PITTSBURGH, PA.- Contemporary Craft announced its upcoming exhibition, Peregrination: Xiaojing Yan 闫晓静, on view February 6 - May 2, 2026. The exhibition is the next installment in our Tomayko Solo Artist Elevation Series and will open with a free, public reception on Friday, February 6, 5:30 - 8:00 PM.

In this solo exhibition, artist Xiaojing Yan explores the evolving relationship between identity, tradition, and the natural world. Yan's art reflects a journey of transformation—an intricate weaving of folklore, ritual, and nature into a symbolic and dreamlike representation of lived experience. The exhibition features more than 16 works across a variety of mediums and includes materials such as bronze, paper, and freshwater pearls, among others. The selected works were created between 2014 and 2025.

Through meticulous craftsmanship and layered symbolism, her work becomes a meditation space—where the past converses with the present. In this act of peregrination, Yan constructs a landscape uniquely her own, evoking poetic and philosophical reflections on humanity's connection to the natural world.

"Xiaojing’s work reinterprets Chinese folklore and craft through a contemporary lens. Using natural motifs to explore migration, hybridity and belonging, her work transforms tradition into personal mythology. Her thoughtful materials and approach draw viewers in, inviting deep engagement with cultural perspectives and an intimate relationship with nature," said Yu-San Cheng, Director of Visual Engagement.

Peregrination: Xiaojing Yan 闫晓静 is part of Handwork 2026, Craft in America's nationwide semiquincentennial collaboration showcasing the importance of the handmade and celebrating the diversity of craft that defines America.

Xiaojing Yan (b. 1978, Jiangsu, China) lives and works in Toronto, Canada. Yan’s work has appeared in solo exhibitions at institutions including the Sharjah Art Museum in UAE, Chinese American Arts Council in NYC, Richmond Art Gallery in Canada, and Suzhou Museum in China, Hermès Maison in Shanghai, and Varley Art Gallery in Canada. Her projects have been featured in venues throughout Canada as well as China, France, USA, UAE and Greece.

Yan is a recipient of numerous awards and grants including InStyle’s Women InCreation Prize in Visual Arts (2021), Young Alumni Achievement Award from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (2014). Yan’s work was futured on the cover of Art in America March 2022 issue, and the cover of Leonardo journal August 2023 issue published by MIT Press.