David Wu Ject-Key was one of the earliest Chinese artists to study abroad. Born in Zhongshan, Guangdong to a cultured family of scholars, Wu immigrated to Canada in 1902, studying, respectively, at the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts* in Montreal, Grand Central School of Art* in New York and the Arts Student League*, specializing in oil paintings and Western art history.

During his time at school, he was particularly active in participating in art events and, upon graduation was recruited as a teacher for his outstanding performance. Wu has been especially known for his impressive portrait and landscape painting: although his works demonstrate the overriding use of Western painting techniques, it is equally redolent of the distinctiv...