Fan Jianhua
Titles & Honors
Jiangsu Provincial Master of Ceramic Art (2016)
Jiangsu Provincial Master of Arts and Crafts (2016)
Senior Craft Artist / Senior Rural Revitalization Technician
Executive Council Member, Ceramic Art Committee, China Ceramic Industry Association
Member, Jiangsu Provincial Ceramic Art Committee
Member, China Craft Creation and Development Alliance
Member, Jiangsu Provincial Arts and Crafts Society
Provincial Expert, Jiangsu Price Appraisal Expert Database
Part-time Associate Professor, Wuxi Institute of Technology
Representative Inheritor of Yixing Purple Clay Art (Intangible Cultural Heritage)
Vice President, Female Ceramic Artists Branch, Yixing Ceramic Industry Association
Biography
Born in 1964 on South Street of Shushan—the historic heart of Yixing's pottery culture in Dingshu Town—Fan Jianhua （范建华） embarked on her artistic journey in 1982 under the guidance of renowned masters Lü Yaochen (China Craft and Art Master) and Jiang Jianxiang (Jiangsu Ceramic Art Master). She further refined her craft at the Yixing Purple Clay Factory Research Institute, studying design under the esteemed Cao Wanfen (China Ceramic Art Master).
In 1987, she attended the Central Academy of Arts and Design for advanced studies in ceramic 造型设计, which elevated her practice from intuitive craftsmanship to informed artistic creation, significantly enhancing her design capability and aesthetic vision.
Artistic Approach
With over three decades of dedication to purple clay art, Fan Jianhua skillfully balances tradition with innovation. She specializes in floral-themed and ribbed vessels, drawing inspiration from classical masterpieces while infusing them with contemporary sensibility. Her work is characterized by a distinctive style that merges fluid elegance with dynamic form.
Selected Awards
Great Ming Dynasty Set – Silver Award, 10th National Ceramic Design Innovation Competition (2016)
Dialogue Between Peony and Cherry Blossom Teapots – Gold Award, 9th National Ceramic Design Innovation Competition (2010)
Square Linghua Pair Teapots – Bronze Award, 8th National Ceramic Design Innovation Competition (2006)
"The Huajun Teapot of Snow and Plum Blossoms" handmade by Fan Jianhua
Shushan Forest Whisper Pair Teapots – Bronze Award, 8th National Ceramic Design Innovation Competition (2006)
International Engagement
Fan has participated in numerous international ceramic art exchanges, with invitations to conduct workshops and presentations in the United States, Russia, South Korea, and other countries.
