil on wood_ 13.5 x 18 inches
All Eyes On Me_2020_Oil on canvas_11.7 x 16.5 inches
She's Spiralling_2022_Oil on canvas_11.7 x 16.5 inches
Renewal_2022_Oil on canvas_5.8 x 8.3 inches
Wrapped In Cursives_Mixed media collage_5.8 x 8.3 inches