Ponti Art Gallery is interested in buying and selling works
of art by this artist.
Chu Teh-Chun Biography
Chu Teh-Chun, born on October 24, 1920, in Baitu Zhen, Xiao County, which was then part of Jiangsu province but is now in Anhui, China, was a visionary artist whose work bridged the gap between Eastern and Western artistic traditions. His life and career were a testament to the power of cultural synthesis and the universal language of art.
Chu was born into a time of turmoil during the Warlord Era in China. His family, traditional doctors by profession, had a deep appreciation for the arts, and their collection of Chinese paintings provided a rich cultural environment for the young Chu. From an early age, he was exposed to calligraphy and classical Chinese poetry, which would later influence his unique style of painting.
In 1935, at the age of 15, Chu was admitted to the Hangzhou Academy of Fine Arts, an avant-garde institution led by the painter Lin Fengmian. The academy was a melting pot of ideas where Eastern and Western art forms converged. Chu was taught classical drawing and traditional Chinese painting by masters such as Pan Tianshou, while also being exposed to modern Western painting techniques. It was here that he formed a lifelong friendship with Wu Guanzhong and Zao Wou-Ki, with whom he would later be dubbed the "Three Musketeers" of Chinese modernist art.
The outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1937 forced the academy to relocate multiple times, exposing Chu to the diverse landscapes of southwestern China. These experiences would leave a lasting impression on his artistic sensibilities. After graduating in 1941, Chu embarked on a teaching career, first at the architecture department of the National Central University in Nanjing and later at the National Taiwan Normal University after relocating to Taiwan in 1949 due to the communist victory in mainland China.
In 1955, Chu moved to Paris, a decision that would profoundly shape his artistic journey. He quickly assimilated into the Parisian art scene and was particularly influenced by the abstract painter Nicolas de Staël. Chu's work evolved from figurative to abstract, and he developed a distinctive style characterized by bold strokes and vibrant colors reminiscent of Chinese calligraphy. This new direction brought him international acclaim, with a significant exhibition at the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh in 1964 marking his rise to fame.
Chu's paintings are a symphony of color and form, often inspired by the natural world and the elemental forces of nature. His work is not merely an aesthetic experience but also a philosophical exploration of the relationship between man and nature, the tangible and the intangible, light and shadow. He sought to capture the essence of his subjects, distilling the power of nature into abstract forms that resonate with the viewer on a deep, emotional level.
Throughout his career, Chu received numerous accolades, including being elected as the first ethnic Chinese member of the Académie des Beaux-Arts of France in 1997. He was also honored with the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Palmes Académiques and the Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur in 2001. His work has been exhibited in over 50 institutions worldwide and is held in high regard by collectors and art enthusiasts alike.
Chu Teh-Chun's legacy is not only in the paintings he left behind but also in the cultural dialogue he fostered through his art. He demonstrated that the language of abstraction could convey the poetic and philosophical depth of Chinese art while simultaneously engaging with the freedom and dynamism of Western modernism. His work is a testament to the enduring power of art to transcend cultural boundaries and speak to the universal human experience.
Chu Teh-Chun passed away in Paris on March 26, 2014, at the age of 93, leaving behind a body of work that continues to inspire and captivate audiences around the world. His artistic journey, from the traditional landscapes of his childhood to the abstract canvases of his later years, reflects a life lived in pursuit of beauty, harmony, and the profound connection between the human spirit and the natural world.
Chu Teh-Chun Quotes and Sales
of Works
Ponti Art Gallery selects and deals with paintings by the
artist. Upon request, we provide free estimates and
evaluations, communicate prices, quotations, and current
market values.
If you are interested in BUYING or SELLING works by the
artist, contact us immediately.
If you wish to sell or receive an evaluation of the
works:
Send us a frontal photo of the painting, one of the back,
and one of the signature. Also, indicate the dimensions of
the work. Inform us about the purchase origin of the work
and any kind of available documentation (purchase
receipts, certificates of authenticity, publications). One
of our operators will respond to you on the same day. We
guarantee maximum confidentiality and extreme
professionalism.
If you wish to purchase works by the painter: Contact us
and let us know your request. We will inform you about the
available works. We also offer the possibility to
subscribe to our NEWSLETTER, through which you will be
informed at the beginning of each month about the latest
acquisitions of the art gallery.
You can send us pictures of the work: