Master sculptor Cui Xiao Gang is renowned for his exceptional expertise in marble carving and his uniquely personal artistic voice. Born on August 15, 1980, in Quyang, Hebei—a region famed for its centuries-old stone carving traditions—Cui remains deeply connected to his roots, living and working in the very town that shaped his artistic journey. For over two decades, he has dedicated himself to the intricate discipline of sculpture, refining his technical skills and evolving a signature style marked by precision, clarity, and emotional depth.
Through unwavering patience, craftsmanship, and an intuitive bond with his materials, this master sculptor has earned a distinguished place in contemporary sculpture. His works seamlessly bridge the classical and the modern, honoring the heritage of his homeland while speaking to the present with quiet power and elegance.
Roots in Stone: A Childhood Carved by Heritage
For Cui Xiao Gang, sculpture was never a path consciously chosen—it was an inheritance absorbed with every passing day. Growing up in Quyang, a town in northern China famed for its enduring stone carving traditions, he was immersed in an environment where sculpture was not reserved for galleries or special occasions—it was a part of everyday life. The constant sound of chisels against stone, the sight of dust-covered tools, and the quiet dedication of local artisans formed the backdrop of his earliest memories.
His first exposure to carving came directly from his own family. His father and uncle, both seasoned craftsmen, introduced him to the fundamentals not through formal instruction, but through shared time in their workspace. These early years were filled with careful observation—Cui watched as rough blocks slowly transformed under their hands, learning not just the mechanics of technique but the discipline and patience the craft demands. What quickly became apparent was his intuitive grasp of form and structure.
He could easily translate vision into confident line drawings and three-dimensional studies even as a child. While his peers were still exploring crayons and paper, Cui was already developing an eye for proportion and a feel for the tools of the trade. He wasn’t simply repeating what he saw—he was beginning to internalize it, shaping a foundation that would evolve into his own artistic identity.
Two Decades of Refinement: From Apprentice to Innovator
From his teenage years into adulthood, Cui Xiao Gang committed himself entirely to sculpture’s demanding, patient art. Where many artists narrow their focus early, Cui took the more rigorous route—refining various techniques and mastering work across different materials, scales, and styles. For him, carving is like a language: true expression comes not from repetition, but from fluency. His goal has never been to replicate tradition, but to speak through it—with clarity, confidence, and creative range.
Each phase of Cui’s career reflects a distinct evolution. Early commissions were technical proving grounds, sharpening his precision and control. Later, his works began to carry emotional depth and narrative nuance. As he developed, he immersed himself in global sculptural traditions, drawing from Michelangelo’s anatomical perfection, Isamu Noguchi’s serene minimalism, and Chinese Buddhist art’s intricate spirituality. Yet he never imitated—he translated. Today, his sculptures stretch Quyang’s legacy into the present, blending traditional craftsmanship with modern design language. Clean lines, subtle abstractions, and quiet symbolism define his style. These aren’t static monuments—they actively participate in their surroundings, responding to light, space, and the people who encounter them.
A Deep Connection with Marble: Nature as Mentor
For Cui Xiao Gang, marble is far more than a sculptural material—it is a collaborator with memory, energy, and voice. He speaks of marble not as something to conquer, but as something to understand. Each vein, shimmer, and fault line carries a history formed over millennia, offering the sculptor a surface to shape and a presence to engage with. To Cui, marble is a living material—responsive, mysterious, and deeply instructive.
Years of close study have made him intimately familiar with the nuances of stone, from Italian Carrara’s soft, luminous quality to the dense, stoic elegance of China’s Hanbaiyu. His understanding goes beyond aesthetics; it includes mineral structure, fracture patterns, and how different marbles respond to tools and time. This knowledge guides every step of his process, from the angle of a cut to the final finish, ensuring that each piece carries both physical strength and emotional resonance.
Before carving begins, Cui often embarks on meditative quarry visits, hand-selecting slabs for beauty and character. He observes how the stone catches light, holds warmth, and how its natural contours might echo the feeling of a gesture or breath. Only then does the carving begin—not as an act of dominance, but as a quiet unfolding of what the stone already contains.
