Chen Guohong: A Master of Yixing Zisha Art
Chen Guohong is a prominent contemporary master of Yixing purple clay (Zisha) art, holding a number of prestigious titles and honors:
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Jiangsu Provincial Ceramic Art Master (2023, 3rd session)
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Senior Craft Artist (Professor-level)
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Senior Rural Revitalization Artisan (Professor-level)
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Member of the China Arts and Crafts Society
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Member of the Chinese Folk Literature and Art Association
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Member of the China Association for Promoting Democracy
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Member of the Jiangsu Ceramic Art Committee
Born in 1968 in Yixing, the renowned “Pottery Capital” of China, Chen Guohong began his journey into purple clay craftsmanship in 1985. The following year, he became an apprentice to senior master Gu Daorong, learning the full spectrum of Zisha design and fabrication. In 1991, he furthered his studies at the Central Academy of Arts and Crafts (now the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University), specializing in ceramic form design. In 1999, he founded his personal studio, “Zi’ou Jingshe” (literally “Purple Bowl Refined Studio”). He later studied under the great master He Daohong, whose personal guidance led to a significant leap in his skills and artistic vision.
Chen’s work masterfully balances tradition with personal innovation. His floral wares (nature-inspired pieces) blend abstraction with realistic, natural forms, placing deep emphasis on beauty of form, spirit, and temperament. His plain wares (geometric, unadorned pieces) are defined by meticulous structure and smooth, flowing lines, capturing the unique elegance and presence of Zisha ware through refined and concise expression. Following the principle of “inheriting tradition without being confined by it,” he has forged a distinctive personal style. His guiding artistic pursuit is to draw deeply from life and, at the same time, to elevate it beyond the everyday.
Chen Guohong’s works have been exhibited widely in Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, and other regions, and have received numerous awards at national ceramic competitions. In 2001, he was honored as an “Outstanding Young and Middle-aged Yixing Zisha Artist” by the China Arts and Crafts Association. In 2009, the Yixing Zisha Art Research Institute recognized him as one of the “Twelve Elites of Purple Clay.”
Bian dun Teapot made by Chen Guohong
Through decades of dedication, Chen Guohong continues to enrich the heritage of Yixing pottery with a creative language that is both deeply grounded and refreshingly original.
