Si Mazhou 司马周

Si Mazhou (b. 1994, Hangzhou, China) holds a PhD from the China Academy of Art (CAA) and currently lives and works between Hangzhou and Jingdezhen. A professional artist at the forefront of contemporary ceramics, he has been recognized as a “New Peak” (Xin Feng) Talent of the Zhejiang Arts and Culture Program and has received prestigious awards at numerous national and provincial art exhibitions.

His practice is rooted in traditional Chinese ceramic language while striving to transcend the inherent decorative boundaries of functional vessels. By deeply exploring the narrative potential of underglaze painting, Si Mazhou constructs intricate and harmonious micro-ecosystems on original porcelain forms, reflecting the profound synthesis of Eastern philosophy and contemporary visual discourse within a new generation of academic artists.

Artist Statement

“My work is dedicated to exploring the narrative potential of ceramic painting within a contemporary context. Using ‘Animism’ as a core thread, I construct intricate and harmonious micro-ecosystems on original vessels through masterly underglaze techniques.

On a technical level, I leverage the physicochemical reactions of pigments and glazes during high-temperature firing to pursue a ‘necessity of chance,’ reflecting the adaptation and transformation of natural forces inherent in Eastern philosophy. In terms of formal expression, I break through the decorative constraints of traditional vessel painting, emphasizing narrative continuity from a 360-degree rotating perspective. These ethereal, dream-like scenes aim to awaken a keen perception of everyday life, utilizing art to forge an emotional bond between the individual and the vast natural world.”

Selected Distinctions & Exhibitions 

Major Awards 2025 Yingshanhong Award, 10th Zhejiang Folk Arts and Literature Award (All Things Growing: Lamp)

• 2024 Gold Medal, Lin Fengmian Art Creation Award / CAA Graduation Works (All Things Growing Series 1-6)
• 2024 First Prize, “Shengong Cup” Creative Design Competition, China Arts and Crafts Excellence Expo
• 2021 Bronze Award, 12th China Ceramic Art Exhibition (Celadon Bamboo)

Key Exhibitions

• 2025 9th Zhejiang Youth Art Exhibition, Zhejiang, China
• 2023 1st “Youth · Design China” Youth Ceramic Art Creative Design Exhibition, China
• 2022 “New Inheritance” China Ceramic Art Exhibition, China
• 2019 14th Zhejiang Provincial Art Exhibition, Zhejiang, China