Jiang Yihua is a renowned ceramic artist from Yixing, Jiangsu Province, China. She was born in 1963 into a family of ceramic artists and is the daughter of the master "Jiang Rong," one of the seven senior masters of purple clay pottery. She holds the title of Researcher-level Senior Arts and Crafts Specialist. Jiang is also recognized as a senior technician in rural revitalization and is an inheritor of intangible cultural heritage in Yixing. She is considered a master of traditional Chinese ceramic art and a successor to the floral pottery style of her mother, Jiang Rong. She has received guidance and mentorship from various renowned artists.
In 1981, Jiang joined the purple clay craft factory as an apprentice, where she learned the basic techniques of purple clay shaping under the guidance of her master, Gao Lijun, and her junior mentors, Ding Hongshun and Ji Yishun. In 1984, she enrolled in a research institute to study under her mother, Jiang Rong, and received guidance from many other masters. In 1988, she furthered her studies at the Central Academy of Arts and Crafts in Beijing, focusing on the fundamental principles of ceramic modeling and design concepts, which greatly inspired her artistic creativity.
In 1997, after assessment, Jiang Yihua was appointed as an assistant craft artist. Since childhood, she has received strict education and training from her adoptive mother, Master Jiang Rong. Diligently and earnestly learning by her mother's side, Jiang Yihua has laid a solid foundation in traditional craftsmanship. Through decades of hard work and diligent research, she has gained a deep understanding of floral pottery production. Continuous learning has broadened her creative thinking.
One of her notable works, the "Lotus Leaf and Handle Teapot," has been highly praised by collectors. She carefully carves the vein patterns on the leaf, uses the curled leaf as the spout to ensure smooth water flow, and incorporates the thorny stem of the leaf as the handle, resulting in a practical and aesthetically pleasing teapot inspired by elements from the natural world. Jiang Yihua has initially inherited her mother's artistic style and specializes in creating floral pottery, as well as other ceramic artworks. Her works showcase innovative concepts, graceful forms, exquisite craftsmanship, and a high level of artistic achievement. Many of her works have been collected by domestic and international collectors.
