Vivian Chiu
VIVIAN CHIU utilizes continuous deconstruction and reconstruction to create optical sculptures and explore ideas of visibility and perception. Chu was born in Los Angeles and emigrated to Hong Kong at the age of three. Her interests in creating objects and the visual arts led her to attend the Rhode Island School of Design (BFA ’11 Furniture Design) and Columbia University (MFA ’19 Sculpture). She was awarded a 2020 NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship in Craft/Sculpture and is a recipient of the 2023-24 VMFA Visual Arts Fellowship in Crafts.
Education
2019 Columbia University, School of the Arts, New York, NY
Masters of Fine Arts Visual Arts – Sculpture
2011 Rhode Island School of Design, Providence RI
Bachelor of Fine Arts – Furniture Design
Concentration in History, Philosophy and Social Sciences
Selected Exhibitions
2024 (Upcoming) ‘This Side Up’, Houston Center for Contemporary Craft – Houston, TX
(Upcoming) W.O.W: Wood Invitational, Blue Spiral 1 – Asheville, TN
2023 ‘AND, OR, NOT’ Solo Exhibition, FLXST Contemporary – Chicago, IL
‘Ish’, Tiger Strikes Asteroid – Brooklyn, NY
“The Medium is the Massage: Rafael Domenech” Pop-Up Intervention, ICA – Richmond, VA
‘Turning it all Around’, Messler Gallery – Rockport, ME
‘Quality Control’, FLXST Contemporary – Chicago, IL
2022 ‘Vessel’ – Museum of Art in Wood – Philadelphia, PA
‘Spectral Matter: A Tender Presence’, John & Robyn Horn Gallery- Penland, NC
‘Spectral Matter: A Tender Presence’, Alma’s – Richmond, VA
‘Spectral Matter: A Tender Presence’, Gallery 2052 – Chicago, IL
‘Femme’, FLXST Contemporary – Chicago, IL
‘Essential’, DePillars Gallery – Richmond, VA
Awards / Grants
2023 Virginia Museum of Fine Art Visual Arts Fellowship – Richmond, VA
Iridian Gallery BIPOC Grant Recipient – Richmond, VA
Michael Puryear Scholarship – The Furniture Society
2022 Hirshhorn Museum NY Gala: Artist x Artist Co-Honoree – New York, NY
American Craft Council Emerging Artist Cohort
CultureWorks Grant Recipient – Richmond, VA
Penland Winter Residency Distinguished Fellowship Grant – Penland, NC
Adjunct Faculty Grant for Research and Professional Development, VCU – Richmond, VA
2021 ‘Made in VA’, Second Place Prize, Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art – Virginia Beach, VA
Adjunct Faculty Grant for Research and Professional Development, VCU – Richmond, VA
Collections
Museum For Art In Wood – Philadelphia, PA
With an aptitude for problem solving and a sensitivity towards materials, Vivian utilizes continuous deconstruction and reconstruction to create optical sculptures and explore ideas of visibility and perception.