Meet Muru Zhou | Concept Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Muru Zhou and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Muru, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
My art journey is far from traditional. I pursued disciplines in science and engineering for both my bachelor’s and doctoral degrees. Drawing and doodling have been passions of mine since childhood as a means to express my emotions. During the final two years of my Ph.D., a longing to be part of the production for games, movies, and animation gripped me. This desire led me to pursue on a path in art and bring to life the visions and narratives that inhabit my mind.

My journey in art resonates with my past experiences. Art resembles a landscape of mountains—drawing, painting, design, and countless others. Similar to mastering any subject, each ascent begins with difficulty and gradually transitions to ease; this progression is immensely rewarding and knowledge-enriching. The best part is that art is a lifelong journey of exploring, experimenting, and expressing. Art shapes the world, and the world shapes our art.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a concept artist, specializing in environment concept art for games. Because of my unique background in science and engineering, I possess a visual library enriched by experiences where beauty is discovered even in nano-scale SEM images. My next objective is to integrate this visual experience into my art.

My artistic journey began with traditional mediums like oil painting and charcoal drawing, experiences that I deeply cherished. Transitioning from life studies to design brought challenges, as design emphasizes functionality and serves specific production purposes. While I still have much to learn to become a proficient designer, a crucial lesson I’ve learned from this transition is the importance of stepping out of one’s comfort zone and consistently pushing oneself to discomfort. It is through this discomfort that true progress is made. Art is a multifaceted discipline, and acquiring diverse skills can enhance proficiency across all areas.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would 100% take my friend to the Getty Center. I can’t emphasize enough how amazing it is with its Getty white, delicately designed garden, architecture, and great art collection. Santa Monica at night is also an amazing place to visit. The beach, when the crowd is mostly gone and the only thing left is you and the sea, listening to the sea’s whispers to the wind, makes your heart quiet and joyful. After the trips, Lunasia Dim Sum House will bring another layer of happiness to your stomach!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I am fortunate to have met many amazing friends and teachers who generously helped me. Among them, I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude for the support from my partner. He has been incredibly supportive of my pursuit in art. During my transition, it was not easy to find individuals wholeheartedly backing me, since it was a relatively risky decision. His support in many ways serves as a light in my heart. Whenever I am in doubt and anxiety, I look at the light and am reassured that the right path lies in moving forward boldly.

Website: https://muruzhou.myportfolio.com/

Instagram: @muruzhou.art

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/muru-zhou-b29a8a131/