Introduction of Artist Longze (Dylan) Zhang

Longze Zhang (张龙泽, in Chinese), PhD, a computer scientist and a renowned artist, born in Shandong, China, earned his Doctorate degree from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, came to the US in 2009 and currently resides in Maryland, USA. Dr. Zhang has been engaged in art education for 15 years. In 2019, he established Epie Tech & Art Studio (www.epiestudio.com, WeChat: dylangeon) in Bethesda, Maryland. The students, ages from 5 to 70, are all attracted by Dr. Zhang’s unique and rich teaching method that combines paper cutting, clay sculpture and painting. Summarizing many years of teaching and creative experience, Dr. Zhang Longze has published 6 books on art education (https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0BYXYRW4Q). As an art teacher, Dr. Zhang differentiates himself by tailoring his teaching methods to each student's personality, interests, and age, and is loved by parents and students alike. “Every student is an independent artist and my friend,” Dr. Zhang emphasized. His popularity among students stems from this personalized teaching style.

Renowned for his innovative work in Chinese paper cutting and clay sculpture, Dr. Zhang's artistic roots delve into traditional Chinese art forms such as paper cutting, Chinese Ink Painting, and Calligraphy. Growing up in Shandong, he frequently observed his mother and elders engaging in paper cutting, a practice he seamlessly combined with Western painting, cutting-edge computer technology, and traditional craftsmanship upon relocating to the United States. Dr. Zhang's paper cutting art has evolved into a distinct style, often conveying messages or narrating stories, reflecting his life experiences in both China and the US.

In recent years, Dr. Zhang has actively demonstrated traditional Chinese art to promote its beauty in American communities. While in Rochester, NY, he served as the Principal of the Chinese School of Rochester, founded the Chinese Folk Music Orchestra of Rochester and Chinese Youth Choir of Rochester, and taught Chinese paper cutting in over 20 schools and libraries across the Greater Rochester Area. His outstanding contributions led to interviews by the TV show "Many Voices, Many Visions" and the newspaper "Democrat and Chronicle" in 2014. In 2018, an exhibition of his paper cutting artwork was held at City Hall of Rochester and Memorial Art Gallery.

Upon relocating to the DMV area in the summer of 2018, Dr. Zhang continued to promote traditional Chinese culture, garnering attention from Chinese Central Television, Shanghai Dragon TV, and various news outlets. His TV program "Reunion," combining Chinese paper cutting, clay sculpture, and Chinese cuisine, earned accolades in the food culture competition held by CCTV in 2021. Dr. Zhang's solo exhibition on the official websites of Sohu and Toutiao further solidified his presence in the art scene.

In 2022 and 2023, Dr. Zhang was invited to the Smithsonian Art Museum to promote Chinese clay sculpture. In September 2023, Dr. Zhang designed posters, logo, cultural product images, and stage backgrounds for the Washington Chinese Culture Festival. He also demonstrated Chinese paper cutting and clay sculpture to the audience at the cultural festival. He received attention and interviews from Shanghai Dragon TV, and was also interviewed by the current China Ambassador to the United States Feng Xie who spoke highly of him. Dr. Zhang hosted the Chinese cultural event "Touch of China in Chinatown: Chinese Clay Sculpture" as the chief artist in May 2023, and hosted another event " Touch of China in Chinatown: Chinese Paper Cutting" as the chief artist again in November 2023. Dr. Longze Zhang’s contribution to the dissemination of traditional Chinese culture and art has been widely reported by many media including CCTV, Shanghai Dragon TV, China News Network, Sohu.com, Phoenix.com, CCTV News Network, American China Business News and other media. Dr. Zhang’s inheritance, innovation and dissemination of traditional Chinese paper cutting and clay sculpture have made more and more overseas Chinese and people from different countries and cultural backgrounds fall in love with traditional Chinese art, and enhanced overseas Chinese's understanding of Chinese culture identity, promoted cultural exchanges between China and the West.