Cathy Lu (b. 1984, United States) is a ceramics based artist who manipulates traditional Chinese art imagery and presentation as a way to deconstruct the assumptions we have about Chinese American identity and cultural authenticity. Whether it be the hand-built quality of porcelain security barricades or the effect of various glazes and lusters on slip-cast fruits, Lu emphasizes the malleability of clay. In its many forms, ceramic becomes a potent metaphor for the elastic and evolving nature of cultural identity.
Referencing the Chinese myth of the Immortal Peach Garden, where the deities ate peaches that gave them eternal life, Lu examines the myth in relation to another prevalent mythological garden in American culture, The Garden of Eden. Both of these mythological gardens contain stories that exemplify hierarchy, xenophobia, and fetishize their fruits. Lu’s version of these peaches are transformed and fermenting, resisting traditional symbolism and offering an alternative ‘third space’ for third culture people such as the artist herself.
Fruits are also important symbols in Chinese culture and art – representing wealth, prosperity, longevity, or success. Lu likes to show the fruits bruised and bleeding, and like the girls she paints in her early watercolor on paper works, she continues to play with the idea of what it means to go ‘bad’. Furthermore, Lu explores the idea that food can be a language of ‘home’, creating a sense of identity and belonging.
Lu received her MFA from the San Francisco Art Institute and her BA & BFA from Tufts University. She has participated in artist in residence programs at Root Division SF, Recology SF, and The Archie Bray, MT. Her work has been exhibited at Aggregate Space, Berkeley Art Center, Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and / Slash Art, SF. She was a 2019 Asian Cultural Council / Beijing Contemporary Art Foundation Fellow.
As the winner of 2022 SECA Award, Cathy Lu's solo project is now on view at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.
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American Dream Pillow (Gold Beauty Mask), 2020
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American Dream Pillow (Yellow Beauty Mask), 2020
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Girls in Peach Garden, 2013
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Girls Playing (Head), 2013
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Girls Playing on Leaf, 2013
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Nuwa's Arm with Incense, 2022
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Nuwa's Hands, 2022
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Peach (Girls Playing), 2019
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Peach (Nails), 2019
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Peach Garden, 2018
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Peach with Incense, 2021
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Peripheral Visions, 2020-2022
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California College of Arts
Featuring Adia Millett and Cathy Lu March 29, 2023'Women to Watch: 2024 Suns' Date: 29 March - 28 April 2023 Venue: Campus Gallery of California College of Arts, San Francisco, US Opening reception...Read more -
Cathy Lu
Featured in "Breaking Ground: Women in California Clay" February 24, 2023Breaking Ground: Women in California Clay Date: 10 September 2022 - 12 March 2023 Venue: American Museum of Ceramic Art, Pomona, California, US Galerie du...Read more -
Cathy Lu
2022 Society for the Encouragement of Contemporary Art (SECA) Award Exhibition December 15, 2022Date: 17 December 2022 - 29 May 2023 Venue: San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) Galerie du Monde is delighted to share our Bay...Read more -
Cathy Lu
Artsy: 7 Asian American Artists Using Ceramics to Break New Ground May 18, 2022Born in Miami, the ceramics-based artist Cathy Lu has been featured in the Artsy article, 7 Asian American Artists Using Ceramics to Break New Ground,...Read more -
Cathy Lu
SFMOMA - Society for the Encouragement of Contemporary Art Award May 3, 2022Congratulations to our artist Cathy Lu on receiving the Society for the Encouragement of Contemporary Art Award (SECA) 2022! The SECA was created by the...Read more -
Cathy Lu
"Interior Garden" at Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco January 20, 2022Cathy Lu: Interior Garden Venue: Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco, US Exhibition period: 20 January to 17 December 2022 The Chinese Culture Center of...Read more -
Cathy Lu
"Foreign Bodies” at Jacki Headley University January 30, 2020'Foreign Bodies” Date: 30 January 2020 - 14 March 2020 Venue: Jacki Headley University Art Gallery, California State University, Chico, USA 'Foreign Bodies' combines utopic...Read more