Ouyu Yao
Fine Art BA Hons
Kingston School of Art
Graduates: 2026
Specialisms: Printmaking / Fine Art / Photography
My location: London, United Kingdom
Ouyu Yao
First Name: Ouyu
Last Name: Yao
University / College: Kingston School of Art
Course / Program: Fine Art BA Hons
Graduates: 2026
Specialisms: Printmaking / Fine Art / Photography
My Location: London, United Kingdom
Website: Click To See Website
About
My practice primarily explores printmaking and its intersections with sculpture, book art, and photography. My works discuss themes of home and society. Growing up in a seaside city, I developed a deep connection with the sea—its contradictions fascinate me. It is inclusive, embracing every conduit of water, yet exclusive, consuming anything that ventures too close. I see similar contradictions in society: it welcomes diversity while simultaneously marginalising certain groups. These tensions between inclusion and exclusion form central interests in my practice.
My project Migration explores a prominent phenomenon in today’s world. As an immigrant myself, I feel deeply connected to the complex experiences many immigrants face. Using natural elements and everyday objects as metaphors, I created a narrative book piece that reveals the emotions and challenges immigrants experienced. Incorporating intaglio printmaking, photography, letterpress and book art, this work demonstrates my interest in exploring the possibilities of printmaking in dialogue with other media, while also expressing my concern for social issues. Intro: Fragility Fragility, 2026 etching, spit-bite aquatint on Chinese paper 152 x 225 mm (unframed) Part 1: Migration Into the Unknown, 2026 etching, spit bite aquatint, chine-collé 462 x 300 mm (unframed) edition of 3 Migration, 2026 artist book with etching, aquatint, digital print and letterpress 120 x 190 mm edition of 4 Part 2: Solitude I can change everything about me to fit in I, 2026 Giclée print on Hahnemühle German etching paper 280 x 280 mm Solitude, 2025 woodblock print, etching, chine-collé 470 x 330 mm variable edition of 3 I can change everything about me to fit in II, 2026 Giclée print on Hahnemühle German etching paper 280 x 280 mm Part 3: Home The Sea, 2026 etching, aquatint, chine-collé 462 x 300 mm (unframed) edition of 3 Memories, 2026 artist book with etching, aquatint, lasercut relief printing closed: 105 x 118 mm opened: 990 x 118 mm edition of 6
Competitions
