The Fragile, the Flammable, and Forbidden: Books in the Art of Xie Xiaoze

Renowned artist Xiaoze Xie will discuss his exploration of the theme of the library spanning three decades, along with his ambitious project engaging the history of banned books in China. He will share his concepts, research, and creative processes through photographs, videos, and captivating images of paintings, sculptures and installations.

Xiaoze Xie is an internationally recognized artist and the Paul L. & Phyllis Wattis Professor of Art at Stanford University. Xie has exhibited extensively in the U.S. and internationally. His recent solo exhibitions include “Amber of History: Reimagining the Library Cave at Dunhuang” at the Tsinghua University Art Museum in Beijing (2025), “Objects of Evidence” at the Asia Society Museum in New York City (2019–20) and “Eyes On” at the Denver Art Museum (2017–18). His work is in the permanent collection of such institutions as the Denver Art Museum, Museum of Fine Arts Houston, Oakland Museum of California, San Francisco Asian Art Museum, San Jose Museum of Art, among others. Xie received the 2022 Asia Game Changer West Award from the Asia Society Northern California, the Academic Award in Painting in The 3rd Nanjing International Art Festival (2016), the Painters and Sculptors Grant from the Joan Mitchell Foundation (2013), the Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant (2003), and artist awards from the Dallas Museum of Art and Phoenix Art Museum.