Introduction

PAN Caoyuan (b. 1991, Zhejiang, China) received her BA and MA from the China Academy of Art. She currently lives and works in Zhejiang, where she teaches at Shaoxing University. She primarily uses natural lacquer as her medium, creating lacquer paintings, lacquer sculptures, and installations.Rooted in the rich tradition of Chinese lacquer craftsmanship, Pan regards this ancient medium as a bridge connecting to the world of the past. She is fascinated by the uncontrollable and ever-evolving nature of natural lacquer, viewing the creative process as a continuous interaction with nature. Incorporating elements of physicality and temporality, her works seek to reconstruct ritualistic and enchanted experiences, reflecting the cosmology and spirituality of the pre-modern world. Her work also draws inspiration from cultural phenomena often excluded from canonical art history. Through themes of craft, ornamentation, and fetishism, she critically examines dominant cultural hierarchies and value systems.

Pan is the recipient of the Gold Award from the Qiao Shiguang Lacquer Painting Art Innovation Award at Tsinghua University. Her works are held in the collections of the National Art Museum of China, Fujian Museum of Art, Hubei Museum of Art, Museum für Lackkunst in Münster, Germany, and Ningbo China Port Museum. Her work has been recently exhibited at ShangART WB Central (Shanghai, 2025), Hubei Museum of Art (Wuhan, 2024), MACA Art Center (Beijing, 2024), Zhejiang Art Museum (Hangzhou, 2024), China Academy of Art Museum (Hangzhou, 2024), Today Art Museum (Beijing, 2023), Zhejiang Exhibition Hall (Hangzhou, 2022), National Art Museum of China (Beijing, 2021), Shandong Art Museum (Jinan, 2021), and Ningbo China Port Museum (Ningbo, 2021).