Su Xiaobai's lacquer works bridge Chinese tradition and European abstraction at Venice Biennale collateral event
Su Xiaobai, a Chinese-German artist, presents 35 works in 'Alchemical Universe' at Palazzo Soranzo Van Axel in Venice, a collateral event of the Biennale. Curated by Stephen Little of LACMA and designed by architect Kulapat Yantrasast, the exhibition fills the 15th-century Cannaregio palazzo. Su works exclusively in lacquer after Gerhard Richter advised him in 2003 to abandon oils. His square-format pieces involve layers of lacquer, sometimes scored or abraded. One room features suspended maroon temple tiles; another displays works on mirrored Murano glass. Monochrome blacks and greys evoke Chinese ink paintings. Su divides his time between Shanghai and Düsseldorf. In 2024, a foundation was established to preserve his art; in 2026, it launches a Curatorial Residency in Shanghai with USC's Roski School of Art and Design. The exhibition runs 9 May to 22 November 2026.
Key facts
- Su Xiaobai was advised by Gerhard Richter in 2003 to focus on lacquer.
- Alchemical Universe is a collateral event of the Venice Biennale.
- The exhibition features 35 works at Palazzo Soranzo Van Axel.
- Curated by Stephen Little, designed by Kulapat Yantrasast.
- Su uses only lacquer, often in large quantities.
- Works are square, layered, sometimes scored or abraded.
- One room has suspended maroon temple tiles; another uses mirrored Murano glass.
- A foundation established in 2024; a Curatorial Residency launches in 2026 with USC Roski School.
Entities
Artists
- Su Xiaobai
- Gerhard Richter
- Kulapat Yantrasast
- Stephen Little
Institutions
- Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)
- Palazzo Soranzo Van Axel
- Su Xiaobai Foundation
- University of Southern California’s Roski School of Art and Design
- LACMA
- Central Academy of Fine Arts
- Kunstakademie Düsseldorf
- WHY Architecture
- Dib Bangkok
- Venice Biennale
- Wallpaper*
Locations
- Venice
- Italy
- Cannaregio
- Shanghai
- China
- Düsseldorf
- Germany
- Church of Santa Maria dei Miracoli
- Wuhan
- Beijing
- Bangkok
- Thailand
- Singapore