In 1988 he graduated from the former Central Academy of Arts and Design, now the School of Art of Qing Hua University.

From 1988 to 1990 he taught photography in the School of Art of Shan Tao University.

From 1990 he has worked as a free-lance artist.

Zhang Nian lives and works in Beijing.

His works were done in a variety of art forms including canvas, conceptual art, performance art, installation, photography, digital video, and design. He had his first solo show in 1986 in Beijing Concert Hall. In 1989 he participated in the Grand Exhibition of Contemporary Art of China. His works have been chosen to participate in the exhibition of Exchange: Chinese Contemporary Art, Germany, 1990; ADC Visual Art Exhibition, New York, 1998; Dialogue: Chinese Art Exhibition, Italy, 2002; Rome Bianali of Photography, Rome, 2003; The Sky Has No Defense, 2003; Water: 0.03%; and Together, hosted by UNICEF, 2003.

Zhang Nian has published a number of books including China New Art: the Works of 23 Avant-Garde Artists (World Language Publishing: 1999) and Art and Existing Objects (Hu Nan Art Publishing: 2003)