Shuyi Cao
Biography
Shuyi Cao (b. 1990, lives and works in New York) explores alchemical approaches to material, matter, and osmosis of knowledge. Through archeological speculation and ecological fiction, she contemplates the porous plurality of relations between science, technoculture, mythology, and cosmology. Her multi-medium sculptures and installations synthesise various organic and inorganic materials, and natural and artificial processes. Combining hand-crafted and digital artefacts, moving images, and sounds, the assemblages suggest heterogeneous material temporalities. Her solo and duo presentations include island Gallery, New York (2024), Hive Center for Contemporary Art, Shanghai (2023), and Para Site, Hong Kong (2023). She has exhibited in acclaimed institutions, including Orange County Museum of Art, California (2025), 11 Returns Biennale nationale de sculpture contemporaine, Quebec (2024), He Art Museum, Foshan (2023), Aranya Art Center, Beidaihe (2023), Hyundai Motorstudio, Beijing (2023), Chronus Art Center, Shanghai (2022), Today Art Museum, Beijing (2021), NARS Foundation, New York (2021), among others. She is a visiting assistant professor at Pratt Institute, faculty at Parsons School of Design, alumni of NEW INC New Museum. She received her MFA from Parsons School of Design, New York, and her MPA and LLB from Fudan University, Shanghai.
Works
Shuyi Cao
Said N’ba N’ga, as they surfaced and cleft the waters
2021
Aqua resin, acrylic paint, glass
58.4 x 35.6 x 7.6 cm | 23 x 14 x 3 in
Said N’ba N’ga, as they surfaced and cleft the waters
2021
Aqua resin, acrylic paint, glass
58.4 x 35.6 x 7.6 cm | 23 x 14 x 3 in
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Shuyi Cao
Said N’ba N’ga, whose eyes as round and inexpressive as stones, meet her oblong eyes
2021
Aqua resin, acrylic paint, glass
71.1 x 38.1 x 10.2 cm | 28 x 15 x 4 in
Said N’ba N’ga, whose eyes as round and inexpressive as stones, meet her oblong eyes
2021
Aqua resin, acrylic paint, glass
71.1 x 38.1 x 10.2 cm | 28 x 15 x 4 in
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Shuyi Cao
Said N’ba N’ga, who lived in certain muddy shallows, among the roots of some protoconifers
2021
Aqua resin, acrylic paint
78.7 x 58.5 x 10.2 cm | 31 x 23 x 4 in
Said N’ba N’ga, who lived in certain muddy shallows, among the roots of some protoconifers
2021
Aqua resin, acrylic paint
78.7 x 58.5 x 10.2 cm | 31 x 23 x 4 in
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The Other Writing (a kind of precarious slime)
2024
Aqua resin, aluminum, oyster shell fragment, crushed abalone shell, opal, stone, wood
96.5 x 72 x 11 cm | 38 x 28.3 x 4.3 in
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Shuyi Cao
The Other Writing (Crystalline joints and fibrous limbs)
2024
Aqua resin, aluminum, oyster shell fragment, crushed abalone shell, opal, stone, wood
94 x 79 x 19 cm | 37 x 31.1 x 7.5 in
The Other Writing (Crystalline joints and fibrous limbs)
2024
Aqua resin, aluminum, oyster shell fragment, crushed abalone shell, opal, stone, wood
94 x 79 x 19 cm | 37 x 31.1 x 7.5 in
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Shuyi Cao
Said N’ba N’ga, the land were going to disappear just as they had cropped up
2021
Aqua resin, acrylic paint
48.3 x 25.4 x 7.6 cm | 19 x 10 x 3 in
Said N’ba N’ga, the land were going to disappear just as they had cropped up
2021
Aqua resin, acrylic paint
48.3 x 25.4 x 7.6 cm | 19 x 10 x 3 in
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Shuyi Cao
as they folded in and breached out (sprout)
2023
Glazed stoneware
30 x 18 x 18 cm | 12 x 7 x 7 in
as they folded in and breached out (sprout)
2023
Glazed stoneware
30 x 18 x 18 cm | 12 x 7 x 7 in
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Shuyi Cao
as they folded in and breached out (bursting)
2022
Glazed stoneware
47 x 30.5 x 30.5 cm | 18.5 x 12 x 12 in
as they folded in and breached out (bursting)
2022
Glazed stoneware
47 x 30.5 x 30.5 cm | 18.5 x 12 x 12 in
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Shuyi Cao
as they folded in and breached out (tentacular)
2023
Glazed stoneware
43 x 25 x 28 cm | 17 x 10 x 11 in
as they folded in and breached out (tentacular)
2023
Glazed stoneware
43 x 25 x 28 cm | 17 x 10 x 11 in
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Shuyi Cao
Intimacy of Strangers II
2023
Handhand-blown borosilicate glass
20.3 x 12.7 x 12.7 cm | 8 x 5 x 5 in
Intimacy of Strangers II
2023
Handhand-blown borosilicate glass
20.3 x 12.7 x 12.7 cm | 8 x 5 x 5 in
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Shuyi Cao
Intimacy of Strangers I
2023
Handhand-blown borosilicate glass
20.3 x 12.7 x 12.7 cm | 8 x 5 x 5 in
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Intimacy of Strangers I
2023
Handhand-blown borosilicate glass
20.3 x 12.7 x 12.7 cm | 8 x 5 x 5 in
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Shuyi Cao
pabulite (primordial bliss)
2023
Glazed stoneware
78.7 x 96.5 x 10.2 cm | 31 x 38 x 4 in
pabulite (primordial bliss)
2023
Glazed stoneware
78.7 x 96.5 x 10.2 cm | 31 x 38 x 4 in
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Shuyi Cao
Begin with the End of What Comes Before
2024
8K video
8’ 45”
Ed. of 5 + 2 AP
Begin with the End of What Comes Before
2024
8K video
8’ 45”
Ed. of 5 + 2 AP
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Shuyi Cao
Intimacy of Strangers III
2023
Handhand-blown borosilicate glass
15.2 x 12.7 x 12.7 cm | 6 x 5 x 5 in
Intimacy of Strangers III
2023
Handhand-blown borosilicate glass
15.2 x 12.7 x 12.7 cm | 6 x 5 x 5 in
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Exhibitions
Artists: Shuyi Cao, Genie Hui, Phoebe Hui, So Young Park, Lorraine Ren, Yi To
Hong Kong
15 February—15 March 2025
Artists: Shuyi Cao, Anastasia Komar, So Young Park
Hong Kong
23 March—04 May 2024
News
30 April 2024
28 Feburary 2024