About
Bio
Alan Chin (b. 1987, Berkeley, CA) is an interdisciplinary artist based in Los Angeles. In 2011 he earned a BFA in Ceramics and Painting from California College of the Arts in San Francisco and studied at Academie Minerva in the Netherlands. In his work, he seeks to navigate the ever-expanding landscape of information through visual language, embracing the fluidity and multiplicity of artistic expression. His practice spans painting, sculpture, installation, performance, and film, with a core focus on ceramics, found objects, and oil on canvas. He explores the value and meaning embedded in the mundane, transforming the ordinary into a conduit for deeper understanding.
Chin views art as both a process and a reflection of human behavior, balancing chaos and order. His work functions as dynamic systems in constant flux, aiming to bring clarity to the world's disarray and illuminate shared experiences. Each work is a gesture towards bridging the gap between individual perception and collective experience, capturing the essence of interactions with time, space, and identity.
Chin has exhibited internationally at institutions such as the Berkeley Art Museum, California College of the Arts, The Kaneko, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum. He represented the USA at the 2017 International Sculpture Biennale in Wuhan, China. In 2021, the City of Torrance acquired his work from an anti asian-hate rally. That same year, he co-founded Space Ten, an artist-run curatorial space dedicated to exhibitions and original scholarship.
Alan Chin
Born: 1987, Berkeley, CA
Live/Work: Los Angeles, CA
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Education
BFA in Ceramics and Painting
California College of the Arts, Oakland, CA (2005 - 2011)
Academie Minerva Hanzehogeschool
Groningen, The Netherlands (2007 - 2008)
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Selected Teaching Experience, Lectures, Residencies, Workshops, and Panels
2024
- Guest Lecture, Jo Lauria: Ceramics Professional Critiques, Otis College of Art and Design, Los Angeles, CA
2023
- Guest Lecture, 36th California Conference for the Advancement of Ceramic Arts, Davis, CA
- Lecture on Artist Raymond Saunders, Sonoma Valley Museum of Art, Sonoma, CA
2022
- Artist in Residence, California College of the Arts, Oakland, CA
- Guest Speaker, Spring Place, New York, NY
- Guest Instructor, Everson Art Museum, Syracuse, NY
- Guest Instructor, Greensburg Art Center, PA
- Guest Instructor, Englewood Arts Center, MO
- Guest Lecture, Bowling Green State University, OH
- Guest Artist, The Kaneko, Omaha, NE
2021
- Guest Lecture, Long Beach Community College, CA
- Artist in Residence, The Kaneko, Omaha, NE
2020
- Guest Lecture, LA Art Core, Los Angeles, CA
2016
- Artist in Residence, Mission Clay Arts and Industry Program, Phoenix, AZ
2015
- Guest Lecture, College of Business Administration, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA
2014
- Guest Lecture, California College of the Arts, Oakland, CA
2012
- Painting Faculty, California College of the Arts, Oakland, CA
2008-2009
- Guest Instructor, Ox Bow School, Napa Valley, CA
2008
- Guest Lecture, Acalanes High School, Lafayette, CA
- Guest Instructor, Eastside Arts Alliance, Oakland, CA
2006 - 2014
- Studio Assistant to Raymond Saunders
- Teaching Assistant to Raymond Saunders, California College of the Arts, Oakland, CA
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Upcoming Exhibitions
2025
- Dream Landscapes, Artemin Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan
- Whistle Blown and Worn: 7 Short Stories in Pipe Form, Cal Shakes, Orinda, CA
