Hu Hongming
Master of Arts and Crafts in Jiangsu Province (5th Edition, 2011)
Senior Craft Artist
Senior Rural Revitalization Technician
Member of the Chinese Society of Arts and Crafts
Member of Jiangsu Provincial Arts and Crafts Society
Member of Jiangsu Artists Association
Member of Yixing Purple Clay Industry Association
Born in October 1959 in Dingshu Town, Yixing City (known as the "Ceramics Capital" of Jiangsu Province), Hu Hongming (胡洪明) holds a bachelor’s degree. He began his career in ceramic design and creation in 1978. In 1983, he furthered his studies at Tsinghua University (formerly the Ceramic Design Department of the Central Academy of Arts and Design), where he received guidance from distinguished professors such as Yang Yongshan, Zhang Shouzhi, and Wang Jianzhong. He later apprenticed under Shen Juhua, a renowned master and successor of the legendary purple clay artist Gu Jingzhou. Hu has been working at the Yixing Purple Clay Craft Factory ever since.
Passionate about purple clay art, Hu has devoted himself to the study of ceramic design theory and creative practice. Over three decades of quiet dedication, he has forged a distinctive artistic path, creating one refined purple clay artwork after another.
《Da Yan Gui Lai teapot handmade by Hu Hongming》His exceptional creative vision integrates unique materials, craftsmanship, and cultural depth, endowing his teapots with artistic charm and national character. Whether round, oval, square, hexagonal, chamfered, or floral-shaped—whether tall, short, curved, or straight—each piece is meticulously finished and richly expressive. The simplicity of form, texture, color, and decoration in his works harmonizes with profound cultural elements, visible in the shaping, clay hues, inscriptions, calligraphy, painting, sculpture, and seal carving. Hu is also highly skilled in decorative arts, especially known for his gold and silver inlay techniques, which have earned him widespread recognition among collectors and enthusiasts both domestically and abroad. He is acclaimed as a contemporary "Master of Inlaid Decoration."
In 2011, in recognition of his artistic achievements, he was honored with the title "Chinese Art Master" by the Chinese Ministry of Culture and the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles.
Many of his works have been featured in professional publications such as The Illustrated Dictionary of Chinese Purple Clay and are highly sought after by collectors. Several pieces are housed in prestigious collections, including the Ziguang Pavilion in Zhongnanhai and various domestic and international museums. His accomplishments in purple clay art have been documented in several authoritative volumes, including Collection of Contemporary Chinese Ceramic Masters, Dictionary of Chinese and International Notable Figures, and Collection of Masterpieces by Chinese Arts and Crafts Masters.
In 1988, he participated in the "Chinese Yixing Ceramic Art Exhibition" commemorating the tenth anniversary of the Sino-Japanese Peace and Friendship Treaty. He has also taken part in numerous international ceramic exchange events, such as the Sino-Korean Art Exchange Exhibition. His works have received multiple national awards, and his research papers have been published in provincial and national journals. Through his contributions, Hu Hongming has infused new vitality into the ancient art of purple clay and played an active role in promoting its development.
