Mo D. Zhang

Mo studies Chinese art and material culture of the early modern period. Her research interests include the role of local agents in bolstering artistic interactions, viewing practices through object-based learning, and representations of Chinese gardens and architecture. Her dissertation examines the distinctive significance of push-awning paintings (tuipeng hua) in relation to the cultural landscape in Southeastern China during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). This exploration aims to provide a broader perspective on how geocultural factors affect artistic production, and the dynamic interactions between painting formats and viewing practices of the 15th century. In addition to the visual and material culture of early modern China, She also works with modern and contemporary ink art of East Asia.

Mo received a BA (Highest Honors, Phi Beta Kappa) in the History of Art from the University of Michigan and an MA in Art History and Archaeology from Columbia University, where she examined in her thesis the seasonal representations in Ming landscape paintings focusing on a 15th-century Ming handscroll from the Met collection. Prior to joining Penn, she has held internships at the National Museum of Asian Art (Freer Gallery), the Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Columbia, Asia Art Archives in America, and Three Shadows Photography Art Centre.