EDUCATION

2021–2026    PhD, Arts & Humanities, Royal College of Art, London, UK
PhD Dissertation: Sensing Through Glass: A Practice of Perception
2020–2021    MRes, Arts & Humanities, Royal College of Art, London, UK
2017–2019    MA, Ceramics & Glass, Royal College of Art, London, UK
2013–2017    BA, Product Design (Glass Art & Design), China Academy of Art, Hangzhou, PRC


PUBLIC COLLECTIONS

China Academy of Art, Hangzhou, PRC
Eton College, Windsor, UK
KennedyTing.org, London, UK
National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh, UK
Prague Gallery of Czech Glass, Prague, CZ
Qingdao Art Museum, Qingdao, PRC
Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, USA
Ulster Museum, Belfast, UK
Victoria and Albert Museum, London, UK


PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2026    Artist-in-Residence, Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, USA
2025    Artist-in-Residence, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Shenzhen, PRC
2025    Visiting Artist, Palomar College, San Marcos, USA
2025    Artist-in-Residence, Barrio Glassworks Glass Studio, Carlsbad, USA
2024    Visiting Tutor, Winchester School of Art, Winchester, UK
2023    Artist-in-Residence, Sunyata Hotel, Bingzhongluo, PRC
2023    Artist-in-Residence, Pilchuck Glass School, Stanwood, USA
2022–present    Co-founder, J Atelier, Jingdezhen, PRC
2022    Artist-in-Residence, Taoxichuan Glass Studio, Jingdezhen, PRC
2020    Visiting Lecturer, China Academy of Art, Hangzhou, PRC
2020    Visiting Tutor, Almaden Country Day School, San Jose, USA
2019    Artist-in-Residence, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, USA


SELECTED PUBLIC ENGAGEMENTS

2026    Tatler Ball 2026 Charity Auction, Shenzhen, PRC
2026    Artist Talk, Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, USA
2025    TEDx Talk, “I Don’t Like Waiting, But I Create With Time”, TEDxShenzhen, Shenzhen, PRC
2024    46th Annual Auction, Pilchuck Glass School, Stanwood, USA
2024    Glassblowing Demonstration, Glass Art Society Conference, Berlin, DE
2023    Hospital Rooms Charity Auction, invited by Hauser & Wirth, London, UK


COLLABORATIONS & COMMISSIONS

Marriott International Luxury Group
Polène
Rosewood Hotel Group
Tatler
LOEWE


SELECTED AWARDS

2024    Barrio Glassworks Artist Appreciation Award by Pilchuck Auction & Gala, Barrio Glassworks Glass Studio, Carlsbad, USA
2024    Jury’s Prize, Toyama International Glass Exhibition 2024, Toyama Glass Art Museum, Toyama, JP
2022    Shortlist, Coburg Prize for Contemporary Glass 2022, The European Museum of Modern Glass, Veste Coburg, DE
2017    Winner, Special Prize, SL Award, Stanislav Libenský Award Competition Exhibition, DOX Centre for Contemporary Art, Prague, CZ


SELECTED EXHIBITIONS


SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2025
Sensing Through Glass: A Practice of Perception, Hockney Gallery, London, UK
Before the Feeling Forms — a Practice-Based Research Exhibition by Jinya Zhao, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Shenzhen, PRC
2023
Nebulosity Walk in Thy Memory: Jinya Zhao Glass Art Exhibition, Liuli China Museum, Shanghai, PRC


GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2026
Tatler Ball 2026 Charity Auction Preview, Xian Chang Space, Beijing, PRC
Beijing Dangdai Art Fair, Soul Art Center, Beijing, PRC
Origins of Chinese Aesthetics: Liangzhu Culture and Contemporary Creation, SaloneSatellite 2026, Milan, IT
Inner Wilderness, Soul Art Center, Beijing, PRC
2025
ART021 Shanghai Contemporary Art Fair, HdM Gallery, Shanghai, PRC
Dimensions: Contemporary Chinese Studio Crafts, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, UK
Asia Now, HdM Gallery, Paris, FR
En Route II, HdM Gallery, Beijing, PRC
Art of the Possible, Ulster Museum, Belfast, UK
Artgenève, Taste Contemporary, Palexpo, Geneva, CH
Fluid Threads – two-person exhibition of Ptolemy Mann and Jinya Zhao, Taste Contemporary, Geneva, CH
2024
Exhibition of Chinese and Foreign Art and Glass Materials Research, Crafts Museum of CAA, Hangzhou, PRC
Toyama International Glass Exhibition 2024, Toyama Glass Art Museum, Toyama, JP
Colour Made Manifest, Material Engagements Research Cluster (MERC) exhibition, Pumphouse Gallery, London, UK
Objects of Contemplation, Make - Hauser & Wirth, London, UK
The Wind from the East, Tower Gallery, Eton College, Windsor, UK
Artgenève, Taste Contemporary, Palexpo, Geneva, CH
2023
Sattvic Beings, Chen Lizhu & Zhao Jinya Duo Exhibition, 1979 Gallery, Sea World Culture and Arts Center, Shenzhen, PRC
West Bund Art & Design Fair, 1979 Gallery, West Bund Artistic Centre, Shanghai, PRC
Strange Friends, Make - Hauser & Wirth, London, UK
In Residence III, Cromwell Place, London, UK
Design Miami, Zhang Yuan, Shanghai, PRC
The Value in Things, Cromwell Place, London, UK


BOOKS

Holding Air, Holding Light
Hurtwood, London, in association with Taste Contemporary, Geneva, 2025.


SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Le Quotidien de l’Art, 3 December 2025, 9 (Beaux Arts & Cie / Art Media)
VOGUE ART China, November 2025, 52-53 (Condé Nast China & China Pictorial Publishing House)
Elle Decor China, No. 243 (April 2025), 45, 50-51 (Beijing: French Editions Philippe Picquier & Shanghai Translation Publishing House)
Bazaar Art, No. 091 (October 2024), 34-37 (Beijing, China: Beijing Bazaar Art Magazine Co., Ltd.)
New Glass Review 44, 2024, 43 (Corning, Corning Museum of Glass)
Glass Quarterly, No. 176 (Fall 2024), 46-50 (Brooklyn, New York: Urban Glass)
Art Aurea, Issue 56 (Summer 2024), 52-55 (Ulm: Reinhold Ludwig)
La Revue de la Céramique et du Verre, November-December 2023, 64-65 (Vendin-le-Vieil: Éditions Ateliers d'Art de France)
New Glass Review 43, 2023, 11 (Corning, Corning Museum of Glass)
IDEAT, September 2023, 76-77 (Beijing: Meta Media Group)
The Moment, June 2023, 70-73 (Shanghai: Juneyao Airlines)
In Residence III, 2023, 55 (London: Ting-Ying)
China Daily, 2 June 2023, (Beijing: The State Council Information Office)
Glass, April 2023, 98-103 (Beijing: Nifumodeng)
Crafts, Issue 296 (Spring/Summer 2023), 56 (London: Crafts Council)
Marie Claire China, March 2023, 153-157 (Beijing: French Editions Philippe Picquier & China Sports News Agency)
Integration and Crossover: Contemporary Glass Art Triennial, 2023, 127
The Value in Things, 2023, 6-13 (London: Ting-Ying)
New Glass Review 42, 2022, 32-33 (Corning: Corning Museum of Glass)
Elle Decor China, January 2022, 68-69 (Beijing: French Editions Philippe Picquier & Shanghai Translation Publishing House)
Crafting a Difference, 2021, 109-111 (London: Ting-Ying)
TIMID, Issue 01: Heritage (2021), 114-119 (San Francisco)
Elle Decor Italia, 30 Years (2020), 48 (Milan: Hearst Magazines Italia)
New Glass Art and Architecture, No.4, 2019, 67 (Eltville: Vertriebsunion Meynen GmbH & Co. KG)
Material Statement, 2019, (London: Dyson Gallery)
China Academy of Art A Journey of 90 Years, 2018, 21 (Hangzhou: The China Academy of Art)
New Glass Art and Architecture, No.1, 2018, 45 (Eltville: Vertriebsunion Meynen GmbH & Co. KG)
New Glass Review 39, 2018, 6-7 (Corning: Corning Museum of Glass)
2017 Yearbook of Chinese Art, 2017, 960-961 (Beijing: Chinese Contemporary Artist Association)