Xiaoyu Li
London, UK
Xiaoyu Li (b. 1998, China) is a contemporary jewellery artist and maker based in London, specializing in stone carving and Jin Yin Cuo (gold and silver inlay). Her artistic journey began with childhood training in painting, providing a meticulous foundation for her creative practice. With over 9 years of professional experience across China and the United Kingdom, her work explores the intricate relationship between geocultural narratives and materiality.
“The stones tell me where to go.” Li’s practice honours the natural forms of stone, exploring the fluidity of culture and identity through carving, guided by the stone’s inherent form. By engaging with stone and its cultural lineages, Li’s work reflects a nuanced understanding of the histories and identities embedded in vernacular craftsmanship. Informed by personal experience, historical memory, and diverse perspectives shaped by regional differences, Li’s works transcend geographical and cultural boundaries, evoking resonances between material and human experience. They explore the ambiguities of belonging and identity, offering a reflective meditation on the interplay between individual and collective selves.
Li’s works have been featured in Marie Claire, ELLE, BAZAAR, CHINA GEMS, London Craft Week, Munich Jewellery Week and London Fashion Week. In a rare achievement, Li was twice honoured with the Gold Award in Lapidary & Carving at the GC&DC Awards (2025-2026). In 2026, she received the Gem-A Award and embarked on advanced gemmological training with The Gemmological Association of Great Britain.