- Mission Clay, Palo Alto Art Center, Palo Alto, CA
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Selected Solo Exhibitions
2024
- Morning Song, Outlook Is Project, Los Angeles, CA
- On The Shoulders Of, Not There Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2019
- Garden, Lydia Takeshita Legacy Exhibits, LA Artcore, Los Angeles, CA
2018
- Small Paintings, MP’s Wall, Ochi Projects, Los Angeles, CA
- Dream Waves, Downey Projects, Downey, CA
2016
- Los Angeles Fashion Week: Opening Ceremony, The Alexandria Hotel, Los Angeles, CA
2010
- Subconsciousness, Isabelle Percy West Gallery, Oakland, CA
- Journey To A Dream, Firehouse Art Collective, Oakland, CA
2009
- A Cycle, Art Foundry Gallery, Sacramento, CA
2008
- Winschoterdiep Gallery, Groningen
- On the Floor, Raymond Saunders, Resché Ateliér, Paris
- Selection, Minerva Gallery, Groningen
2007
- Hangers, Cabana Club, Hollywood, CA
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Selected Group and Two-Person Exhibitions
2024
- Ready Made: The Kid Stays In The Picture, Blue Door Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
- +1, Manhattan Beach Art Center, Los Angeles, CA
- AMBOS Project, Frieze LA, Santa Monica, CA
- La Serra, Community Clay, Denver, CO
2023
- Cup Show 2, Space Ten Gallery, Hawthorne, CA
- Legacy, Manhattan Beach Art Center, Manhattan Beach, CA
- Atonement, ZXY Gallery, New York, NY
- Terracotta Corridor, OxBow Public Market, Napa Valley, CA
- Let’s Talk Trash, Yi Wei Gallery, Venice Beach, CA
2022
- Clay & Textile, Williamsburg Art and Historical Center, NYC
- Cup Show, Space Ten, Hawthorne, CA
- On The Edge: CCA Clay, Pence Gallery, Davis, CA
- Surfshop, GLAS, Society of Art Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
2021
- Clay Mural, Greenberg Art Center, PA
- Paint The Bus, Art Basel Miami, Axel Hotel, Miami, FL
- Know Going Back, Spectrum Fair, Miami, FL
- Thirsty, Eyedrum Gallery, Atlanta, GA
- Chin and Franco’s- SLS, Miami Swim Week, Miami, FL
- Tom Franco and The Ice Creams, Canton Museum, OH
2020
- Quarantine Diary, 7X7 LA, Los Angeles, CA
- Ephemera, Vocal Warehouse, Los Angeles, CA
- A Message to Space, Beacon Arts Space, Supercollider Gallery, Inglewood, CA
2019
- Transitions, Curated by Lisa Staugaard, Cordary Studios, Hawthorne, CA
- Alma Mater: Methods, Hubbell Street Galleries, California College of the Arts, San Francisco, CA
- Yutaka Matsuzawa Documentary, Nonaka-Hill, Los Angeles, CA
2018
- Crosscurrents, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan
- Heaven, Art of Elysium: Dunn Residence, Beverly Hills, CA
- Tom Franco & The Art Dreams, Adeline's LAB, Berkeley, CA
2017
- 27 Degree Angle, East Lake International Ecological Sculpture Biennale, Wuhan, China
- Winter Wonderful: Children's Action Network, Private Residence, Holmby Hills, CA
2016
- Sculpture In The Garden, Sam and Alfreda Maloof Foundation for the Arts and Crafts Museum, Alta Loma, CA
2015
- Winter Wonderful: Children's Action Network, Private Residence, Holmby Hills, CA
2014
- See.Me, Scope Art Fair, Miami, FL
- Unbreakable, Benicia Arts Center, Benicia, CA
2013
- The Whole Pie, The Luggage Store Gallery, San Francisco, CA
- Winter Wonderland, Pritzker Family Residence, Bel Air, CA
2012
- Tree House, The Kelsey Projects, Berkeley, CA
- Wonders of the World, The Kelsey Projects, Berkeley, CA
2011
- Ceramics Annual of America, Fort Mason Center, San Francisco, CA
- Painting and Sculpture by Alan Chin, 7 Wang Projects, Taipei
2010
- Time Travel: Journey Through A Dream, Firehouse South Gallery, Oakland, CA
2009
- Reflection Series, Steve Herrmanns Gallery, Seattle, WA
