Originally from China. ChengOu Yu received his BA in Ceramic Design from Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute (China) in 2012 and his Advanced Diploma with honor in Crafts and Design - Ceramics from Sheridan College (Canada) in 2015. In 2020, he graduated from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University with an MFA in ceramic art.
His trans-national experience impacts his role as an artist. His work and research focus on iconography, culture contract and conflicts, system and logic, and the concept of space. His interest in the representation and assumption of objects and ideas under different cultural contexts comes from his educational background and life experience from east to west. He addresses how experiences reflect on the thinking and making process by analyzing the system that is used to construct the work physically and conceptually.
Yu has exhibited his work at numerous venues in the United States, Canada, and Asia and has works in public collections, including Alfred Ceramic Art Museum, Art Gallery of Burlington, Liling Ceramic Valley Museum, Belger Art Center and Jingdezhen Ceramic University. Recent major exhibitions include the 2022 Taiwan Ceramics Biennale at New Taipei City Yingge Ceramics Museum; Jingdezhen International Ceramic Art Biennale at Art Museum of Jingdezhen Ceramic University; 2023 NCECA Annual Exhibition.
EDUCATION
Master of Fine Arts, Ceramics, New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, Alfred, NY
Advanced Diploma Graduate with Honors in Crafts & Design – Ceramics Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, Oakville, ON
Bachelor’s Degree of Arts, Ceramic Design, Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute, Jingdezhen, China
EXHIBITIONS (*=solo or two person exhibition)
2024
Next Verses: Clay+ Invitational, NCECA 2024 Concurrent Exhibition, Richmond, VA (Forthcoming)
Mapping the Multiverse, NCECA 2024 Concurrent Exhibition, Richmond, VA (Forthcoming)
Fahrenheit 2024, American Museum of Ceramic Art (AMOCA), Pomona, CA
2023
Breweriana, Torn Label, Kansas City, MO
Interludes, The Prairie, Charlotte, NC
2023 NCECA Annual, Weston Art Gallery, Cincinnati, OH
Above Board 3rd Annual Exhibition, Above Board Ceramics2023
2022
Intentional Conditions, Projective Eye Gallery - The Dubois Center at UNCC, Charlotte, NC
2022 Taiwan Ceramics Biennale, New Taipei City Yingge Ceramics Museum, New Taipei City, Taiwan
Yunomi Invitational 2022, ClayAKAR, Iowa City, IA
New Arrivals, Belger Arts Center, Kansas City, MO
Jingdezhen International Ceramic Art Biennale, Art Museum of JCU, Jingdezhen, China
2021
Reconciliation Reflection Transformation, Bredin-Lee Gallery, Kansas City, MO*
Journeys (Co-Curated), Belger Crane Yard Studios, Kansas City, MO
CLAY+, Clay Center of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA
Reset, Belger Crane Yard Studios, Kansas City, MO
The Ceramics Forum: 10 Years Towards the Dialogue, 2021 NCECA Virtual Conference
Exquisite Forms III, Charlie Cummings Gallery, Gainesville, FL
Here, There, Now, Then: In between Journeys (Co-Curated), Beatrice M. Haggerty Gallery, University of Dallas, Irving, TX
2020
The Consequences of Objects, MFA Thesis Exhibition, Fosdick-Nelson Gallery, Alfred, NY (in-person exhibition canceled due to COVID)*
Double Take, Alfred Ceramic Art Museum. Alfred, NY
In Through the Out Door: MFA Alumni 2020, Fosdick-Nelson Gallery & Robert C. Turner Gallery, Alfred, NY
Cup: The Intimate Object XVI, Charlie Cummings Gallery, Gainesville, FL
28th Annual Strictly Functional Pottery National (virtual exhibition)
2020 NCECA Juried Student Exhibition, Richmond, VA (virtual exhibition, physical exhibition canceled due to pandemic)
The GVSU Ceramics Forum: 10 Years Towards the Dialogue, in conjunction with NCECA & the Grand Valley State Ceramics Forum, River Fox Realty, Richmond, VA (canceled due to pandemic)
2019
Kilns of Alfred: Transactions with Fire, Alfred Ceramic Art Museum. Alfred, NY
SUNY Albany Student Art Show, SUNY Plaza, Albany, NY
Inter-Disciplinary, Robert C. Turner Gallery, Alfred, NY
