Zhang Xiaogang is China’s hottest painter, and as the country continues to walk the fine line between totalitarian regime and capitalist republic, his life has become increasingly complicated – and busy. “For years, his works – like those of other avant-garde artists of his generation – could not be exhibited in China, often because they were deemed too modern or politically questionable. But now his paintings are not only collected by wealthy Westerners and leading foreign museums, but they are also increasingly fashionable among well-to-do Chinese… few artists are as celebrated as Mr. Zhang, whose paintings can now fetch as much as $200,000 each.” In fact, Zhang has been having trouble keeping up with the demand for his work.