Renowned for technical excellence and a refined artistic voice, Cui Xiao Gang has emerged as a leading figure in marble sculpture. Born on August 15, 1980, in Quyang, Hebei—a town with a rich heritage in stone carving—he remains rooted in the same environment that shaped his earliest experiences with the medium. His work reflects the influence of this cultural backdrop, combined with more than twenty years of sustained engagement with carving techniques.
Over the course of his career, he has committed himself to the continuous development of his craft, moving beyond traditional forms to create a distinctive and deeply expressive style. Through disciplined hands-on practice and a deep understanding of marble’s unique properties, he has cultivated a sculptural language that blends precision with creative insight. This long-standing dedication has allowed him to produce a body of work that resonates with clarity, elegance, and a strong sense of identity.
From Childhood Inspiration to Artisan Excellence
Born on August 15, 1980, in Quyang—a town with a centuries-old reputation for stone carving—Cui was raised in an environment steeped in craft and tradition. From an early age, inspiration came from close to home: his father and uncle were respected artisans, whose daily work with stone was a formative influence. Surrounded by the sights and sounds of chisels striking marble, he developed a natural affinity for sculpting, gravitating toward the tools of the trade with intuitive ease, much like a linguist drawn to language.
While many children spent their time with games or sports, his fascination lay in the tactile world of stone. To him, a plain marble block held endless potential—an invitation rather than a barrier. Even in his youth, his hands revealed remarkable coordination and spatial awareness, allowing him to shape and define forms with skill beyond his years. This continuous exposure to workshop routines and hands-on practice helped cultivate his early understanding of structure and proportion. Over time, these experiences shaped his technical ability and creative sensibility, enabling him to interpret complex figures and release them from stone easily and precisely.
Refining Technique Through Lifelong Learning
An ongoing commitment to learning and artistic expansion has defined Cui’s development as a sculptor. Rather than confining himself to a single style or method, he pursued a broad and evolving approach to sculpture. His foundation was rooted in traditional carving, beginning with the mastery of basic forms and essential reliefs. Over time, this solid base allowed for exploring more expressive, narrative-driven styles, supported by countless hours of dedicated practice and study. Both classical traditions and experimental forms informed his process, reflecting a balance between respect for heritage and the pursuit of innovation.
By his mid-twenties, his work had incorporated more complex visual elements. Mixed themes emerged, including the interplay between smooth, flowing drapery and structured, textured wall planes. He also began manipulating negative space, using voids and contours to enhance visual impact. A defining aspect of his practice became the effort to translate motion into marble—a material traditionally associated with weight and stillness. This challenge became central to his artistic identity, resulting in works that appear dynamic and emotionally charged, while still grounded in the enduring solidity of stone. Each sculpture showcases refined technical skill and a deeper artistic vision, inviting viewers to engage with form and feeling.
Marble as Medium, Mentor, and Message
At the core of Cui’s artistic philosophy is a profound reverence for marble—a material he approaches with technical precision and deep respect. His process begins long before the carving, with extensive travel across China and beyond to locate slabs with unique visual characteristics. Layers of veining, subtle translucence, and natural fissures are not viewed as imperfections but as potential sources of inspiration. This tactile and intuitive connection to raw stone forms the foundation of his creative practice.
Once a slab is chosen, the transformation it undergoes is as much spiritual as it is technical. Every tool is carefully calibrated to match the stone’s specific properties, acknowledging that what suits one quarry’s marble may not suit another. Whether polished to a waxy gloss or left with its natural texture intact, surface treatment is determined by the final work’s desired emotional and visual effect. While marble is known for its permanence, Cui approaches it urgently when inspiration strikes, carving with immediacy yet allowing ample time for thoughtful refinement. Each line and curve results from careful deliberation, ensuring that the final piece fully embodies the vision it was meant to carry.
Only the Best: Materials Worth Waiting For
Quality remains the uncompromising foundation of Cui’s artistic practice. Central to Cui’s artistic discipline is a relentless pursuit of uncompromising quality. Every project begins with a firm refusal to compromise on materials, even when sourcing the ideal marble results in extended timelines or increased costs. Each block is approached not merely as raw material, but as an essential collaborator in the creative process. The physical qualities of the marble must align precisely with the intended vision, and only stone that meets these standards is selected for use.
Attention to environmental variables further defines his approach. Natural lighting, surrounding conditions, and installation settings are carefully considered, prompting adjustments in both technique and execution. This ability to balance uncompromising artistic standards with adaptive pragmatism has earned the trust of both private collectors and public institutions. The result is a high rate of continued engagement—over 60% of clients have returned for second or even third commissions. In large-scale sculpture, this repeat collaboration is exceptional, underscoring a reputation built on reliability, integrity, and excellence.
Portfolio Highlights: A Global Stone Gallery
Huawei Headquarters, Shenzhen
Two monumental sculptures installed at Huawei Headquarters each embody a distinct thematic direction. One features an upright figure, symbolizing strength and resilience—an embodiment of endurance and stability within an innovative corporate setting. In contrast, the second sculpture is a reclining form that suggests rest and contemplation, offering a visual pause that complements the surrounding atmosphere of rapid advancement. The juxtaposition of these two pieces highlights the artist’s ability to shape contrasting emotional tones through marble, effectively adapting his artistic language to suit the dynamic energy of a significant technology campus.
The First Garden, Paju, South Korea
Amid The First Garden’s twenty-three artfully curated zones in Paju, Cui’s sculptures unfold like quiet interventions—woven into the rhythm of nature and architecture, blurring the line between crafted form and cultivated landscape. Carved stone forms are set alongside cascading fountains, forming a balanced interplay between marble’s permanence and the flowing water’s movement. This interaction brings a sense of movement and emotional fluidity to the sculptures, transforming them from static objects into immersive experiences. Integrating natural flora further enhances the sensory effect, allowing visitors to experience serenity and stillness through the dialogue between material and environment.
Parrocchia S. Maria Assunta in Cielo, Avellino, Italy
For the Parrocchia S. Maria Assunta in Cielo, a church steeped in religious tradition and surrounded by historical artworks, Cui contributed sculptural symbols rooted in spiritual meaning. The works are designed to align with the centuries-old faith narrative embodied within the space, yet they maintain a minimalist and contemporary visual approach. This balance of reverence and restraint allows the sculptures to complement the church’s sacred atmosphere without overpowering it, creating a cohesive visual presence that enhances the contemplative nature of the site.
Cui Xiao Gang at Giardino Ducale, Atri – Spring 2025
Scheduled for installation in spring 2025, Cui’s upcoming project at the Giardino Ducale Nicola e Luigi Sorricchio engages with the garden’s layered historical context. The setting, marked by Roman foundations and Renaissance-era architecture, provides a backdrop for modern marble sculptures designed to establish a visual dialogue with their surroundings. The works are conceived to interact with the environment over time, responding to changes in natural light and the progression of the seasons. This site-specific approach reflects an ongoing exploration of how contemporary sculpture can coexist with and enhance classical landscapes.
A Commitment Beyond Creation
Despite the international reach of his sculptures, residence and practice remain centered in Quyang, where two parallel missions continue to shape his professional focus: the training of aspiring sculptors and the responsible evolution of traditional stone carving. Emphasizing the importance of knowledge sharing, structured apprenticeships are offered to emerging artists, alongside guided studio visits and informative lectures. These initiatives focus on key aspects of the craft, including quarry sourcing, the geological properties of marble, and sustainable methods that align with long-term preservation of material and technique.
In addition to these in-person educational efforts, work is underway on a comprehensive guide to marble carving. This written resource will detail the essential tools and methods used in the craft. It will also offer philosophical insight into the practice, connecting the tactile demands of sculpture with its deeper conceptual and artistic dimensions. Serving as both instructional reference and reflective text, the guide represents a bridge between hands-on experience and a broader understanding of the medium.
Cui Xiao Gang’s Living Artistry
Cui Xiao Gang’s career is a testament to the enduring power of tradition infused with evolving artistic vision. Grounded in the heritage of Quyang and shaped by decades of disciplined practice, his work transcends geographic and cultural boundaries, earning recognition from collectors and institutions across Asia and Europe. Whether monumental or meditative, each sculpture reflects a deep engagement with material, method, and meaning—an approach that blends technical mastery with a refined personal style.
As preparations unfold for his upcoming installation in Atri, Italy, Cui’s body of work expands—not only in scale but also in influence. His commitment to craftsmanship, education, and the preservation of marble carving tradition ensures that his impact extends beyond the studio. Through public commissions and mentorship, he contributes to the present and future of contemporary sculpture, affirming his role as both an artist and a steward of a centuries-old craft.
