Gu Daorong
Written by Siyutao Art Team
jiangsu Provincial Ceramic Art Master (First Batch, 2011) 江苏省陶瓷艺术大师
Senior National-Level Craft Artist (Zhenggaoji Gongyi Meishushi) 正高级工艺美术师
Honorary Director of Jiangsu Provincial Ceramic Art Council
Director of Yixing Ceramic Art Research Institute (Jiangsu Province)
Born in 1937 in Qianluo 潜洛 Village, Yixing , the birthplace of purple clay pottery. He began learning the craft from his parents between 1951 and 1954. In 1955, when the pottery production cooperative was established in Shushan and Qianluo villages, he became one of its first members and started his work in design and creation, formally embarking on his career in purple clay art. From 1957 to 1961, he worked at the Yixing Purple Clay Craft Factory and received guidance from master artisans Zhu Kexin, Gu Jingzhou, and Jiang Rong, which gave him comprehensive skills and a solid technical foundation.
From 1962 to 1987, due to policy adjustments, he returned to farming at home while continuing to make teapots for the factory. In May 1987, he joined the Yixing Purple Clay Craft Factory No. 3 as Chief Craft Artist and Director of the Research Institute, during which he innovated 36 new works (sets), trained 28 apprentices, and won consecutive awards for his pieces. From 1991 to 1994, he served as Chief Craft Artist at the Yixing Jingxi Purple Clay Craft Factory. In 2011, he was appointed as a senior professional-title evaluator for craft arts in Yixing.
He also serves as Dean of the Yixing Purple Clay Ceramic Art Research Institute (Jiangsu Province). His mentors include Gu Jingzhou, Zhu Kexin, and Jiang Rong.
Born in September 1937, he entered the purple clay factory in 1955 as an apprentice to Zhu Kexin, Gu Jingzhou, and Jiang Rong. In 1987, he joined Yixing Purple Clay Factory No. 3 to teach and mentor apprentices. In 1992, he moved to Shalong Ceramic Art Co., Ltd., where he took charge of ceramic design and development. He is currently a Senior Craft Artist, Chief Craft Artist, Director of the Research Institute at Yixing Shalong Ceramic Art Co., Ltd.
Gu Daorong’s works are distinguished by a rustic, natural, and unpretentious style. His pieces exhibit exquisite, fluid forms, each embodying his unique perspectives and emotional expressions drawn from life, nature, and humanity. His creations not only possess high artistic value but also represent a continuation and development of traditional culture, as well as an innovation and breakthrough in modern ceramic art.
His works have received wide recognition and acclaim not only in China but also have been exhibited internationally, garnering favor and collection by numerous domestic and overseas collectors. He has also served as a judge and guest expert at many domestic and international ceramic exhibitions and competitions, making significant contributions to the advancement of Chinese ceramic art.
Selected Honors:
1988: Pine Longevity and Crane Blessing (Songling Heshou) , Awarded Outstanding New Product Prize by Wuxi City.
1989: Fish-Cover Teapot (Yuzhao Hu) , Awarded New Product Development Prize by Jiangsu Provincial Light Industry Department.
1989: Three works – Drum-Fu, Dongpo Tiliang, and Lotus Heart Ruyi , were featured in the "Centenarian Zhu Qizhan's Hundred Teapots Exhibition".
Reference article：顾道荣