- Sofia’s Baby, Francis Ford Coppola Estate, St. Helena, Napa Valley, CA
2008
- Members, Richmond Art Center, Richmond, CA
- Alan Chin + Shawn Hibmacronan Painting and Sculpture, Isabelle Percy West Gallery, Oakland, CA
2007
- One Ton, Classroom: John Natsoulas Gallery (CCACA), Davis, CA
- Contemporary Painting and Sculpture, Pamela Skinner Gwenna Howard Contemporary, Sacramento, CA
2006
- Bay Area Art, Richmond Art Center, Richmond, CA
- To Paint, Curated by Linda Geary, Bruce Galleries, Oakland, CA
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Selected Performances
2021-2023
- Know Going Back: US Art Tour, 40 cities across the USA
2019
- Human Circles, Collaboration with Yes Theory and Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan
2017
- Art of Elysium 20th Anniversary, There There Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2014
- The Possible, Berkeley Art Museum/Pacific Film Archive, Berkeley, CA
2013
- Remembrance (Guerrilla Performance), Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, CA
2012
- Dedication, Phoenix Villa: Tryall Club, Hopewell
2011
- New-order, Kelsey Projects, Berkeley, CA
2009
- Bach to Africa, Dean Lesher Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek, CA
2006
- Red Sound, Steven Oliver Center, California College of the Arts, Oakland, CA
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Public Art Projects and Collections
2023
- Terracotta Corridor, OxBow Public Market, Napa Valley, CA
- Terracotta Corridor, Rail Arts District, Napa Valley, CA
2021-2023
- Know Going Back: US Art Tour, 40 cities across the USA
- Angel Island, Public Mural, YMCA SF Chinatown, San Francisco, CA
- Permanent Collection of Williamsburg Art and Historical Center
2020
- Stop Asian Hate, Public Mural, City of Torrance, CA
2019
- Aha, Orinda Public Library, Orinda, CA
- Connected: Seek Discomfort, Yes House, Venice Beach, CA
2017-2018
- Connected Sculpture, 27 Degree Angle: Artist in Residency, East Lake International Ecological Sculpture Biennale, Wuhan
2016
- 24Hrs, Yes Theory HQ, Venice Beach, CA
2013
- BOOM, Venice Music Crawl, Venice, CA
- Creatives Rising, LINC LIC Building, Time Square, NY
2011
- Bay Area Legacies: Beyond Tradition 75th Anniversary, Richmond Art Center, Richmond, CA
- MONA, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
2010
- Elegy to S.E.R. MURAL, Acalanes High School Performing Art Center, Lafayette, CA
2005
- Orinda Arts Council Expo, Orinda Library Gallery, Orinda, CA
2004
- Hearts in San Francisco, San Francisco Civic Center, AT&T Park, Oak St. & Main Public Library, San Francisco, CA
2003
- California Young Artist, House of Congress, Washington, DC
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Honors and Awards
2019
- LA Artcore: Lydia Takeshita Legacy Exhibition
2017
- East Lake International Ecological Sculpture Biennale: High Honor, Representing USA
2010
- Art Nelson Award: Ceramic Practice
2008
- Winschoterdiep 46: Emerging Artist Award
2005
- Citizen of the Year, Acalanes High School
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Professional Affiliations
- Member, California College of the Arts Alumni Association
- Board Member, La Serra Collective Foundation (501(c)(3))
- Board Member, Society of Art Los Angeles (501(c)(3))
- Flower Petal: Flower Residency Foundation
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Selected Public Collections
- City of Torrance, Torrance, CA
- Acalanes High School, Lafayette, CA
- The Kaneko, Omaha, NE
- Williamsburg Art and Historical Center, Williamsburg, NY
- On Star HQ, San Francisco, CA
- Englewood Art Center, Independence, MO
- Greensburg Art Center, Greensburg, PA