Miao Li (b. China, 1996) is an artist with a background in design, currently residing at Zen River Temple in Uithuizen, the Netherlands. Working hands‑on with plant fibres from harvest to finished objects, he creates intercultural ritual pieces and scenarios for cessation and contemplation. Through making as a research method, his practice explores the intersection of craft, ecology, and spirituality in collaboration with local communities, vegetation and landscapes, seeking to awaken our ecological unconscious.

Education

• 2025 Residential training, Zen River Temple (NL)

• 2023-2019 BA Product Design, Cum Laude, ArtEZ University of the Arts (NL)
  
• 2022 Summer School Protugese Basketry (PT)
  
• 2018-2014 BEng Industrial Design, China University of Mining and Technology (CN)

Residency

• 2024 ZEN AIR - artist in residency EIHEIJI (JP)

Grant / Award

• 2025 Talent Development Grant, Creative Industries Fund NL (NL)
• 2024 Design Grant, Creative Industries Fund NL (NL)
• 2024 Project Subsidies for the Professionele Arts, Amsterdams Fonds voor de Kunst (NL)
• 2024 Grant Stroomversneller, Cultuur Academy (NL)
• 2021 First Prize of Design Contest Cor Unum (NL)
  

Exhibition / Event

• 2025 *Upcoming* Exhibition Root Emotions, Van Eesteren Museum (NL)

• 2025 Tea Clay Vase showing in tea ceremony, gallery CHAxART x KVVAK, Rijksmuseum (NL)

• 2025 Exhibition Beinglonging: New Trajectories in the Third Context, gallery CHAxART, Design Biennale Rotterdam (NL)
• 2024 Exhibition ZEN AIR EIHEIJI (JP)
• 2024 Exhibition ArtEZ Finals (NL)
• 2022 Exhibition Crafting Imperfections of Tea Clay, Dutch Design Week (NL)
  
• 2022 Exhibition Chacycle, gallery CHAxART (NL)
  
• 2021  Exhibition Eat Together, gallery CHAxART (NL)
  

Working

• 2024-2023 Junior Designer, Jongeriuslab (NL)
  
• 2022 Internship, Jos Klarenbeek (NL)
  
• 2021 Internship, Fillip Studios (NL)
  
• 2019 Internship, Benwu Studio (CN)

Teaching

• 2025 labweek Making Meditation, Materials in Artistic Practices, Frank Mohr Institute (NL)
• 2024 workshop Introduction to Basket Weaving, Kamishini Elementary School (JP)
  
• 2024 workshop Artifical Botany, Graphic Design, ArtEZ University of the Arts (NL) 
• 2023 workshop Material Inquiry, Product Design, ArtEZ University of the Arts (NL)