Born in Wuhan, China, in 1949, Su Xiaobai studied at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing and later at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf. Initially trained as a painter, Su's artistic breakthrough came after returning to China and dedicating his practice to exploring the material possibilities of lacquer, a medium historically associated with decorative and utilitarian objects. Through repeated processes of layering, sanding, and polishing, Su creates luminous, richly textured surfaces that exist between painting and sculpture, emphasizing materiality, light, and spatial presence.
Drawing from both Chinese philosophical traditions and postwar European abstraction, Su has developed a unique artistic language that invites contemplation through the sensory qualities of his works. His practice has established him as one of the most important figures in contemporary Chinese abstraction.
Su's work has been exhibited internationally at museums and institutions throughout Asia, Europe, and the United States. In 2026, his exhibition Su Xiaobai’s Alchemical Universe was presented as an official collateral event of the Venice Biennale in collaboration with Los Angeles County Museum of Art, reinforcing his position as one of the leading figures in contemporary Chinese abstraction. Read more 
