By: Dan Chen
As the TRYST Alternative Art Fair prepares for its return in July 2025, the impact of the previous edition, held in August 2024, continues to be felt. Among the standout participants was Liang Zhang, an acclaimed Chinese ceramic artist and co-founder of Artdrop.LA. Reflecting on last year’s fair, Zhang’s work has garnered significant recognition, reinforcing her status as an innovative and influential figure in contemporary ceramics.
TRYST is an international art fair for artist-run spaces and collectives, as well as a global gathering to address the needs and future of international exchange among artist-run spaces, collectives, and organizations. Run through the Torrance Art Museum (TAM) and the City of Torrance, this will be the third edition of TRYST. With the increasing need for opportunities and artistic exchange worldwide between grassroots artist organizations, the fair aims to facilitate the exposure of international artists to new Los Angeles audiences. It provides a space for artists and collectives to network, engage, and provoke further international exchanges and interaction. The program includes talks, performances, and social events for participants, fostering a vibrant dialogue between artists from diverse backgrounds.
Torrance Art Museum is a program of the Cultural Services Division of the City of Torrance Community Services Department. The Museum encourages all people to develop and increase their understanding and appreciation for modern and contemporary artwork via a variety of exhibitions offered in its gallery spaces, as well as educational programs, artist talks, lectures, and symposia.
Through its emphasis on contemporary artistic expression in Southern California and globally, TAM brings together visual artists and community members, fosters personal and civic well-being by inspiring understanding and appreciation of the visual arts, promotes meaningful experiences in the arts to strengthen creative and critical thinking skills, and builds bridges between the visual arts and other disciplines in the humanities and sciences.
As an artist dedicated to bridging cultural heritage with modern artistic expression, Zhang has consistently demonstrated exceptional talent and influence. Her participation in the 2024 TRYST Alternative Art Fair was a significant milestone, garnering critical attention and leading to new opportunities for artistic engagement. Through Artdrop.LA, a Los Angeles-based artist collective, Zhang has championed experimental and site-specific approaches to art-making, creating immersive experiences that challenge conventional narratives.
At TRYST, Zhang presented “Yielding to the Solid” (2024), an installation composed of concrete blocks and clay, exploring the tension between rigidity and adaptability. The piece delves into the contrast between the unyielding nature of societal structures and the flexibility of human behavior. The concrete blocks symbolize the rigid frameworks of laws, norms, and systems that govern and restrict, while the clay slabs, placed within and around the concrete, represent human resilience—soft, malleable, and ever-changing. The interplay between these elements invites contemplation on how individuals navigate restrictive societal boundaries, finding freedom and self-expression even within constraints.
The installation captivated audiences and critics alike, sparking discussions on contemporary societal structures and personal agency. The response to “Yielding to the Solid” has extended beyond TRYST, earning Zhang recognition from curators and collectors, as well as invitations to showcase the work in additional exhibitions. The piece has been noted for its ability to merge traditional ceramic craftsmanship with conceptual depth, further establishing Zhang as a leading voice in contemporary ceramics.
Beyond the art fair, Zhang’s impact extends into curatorial initiatives, cross-disciplinary collaborations, and educational outreach. As a recognized leader in the field, she has exhibited in prestigious galleries and institutions like 4C gallery in San Gabriel, CA and Atifact Projects in New York, influencing a new generation of artists through mentorship and community-driven projects. Her dedication to pushing the boundaries of ceramic art and fostering meaningful discourse within the art community underscores the significance of her practice.
With a career marked by excellence and innovation, Zhang exemplifies the extraordinary talent and vision of a leading artist. Her participation in TRYST Alternative Art Fair continues to affirm a lasting artistic legacy, demonstrating an ongoing commitment to cultural dialogue, creative evolution, and global impact.
For more information on Liang Zhang’s work and upcoming exhibitions, visit liangzhang.art.
Published by Anne C.
