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ABOUT THE ARTIST
Lai Xiaohong
Lai Xiaohong was born in 1979 in the pottery capital of the world, Yixing. She has been working with yixing pottery for many years. Lai Xiaohong was trained under the watchful eye of top recognized master craftswomen Jiang Feng, growing under her mentor’s strict and intense feedback. Later, she trained under many other top masters, gaining a solid foundation in the fundamentals of the craft.
Over the years, Lai Xiaohong has developed her own unique style and identity in her clay pots. She works with a wide range of subjects, designing original pieces filled with meaning and deep subtext. Through her pieces, Lai Xiaohong seeks a modern aesthetic and culture for zisha yixing devotees. The result is outstanding and noteworthy. Her work explores new forms and styles that look towards the goal of a strong aesthetic for Yixing that is, at the same time, gentle and full of grace, deep and expressive.
Lai Xiaohong has been part of many national and international exhibitions, and has received many honors and awards for her work in yixing.
Recent Exhibitions and Awards:
2009 “Feng Ming” Jiangsu Arts “Yi Bo Cup” Competition Gold Medal
2009 Awarded the 11th Chinese National Art Masters Bronze Medal
2011 “Yi Li Zhu” Gold Medal at the Shanghai National Folk Art Exhibition
2012 “Zhou Pan” Gold Medal Art and Craft Exhibition
2012 “Shi Piao” Jiangsu “Hai Long Cup” Masterwork Grand Prix awarded first place
2013 “Zhu Yun” Tenth Chinese Arts Festival Shandong Gold Medal
2013 “Xi Shi” Gold Medal fro original concepts at Chinese Arts and Crafts Culture Exhibition
2014 Featured in China People’s Daily Special Arts Edition
2014 Featured in Yixing Pottery Masters Yearly Edition
2015 The Seventeenth Chinese Arts and Crafts Masters Exhibition, awarded Original Concept Medal
2015 “Wei Miao” Awarded Gold Medal at the Seventeenth Chinese Arts and CRafts Masters Exhibition for traditional fine art
2016 Awarded the historic Bai Hua Honor at China’s 12th Annual Arts and Crafts Exhibition
2016 “Yi Hua Yi Shijie” Gold medal at the “Da Di Cup”
2016 “Shan Zhu” Awarded at the 2016 Arts Exhibition Original Concept Gold Medal
Heini Shi Piao Yixing Pot from Lai Xiaohong
detail: Ms. Lai’s beautiful hand carving is featured on many of her pots
a beautiful addition to any yixing collection
Lai Xiaohong works with a variety of clays – from zisha and zini to more rare and uncommon clays like zhuni, duanni and dicaoqingni. She sources almost all of her clays from Huanglongshan, and builds her pots by hand at her workshop in Yixing.
Learn More: About Dicaoqingni
Essentially a special kind of zini, Dicaoqingni is mined from Huanglong mountain. Fans love its high mineral content; because it comes from what has settled at the bottom of a mixing trough, it is more rich and pure. This gives the clay its signature smooth texture, as well as its name: Di Cao (from the bottom of the slot) Qing (clear / pure, referring to the fact that nothing is added to the clay mix). Made famous by master Gu Jingzhou, this uncommon clay has become popular with contemporary yixing artists.
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