Yao Bangliang was born in Chenzhou, Hunan Province, and received his master’s degree from the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts in 2015. In 2023, he was awarded in the third edition of the “Hand of Wisdom and Action” Sino-French Craft Exchange Program, which granted him a study visit to Paris. He currently lives and works in Guangzhou.

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His work has been exhibited in numerous important exhibitions, including REVIVING CRAFT: Chinese Intangible Heritage and Contemporary Design in Paris, the lacquer art group exhibition Bodiless Project during Paris Design Week, the Hubei International Triennial of Lacquer Art , the Yeosu International Art Festival in Korea, and the Fuzhou International Lacquer Art Biennale. He has also participated in national exhibitions such as Southern Wind: Cross-Strait Youth Art Exchange Exhibition, the 14th National Exhibition of Fine Arts, and Design Spring.

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Yao’s early practice focused on using lacquer to depict rural architecture and landscapes, emphasizing painterly qualities and graphic representation. Since 2019, he has gradually shifted toward material-centered exploration, focusing on the expressive power of objects, the potential of form, and the interplay between his works and light or space. Lacquer as a medium can present both a mirror-like depth and a gritty, granular texture. Through the inherent color, sheen, and sculptural form of lacquer, he subtly evokes the spatial presence and physicality of objects.

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With the refinement of his techniques and a deeper understanding of the language of lacquer, Yao’s work has expanded into installation art, three-dimensional structures, and spatial concepts, furthering the dialogue between traditional lacquer craftsmanship and contemporary art. His practice not only explores the material potential of lacquer but also seeks to tell stories through the material itself, constructing a non-verbal mode of communication that speaks directly to the viewer’s emotions and thoughts. This body of work reflects his in-depth inquiry into the properties of materials, as well as his efforts to reinterpret and recreate traditional lacquer art within a contemporary context.