An Artist of Discipline: Quality as a Way of Life
In a practice shaped by precision and patience, quality becomes more than a standard—it becomes a philosophy. Each sculpture results from sustained focus, shaped over weeks or months through repeated carving, observation, and refinement cycles. Rushing has no place here; time itself is treated as a tool, essential to allowing form and meaning to emerge naturally.
Every element in the studio reflects this commitment to excellence. Tools are often customized to suit specific techniques, and stone samples are meticulously tested for durability and purity. Materials are not selected for convenience, but for their ability to endure. The process values permanence over productivity, carefully considering each detail to ensure the finished work carries the strength and clarity to outlast its maker.
Carving Across Borders: Public Works and Global Recognition
Cui Xiao Gang’s dedication to craftsmanship and distinctive sculptural vision has steadily increased international recognition. His works are now featured in various public and private settings across several countries. These include modern corporate campuses, religious institutions, and cultural parks—each site chosen and interpreted through careful artistic integration. Rather than dominating the space, Cui’s sculptures adapt to their environments, enhancing each location’s visual and emotional tone. Through his art, he transcends the limitations of language and geography, offering a universal visual experience that resonates across cultural boundaries.
Huawei Campus, Shenzhen, China
Among Cui’s most widely seen works is a pair of marble sculptures installed at Huawei’s headquarters in Shenzhen. One figure is a standing woman portrayed with a graceful, grounded posture that conveys quiet strength and inner reflection. The second sculpture depicts a reclining figure resting in a hammock, a symbol of calm and balance situated within the dynamic setting of a leading technology company. Together, these two pieces showcase Cui’s ability to introduce a sense of human warmth and introspection into a sleek, high-tech environment.
The First Garden, Paju, South Korea
In South Korea, Cui was commissioned to create a series of marble fountains and figurative sculptures for The First Garden, a cultural park in Paju City known for its 23 themed zones. His contributions are thoughtfully designed to harmonize with the surrounding floral and natural landscape. Themes of renewal, the passage of time, and humanity’s relationship with nature are woven into each piece. Visitors are drawn to the sensory appeal of these sculptures, not just as visual artworks, but as interactive elements that invite reflection and quiet engagement amid the setting’s garden paths and water features.
Sacred Spaces: Parrocchia S. Maria Assunta in Cielo, Avellino, Italy
Cui’s sculptural presence has also reached sacred spaces in Europe. In Avellino, Italy, he was invited to contribute several works to the Parish of Santa Maria Assunta in Cielo. These pieces include religious symbols and forms created with a firm spiritual intention. His approach favors simplicity and clarity, using clean lines and refined compositions to evoke a sense of quiet devotion. The resulting sculptures resonate deeply within the church setting, described by clergy members as understated yet profoundly moving, offering a spiritual depth without ornate distraction.
Upcoming: Giardino Ducale Nicola e Luigi Sorricchio, Atri, Italy (2025)
Cui is preparing for a major exhibition at the Giardino Ducale Nicola e Luigi Sorricchio in Atri, Italy, scheduled for 2025. This historic garden will serve as the setting for a new installation of marble sculptures created explicitly for the site. The project is being developed with attention to the garden’s classical structure and botanical character, allowing the pieces to complement the architecture and the natural landscape. Though the final works remain unrevealed, the exhibition is expected to combine narrative symbolism with abstract forms, reflecting Cui’s ongoing exploration of cultural storytelling through sculpture.
This upcoming presentation in Atri marks a significant point in Cui’s career. Not only does it situate his work within a respected European art tradition, but it also underscores his emergence as an internationally recognized sculptor whose artistic voice continues to evolve across borders and disciplines.
Master Sculptor Cui Xiao Gang: Rooted in Stone, Timeless in Vision
Despite his growing fame, Cui remains rooted in his hometown of Quyang, where he mentors young artists and continues to refine his technique. He believes that innovation and heritage can coexist—that sculptors can honor the past while shaping the future.
Cui’s stone sculptures offer something enduring in a world saturated with digital media. They invite stillness, command presence, and connect us with time, not the ticking of minutes but the quiet, geological time carved into the heart of marble.
And perhaps, in the end, this is the secret of Cui Xiao Gang’s brilliance: he does not seek to dazzle. He aims to reveal.
