Teresa Dong

Teresa was born in Shanghai, and her father Hong-Zhang Dong, a recognized artist, influenced her love for Chinese painting and calligraphy.  In Teresa’s early life, the cultural revolution closed all formal academia.  During this period, she studied privately under one of China’s foremost masters, Zhong-Zhou Cheng.

In 1980 the U.S. Consul General was particularly impressed with one of her Chinese paintings, and granted her a visa to study western painting in the United States.

In order to achieve financial independence, Teresa established the clothing company Chi Group USA and developed a revolutionary washable silk.  Her first collection of Women’s sports wear, under the label USAGI, was received with great response.  By 1990 USAGI sold to over one thousand boutiques, in addition to major stores such as Macy’s Nordstrom, and Lord & Taylor.

Success was rewarding but not satisfying.  She retired in 1996 and returned to her love of painting.  Teresa’s ambition and determination is now focused on her art.  While living in Marin, her plein air oil paintings effect a colorful lyrical style, grounded in a sense of natural space and atmosphere.  It is a style of visionary realism inspired by the trees, mountains and the waters.  Her still life paintings are rigorously formal images of objects found in her home, and her florals reflect her subtle simplification of forms.  It is all very personal, but easily shared.

Teresa studied at the University of Hong Kong, The Academy of Art College in San Francisco and attended numerous workshops by renowned artists.  She is a member of Oil Painters of America and California Art Club, and has been juried into several shows sponsored by these groups.