"In the course of an ordinary day, I find myself continually intrigued by small, fleeting things… I find real peace in the beauty of the mundane."

- Jesse Zuo

At Piero Atchugarry Gallery, we present Photosynthesis, the first exhibition at the gallery by Chinese-born, New York-based artist Jesse Zuo. The exhibition brings together a new body of paintings that, like the process from which it takes its name, begins with an absorption of light, color, memory, and feeling. Zuo transforms these quiet observations into paintings that give lasting form to fleeting experiences.

Rather than seeking the extraordinary within the mundane, Zuo draws attention to the moments that often go unnoticed: a ray of sunlight across a surface, a glimpse of color, or the passing gesture of a friend. Through sustained observation, these seemingly insignificant encounters become emotionally charged images. Her paintings do not document these moments so much as reconstruct the sensation of experiencing them, allowing a fleeting feeling of joy, stillness, or beauty to remain.

At the heart of Photosynthesis is the idea of transformation. Just as plants convert light into matter, Zuo transforms observed light into color and passing sensations into images. Her increasingly soft and contemplative palette reflects a growing interest in stillness over spectacle, inviting viewers to slow down, look again, and discover the beauty that emerges through sustained attention.

Press Release

Curatorial Text