Vivian Xu is an interdisciplinary artist, designer, and researcher. Her work investigates issues at the intersection of biology, technology, material ecology, and design. These works often take the form of objects, installations, wearables, and toolkits that transcend the boundaries of biological and digital media. Her creative practice is informed by emerging practices between the arts and sciences that merges approaches from the studio and the laboratory. Her process is research driven and grounded in design methodology. 

 

Xu’s work has been exhibited at various institutions in China, the US, and Europe, including the National Art Museum of China (China), the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra (China), China Design Museum (China), Power Station of Art (China), NTU Center for Contemporary Art (Singapore), the New York Science Museum (United States), Art Laboratory Berlin (Germany), Kapelica Gallery (Ljubljana). She has also been awarded research residencies at institutions such as SymbioticA at the University of Western Australia (Perth) and the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science (Berlin). Her work and practice have been profiled by media such as VICE Creators Project (China), Global China Television (China), Elle magazine (USA), Tagesspiegel (Berlin), Neural Magazine (Italy), and CLOT Magazine (EU). In 2022, her work The Silkworm Project was selected for the Lumen Prize for Art and Technology Hua Awards Shortlist.

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Xu is currently an Assistant Professor of Design at DePaul University in Chicago. She also co-directs the Design, Technology, and Radical Media Lab with Prof. Benjamin Bacon.