2018
Imprint Interchange Implicature, JJ Studio, Toronto, ON*
2017
Classics Revived - International Contemporary Ceramic Design Invitational Exhibition, Liling Ceramics Valley Museum, Liling, China
Craft Community of Canada - One of a Kind Show, Toronto, ON
2016
Everyday Lighting, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto, ON
Materialize, Art Gallery of Burlington, Burlington, ON
CHEERS @ Medalta, Medalta, Yuill Gallery, Medicine Hat, Alberta
Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, Toronto, ON
2015
Simple Cup Show, KOBO Gallery, Seattle, WA
Grand Opening, JJ Studio, Toronto, ON
Food For Thought - Set the Table, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto, ON
Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, Toronto, ON
Sheridan-Tyler Collaborative Exhibition, Sheridan College, Oakville, ON
WUNDERKAMMER, Sheridan Craft & Design Graduate Exhibition, Super Wonder Gallery, Toronto, ON
Graduate Exhibition, Sheridan College: Oakville, ON
DOUBLE TAKE, Gardiner Museum, Toronto, ON
Sheridan-Tyler Collaborative Exhibition, Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia
SLOW BURN, Sheridan College, Oakville, ON
2014
TOMORROW, Jonathon Bancroft-Snell Gallery, London, ON
INTIMATE/IMMEDIATE, Sheridan College, ON
2012
Graduate Thesis Exhibition, Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute, Jingdezhen, China
Outing graduation exhibition, Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute, Jingdezhen, China
2011
Experimental Ceramic Art Exhibition, CiChang gallery, Sculpture Factory, Jingdezhen, China
ARTIST LECTURES/ WORKSHOPS
2023 Visiting Artist Lecture & Workshop, New York University, NY
2022 Visiting Artist Workshop, Anderson University, Anderson, SC
2022 Invited Guest Lecture, Fraser Valley Pottery Guild, Surrey, BC, Canada
2021 Artist Talk and Demo, University of Dallas, Irving, TX
2020 Invited Guest Critic, KCAI Ceramics Junior and Senior Critiques, Kansas City Art Institute, KC, MO
2019 Invited Guest Lecturer, East Asian Design and Material Culture, Alfred University, Alfred, NY
Designer and Presenter at Architectural Ceramic Assemblies Workshop, University at Buffalo, NY
AWARDS & HONORS
2021 Third Place, Teabowl National 2021, national juried exhibition at The ArtsKC Gallery, Kansas City, MO
2020 Form & Function Award, 28th Annual Strictly Functional Pottery National
2016 Jenny Y.Y. Tam Ceramic Residency Award, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto, ON
2015 Best of Ceramics, Aaron Milrad and Brenda Coleman Award for TOAE, Toronto, ON
The Bruce Cochrane Clay Club Award, Oakville, ON
2014 FUSION Community Involvement Award, Oakville, ON
2012 The Silver Award, School of Ceramic Arts 2012 Graduation Exhibition, Jingdezhen, China
2009 The Second Prize Scholarship, Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute, Jingdezhen, China
Merit Student Awards, Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute, Jingdezhen, China
The Third Prize Scholarship, Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute, Jingdezhen, China
PUBLICATION AND BIBLIOGRAPHY
2024 FAHRENHEIT 2024, Exhibition Catalog
2023 2023 NCECA Annual: I Contain Multitudes, Exhibition Catalog; p. 98-99
2023 NCECA, 57th Annual conference program + Exhibitions Guide; p. 58
2022 2022 Taiwan Ceramics Biennale, Tangible World, Exhibition Catalog; p. 44-47
2022 “Elemental.” Ceramics Monthly; September 2022, p. 51
MacDonald, Wade F. “Clay+ Expanding the Lexicon,” Ceramics Monthly, October 2022, p. 32-35
2020 “Harmony & Contrast.” Ceramics Monthly, September 2020, p. 45
RESIDENCIES
2020 - 2021 Red Star Residency Programs, Belger Crane Yard Studio, Kansas City, MO
2017 Liling Ceramic Valley Museum, Liling, China
2015 - 2018 Harbourfront Centre Craft & Design Studio: Ceramics, Toronto, ON
NOTABLE COLLECTIONS
Art Gallery of Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Alfred Ceramic Art Museum, Alfred, NY
Belger Art Center, Kansas City, MO
Liling Ceramic Valley Museum, Hunan Province, China
Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute, Jiangxi Province, China