Zhou Xuerong's U.S. Institutional Debut at The Wang Contemporary
In September, "Guest House: Welcome Home," a solo exhibition showcasing life-size wax sculptures by Zhou Xuerong from Guangdong, was held at The Wang Contemporary in New York's Chinatown. This event marked Xuerong's inaugural presentation in a U.S. institution and was the second exhibition for the organization since its launch in February 2026. The display included ten sculptures depicting female icons from Western culture performing traditional Chinese domestic tasks, all dressed in silk qipaos. Co-founder Alexander Wang commended Xuerong's artistry and emotional resonance. With a career spanning 30 years and over 900 sculptures from Grand Orient Wax Art, Xuerong sought to spark discussions on cultural identity and the experience of being a guest in another culture.
Key facts
- The Wang Contemporary is a cultural organization based in New York's Chinatown.
- The exhibition "Guest House: Welcome Home" featured life-size wax sculptures by Zhou Xuerong.
- The show was Xuerong's first institutional presentation in the U.S.
- It was The Wang Contemporary's second exhibition since launching in February 2026 with a performative installation by MSCHF.
- The exhibition included ten sculptures of Western female icons in Chinese domestic scenes.
- Each sculpture was dressed in a silk qipao with a history from Qing Dynasty nobility to 20th-century Shanghai tailoring.
- Alexander Wang co-founded The Wang Contemporary with his mother, Ying.
- Xuerong's 30-year career includes more than 900 sculptures produced through her studio Grand Orient Wax Art.
Entities
Artists
- Zhou Xuerong
- Alexander Wang
- Ying
Institutions
- The Wang Contemporary
- MSCHF
- Grand Orient Wax Art
Locations
- New York
- United States
- Chinatown
- Guangdong
- China
- Shanghai