Yu Cai is a Chinese animator/illustrator based in Italy, and an artist in the NFT space. Yu creates works that serve as mirrors of contemporary urban existence, vividly illustrating alternative modes of inhabiting the modern landscape. Her imaginative vision offers glimpses into uncharted territories of living, challenging conventional notions and inviting viewers to explore fresh perspectives on our relationship with the urban environment.
With over a decade of professional experience, her art has been showcased internationally in numerous galleries and museums. Yu previously pursued a career as a painter and printmaker and was affiliated with the Italy National Association of Contemporary Engravers. In 2020, however, she discovered digital art and has since fully embraced it as her primary medium of expression.
Contact:
yucai.artist@gmail.com
Interviews
It`s Nice That - “Enter the futuristic, vaporwave dreamland of illustrator Yu Cai”
Foundation - “Artist and Illustrator Yu Cai on Worldbuilding with PFPs”
Press Features
It`s Nice That - "Review of the Year 2022: Top 25 Illustration"
ELLE Vietnam - "Pink" THE WHOLE WORLD
i-D Vice Italy - "9 pubblicazioni indipendenti da tenere d'occhio alla IX edizione di SPRINT"
Exhibitions
2024
NFC Summit, Carlos Lopes Pavillion, Lisbon, Portugal
NFT.Paris, Grand Palais Éphémère, Paris, France
Tokyo Solid, NFT Factory, Paris, France
NFT.NYC, Hudson Yards, New York, US
Tokyo Solid, Nox Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
Aeternum, Holy Club, Carnate, Italy
The Mall is Closing: A Vaporwave Exhibition, Superchief Gallery, New York, US
2023
Onchain Summer, Base House, Miami, US
Nolcha Shows, Miami, US
NFT.UK, London, UK
“Dcentral Tokyo”, Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan
“Cyber Dreams” - Lugano NFT Fest, Asilo Ciani, Lugano, Switzerland
NFT. NYC, Hudson Yards, Times Square, New York, US
14th Gwangju Biennale – “2019 – Present : Every Day”, Meta Art Station, Gwangju, Korea
2022
The Armory Show, Times Square, New York, US
“Current Mood” - Treviso Comic Book Festival, Spazio X, Treviso, Italy [Solo]
“Sprintmilano” Art Book Fair 10th edition, Spazio Maiocchi, Milan, Italy
“Crack” Comic Festival, Piazza D’Armi, Rome, Italy
2021
“Sprintmilano” Art Book Fair 9th edition, Spazio Maiocchi, Milan, Italy
2020
Tales of Landscapes - Nature in Italian Contemporary Engraving, China Printmaking Museum, Shenzhen, China
“Illustra l’emozione” exhibition of illustrations, Palace Cordellina, Vicenza, Italy
La vita dell`Arte, A60 Contemporary Art Space, Milan, Italy
Environmental Crisis, Gerald Moore Gallery, London, UK
2019
“Mechanical Jungle”, A60 Contemporary Art Space, Florence, Italy [Solo]
“Mechanical Jungle”, 1000fryd Art Room, Aalborg, Denmark [Solo]
3rd Bucharest International Printmaking Biennial, Galateca Gallery, Bucharest, Romania
Tales of Landscapes - Nature in Italian Contemporary Engraving, Japan and Italy, Benetton Foundation, Treviso, Italy
20th Varna International Printmaking Biennial, Varna City Art Gallery, Varna, Bulgaria
2nd Spazio Vuoto, Atelier 3 + 10 Art Space, Venice, Italy
Mixc World With Art - Live Young - Illustration Exhibition, Mixc World Center, Shenzhen, China
3rd Kaunas International Printmaking Biennial “Beauty”, National M.K. Čiurlionis Fine Arts Museum, Kaunas, Lithuania
2nd GASP Book Fair, Stadium Euganeo, Padova, Italy
“I am my Body, I am my Memory”, Officine Forte Marghera Gallery, Venice, Italy
Fascino e Curiosità del Mondo Animale nell’ Arte, Venice Academy of Fine Arts , Venice, Italy
On Paper Contest, Sala aLfaRa, Asturias, Spain
7th Guanlan International Printmaking Biennial, China Printmaking Museum, Shenzhen, China
Venicelands Art Prize, Villa Memo Giordani Valieri, Quinto di Treviso, Italy
24th Humour and Satire in Art Biennial, House of Humour and Satire Museum, Gabrovo, Bulgaria
14th International Engraving Biennial, Villa Ottolenghi Wedekind, Acqui Terme, Italy
2018
Takeda. Art/Support. Breakthrough, Ekaterina Cultural Foundation Gallery, Moscow, Russia [Special Prize]
A Month of Paper, Ca`Pesaro International Gallery of Modern Art, Venice, Italy
Carnello cArte ad Arte Engraving, Civico Media Valle del Liri Museum, Sora, Italy
3rd International Printmaking Biennial, Dom kulture, Cacak, Serbia
3rd China Printmaking Exhibition, China Printmaking Museum, Shenzhen, China
Temperature, Changsha Civil Library, Changsha, China
Guanlan Small Print Exhibition, China Printmaking Museum, Shenzhen, China
2nd Lodz International Printmaking Biennial, The Factory in Manufactura Museum, Lodz, Poland
10 Young Artists/Baolina Brugnatelli Foundation Award, Forte Marghera Pavilion 36, Venice, Italy [Second Prize]
10 Young Artists/Baolina Brugnatelli Foundation Award, Baolina Brugnatelli Foundation Gallery, Milan, Italy
