Artist Statement
London as an emerging independent artist. His artistic practice
centers on conceptual art and the study of Institutional Critique, as
he adeptly navigates both curatorial interpretation and artistic
creation. Ren employs publicly recognisable elements essential for
constructing exhibitions and art events—such as labels, signs, and
curatorial tools—as mediums for his work. This approach invites a
thoughtful exploration of how we perceive the spatial dynamics of
production, research, and display.
Through his work, Ren seeks to uncover the positive cultural
potential of exhibitions as social events, viewing them as creative
mediums that foster cognitive experiences and collective
engagement. The decentralisation of artistic authority serves as a
key criterion for assessing the sustainability of his practice as a
valuable research endeavour and paves the way for fostering long-
term collaboration with curatorial teams.
Education
2021-2023 MFA Fine Art, Goldsmiths, University of London, London, United Kingdom
2014-2018 Oil Painting, Fine Art, Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology, Beijing, China
2011-2014 The Attached Middle School to The Central Academy of Art & Design, Beijing, China
2014-2018 Oil Painting, Fine Art, Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology, Beijing, China
2011-2014 The Attached Middle School to The Central Academy of Art & Design, Beijing, China
Group Shows
2025 Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair 2025 ‘The Director’s Cut’ , Online Showcase
2025 ITERATION, Koppel Collective, London
2024 The No-Art Art Show Vol.2, hARTslane Gallery, London
2024 Annual Open 2024, Southwark Park Galleries, London
2024 ASCERTAIN, Espacio Gallery, London
2024 About Time, The Handbag Factory, London
2024 17th Community Art Exhibition in Virtual Reality, Circular Artspace
2024 Leamington Open 2024, Friends of Leamington Art Gallery (FLAG) & Warwick
District Council, Leamington Spa Art Gallery & Museum, Royal Leamington Spa
2024 Perceive, Espacio Gallery, London
2023 OBSCURA-SHADOWS AND WHISPERS, Crypt Gallery, London
2023 Through the Looking Glass, Mall Galleries, London
2023 Tide, Koppel X Gallery, London
2022 Present Tense, Deptford X Festival, Deptford Art Studio, London
2022 The Fish Restaurant of The End of Universe, Billingsgate Market, London
2022 On Hold, Deptford Art Studio, London
2017 XingErShangXia, Beijing institute of Fashion Technology, Beijing
2025 ITERATION, Koppel Collective, London
2024 The No-Art Art Show Vol.2, hARTslane Gallery, London
2024 Annual Open 2024, Southwark Park Galleries, London
2024 ASCERTAIN, Espacio Gallery, London
2024 About Time, The Handbag Factory, London
2024 17th Community Art Exhibition in Virtual Reality, Circular Artspace
2024 Leamington Open 2024, Friends of Leamington Art Gallery (FLAG) & Warwick
District Council, Leamington Spa Art Gallery & Museum, Royal Leamington Spa
2024 Perceive, Espacio Gallery, London
2023 OBSCURA-SHADOWS AND WHISPERS, Crypt Gallery, London
2023 Through the Looking Glass, Mall Galleries, London
2023 Tide, Koppel X Gallery, London
2022 Present Tense, Deptford X Festival, Deptford Art Studio, London
2022 The Fish Restaurant of The End of Universe, Billingsgate Market, London
2022 On Hold, Deptford Art Studio, London
2017 XingErShangXia, Beijing institute of Fashion Technology, Beijing
Press
article by Sophie Nowakowska, July 2025.
2025 “Meet The Artists,” Homiens, June 2025
2025 This is Tomorrow, “The Conceptual Architecture of Absence: Haochen Ren’s Institutional Critique.” authored by James Smiths, April 2025
2025 Contemporary Art Issue, “The Space Between Declarations: On Haochen Ren’s Art; Borrowed Spaces & Labels Without Anchors,” featured article by Julien Delagrange, April 2025
2025 FAD Magazine, “Renegotiating Meaning: Labels, Spaces, and the Viewer in Haochen Ren’s Practice,” authored by Mark Westall, April 2025
2024 “Interviews: 10 Questions with Haochen Ren,” Al-Tiba9 Contemporary Art Magazine, June 2024
2024 “101 Contemporary Artists and More Vol.6,” Collect Art, June 2024
Prizes and Awards
2025 Finalist, Doddington Hall Young Sculptor Award 2025, Doddington Hall & Gardens
2025 Extended Longlist, Jackson’s art prize 2025, Jackson’s Art Supplies
2024 Artistic Merit, The Luxembourg Art Prize 2024, Pinacothèque (a private museum in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg)