Hongxi Li

Hongxi Li (b. 1996, Xiamen) is an artist based in London. Li’s work explores the complexities of human behaviour and societal constructs across various mediums, including sculpture, sound, scent, installation, video, and live performance. Through research into corporate influence, power dynamics, and emotional discomfort, Li’s work undergoes a transformative process whereby mass-produced staple items are meticulously reimagined into handcrafted pieces using labour-intensive methods like metalwork, ceramics, and upholstery. In her artistic pursuit, Li constructs visual narratives that blend personal experiences with universally relatable emotions. Audiences are invited to explore underlying layers and connect with their own narratives.

Embracing a minimalist, retro-modernist aesthetic, Li draws inspiration from architectural symbols of capitalism, integrating humour—whether through the inefficiency of objects or the repetition of mechanical motifs—as a method of grappling with its challenging implications. Rooted in her Chinese heritage, she disrupts traditional mass production methods, bridging tradition and innovation to encourage viewers to reconsider the familiar and reflect on the intersections of art and design. This exploration is driven by a deeper interest in understanding our modern society and humanity, as Li believes that the history of design is fundamentally intertwined with the evolution of human conceptions and the state of our species. 

Li earned a BA in Fine Art from Chelsea College of Arts (2018), an MA in Creative & Cultural Entrepreneurship from Goldsmiths University (2021) and an MA in Sculpture from the Royal College of Art, London (2024). 

Solo exhibitions include ‘RSVP’, Neven Gallery, London (2024); ‘DREAM RICH’, Harlesden High Street, London (2022); ‘SHAPED’, V.O Curations, London (2022); ‘SWEATSHOP & DREAM’, SanDao Gallery, Xiamen (2014).

Her work has been featured in group exhibitions at Hybrid Art Fair, Madrid (2023); 9 French Place, London (2023); Kupfer Project, London (2023); The Residency Gallery, London (2022); Generation and Display, London (2022); Kant Garage, Berlin (2022); Lecce Art Week, Lecce (2022); M50 Innovation Plus Art-space, Shanghai (2019); DATEAGLE ART Online (2019); Tate Modern (Tate Exchange), London (2018).

Li has been awarded the Vice-Chancellor’s Achievement Scholarship, Royal College of Art, London (2023); Developing Your Creative Practice Fund, Arts Council England (2023); and been shortlisted for Bloomberg New Contemporaries, London (2022). Li’s work is held in the collection of DATEGALE ART.