Zao Wou-Ki:
Master Printmaker
Zao Wou-Ki:
Master Printmaker
3 May 2026
Zao Wou-Ki: Master Printmaker explores the Chinese-French artist’s life, his prints, and his mastery of abstraction. It sheds new light on Zao’s printmaking practice, introducing the unique aesthetics, techniques, and styles of this medium while investigating the connections between oil painting and printmaking as equally significant aspects of his oeuvre. The exhibition explores how Zao’s printmaking catalysed his experiments in abstraction and considers the role of prints as a visual and conceptual vehicle that facilitated the circulation of his works, positioning him as an eminent cross-cultural figure in the post-war art landscapes of Europe, Asia, and the United States.
From his first attempts in 1949 upon arriving in Paris, Zao quickly mastered various printmaking techniques and incorporated them into his work, a practice he maintained throughout the rest of his career. The exhibition traces Zao’s aesthetic, and technical progression in print mediums such as etching and lithography and how they resonated with the themes and artistic styles of his oil paintings. It also highlights his graphic art commissioned for publications of prominent modern poets in France, illustrating his relationships with French literary circles.
Installation view of Zao Wou-Ki: Master Printmaker, 2025. Photo: Wilson Lam © M+, Hong Kong
Installation view of Zao Wou-Ki: Master Printmaker, 2025. Zao Wou-Ki © ProLitteris, Zurich, 2026. Photo: Wilson Lam © M+, Hong Kong
Installation view of Zao Wou-Ki: Master Printmaker, 2025. Photo: Wilson Lam © M+, Hong Kong
Installation view of Zao Wou-Ki: Master Printmaker, 2025. Zao Wou-Ki © ProLitteris, Zurich, 2026. Photo: Wilson Lam © M+, Hong Kong
Installation view of Zao Wou-Ki: Master Printmaker, 2025. Zao Wou-Ki © ProLitteris, Zurich, 2026. Photo: Dan Leung © M+, Hong Kong
Installation view of Zao Wou-Ki: Master Printmaker, 2025. Photo: Dan Leung © M+, Hong Kong
Installation view of Zao Wou-Ki: Master Printmaker, 2025. Photo: Dan Leung © M+, Hong Kong
Installation view of Zao Wou-Ki: Master Printmaker, 2025. Zao Wou-Ki © ProLitteris, Zurich, 2026. Photo: Dan Leung © M+, Hong Kong
Installation view of Zao Wou-Ki: Master Printmaker, 2025. Zao Wou-Ki © ProLitteris, Zurich, 2026. Photo: Dan Leung © M+, Hong Kong
Selected Works by Zao Wou-Ki
Zao Wou-Ki. Untitled, 1960. Etching with aquatint. M+, Hong Kong. Gift of Mrs Sin-May Roy Zao, 2020. Zao Wou-Ki © ProLitteris, Zurich, 2026. Photo: M+, Hong Kong
Zao Wou-Ki. Untitled, 1963. Etching with aquatint. Gift of Françoise Marquet-Zao, 2024. Zao Wou-Ki © ProLitteris, Zurich, 2026. Photo: M+, Hong Kong
Zao Wou-Ki. Untitled, 1978. Lithograph. M+, Hong Kong. Gift of Françoise Marquet-Zao, 2024. Zao Wou-Ki © ProLitteris, Zurich, 2026. Photo: M+, Hong Kong
Zao Wou-Ki. Untitled, 1973. Etching with aquatint. M+, Hong Kong. Gift of Françoise Marquet-Zao, 2024. Zao Wou-Ki © ProLitteris, Zurich, 2026. Photo: M+, Hong Kong
Zao Wou-Ki. Untitled, 1969. Etching with aquatint. M+, Hong Kong. Gift of Mrs Sin-May Roy Zao, 2020. Zao Wou-Ki © ProLitteris, Zurich, 2026. Photo: M+, Hong Kong
Zao Wou-Ki. Untitled, 1960. Etching with aquatint. M+, Hong Kong. Gift of Mrs Sin-May Roy Zao, 2020. Zao Wou-Ki © ProLitteris, Zurich, 2026. Photo: M+, Hong Kong
Zao Wou-Ki. Untitled, 1963. Etching with aquatint. Gift of Françoise Marquet-Zao, 2024. Zao Wou-Ki © ProLitteris, Zurich, 2026. Photo: M+, Hong Kong
Zao Wou-Ki. Untitled, 1978. Lithograph. M+, Hong Kong. Gift of Françoise Marquet-Zao, 2024. Zao Wou-Ki © ProLitteris, Zurich, 2026. Photo: M+, Hong Kong
Zao Wou-Ki. Untitled, 1973. Etching with aquatint. M+, Hong Kong. Gift of Françoise Marquet-Zao, 2024. Zao Wou-Ki © ProLitteris, Zurich, 2026. Photo: M+, Hong Kong
Zao Wou-Ki. Untitled, 1969. Etching with aquatint. M+, Hong Kong. Gift of Mrs Sin-May Roy Zao, 2020. Zao Wou-Ki © ProLitteris, Zurich, 2026. Photo: M+, Hong Kong
Visual Chronology
Further Reading
Explore M+ Shop
Exhibition Monograph
Zao Wou-Ki: Master Printmaker is a rare, comprehensive look at Zao's poetic printmaking. The book presents the full arc of his graphic work, from his early experiments in Paris to the very end of his life. These images are accompanied by essays from leading international scholars on Zao's print techniques, the evolution of his visual language, and the social aspects of printmaking.
The publication also features a chronology and reprinted excerpts from several illustrated poetry books, offering fresh insights into Zao's creative world.
Related Events
Zao Wou-Ki in Hong Kong
Meet the Team: Curator and Conservator-led Tours at ‘Zao Wou-Ki: Master Printmaker’
M+ at Night: Endless Realms
Family Drop-in: Where Colours Come Alive in Printmaking
Family Drop-in: Press, Print, Create
Open Print Studio
Intaglio Voyage
Children’s Easter Holiday Creative Camp: My Story in Prints
Sponsor’s Message
BNP Paribas continues to support Hong Kong’s vibrant arts and culture heritage. As Lead Sponsor of the Zao Wou-Ki exhibition, our partnership with M+ underscores our commitment to nurturing the arts community and enriching the tapestry of our society.
Zao Wou-Ki: Master Printmaker is co-curated by Dr Wu Mo, Sigg Curator, M+, and Yann Hendgen, Art Director of the Zao Wou-Ki Foundation.
Image at top: Zao Wou-Ki. Untitled, 1995. Lithograph. M+, Hong Kong. Gift of Françoise Marquet-Zao, 2024. Zao Wou-Ki © ProLitteris, Zurich, 2025. Image: Courtesy of M+, Hong Kong