Born into a renowned carving family in Quyang, Hebei Province — known as the Hometown of Chinese Carving — Ran Yizhao embarked on the path of carving art at an early age, deeply influenced by his father’s generation. Eager to acquire professional expertise and enhance his cultural and artistic accomplishments, Ran Yizhao studied diligently and assiduously. He completed all courses in Architectural Engineering Technology through an online education platform and earned his bachelor’s degree from Sichuan University. He also participated repeatedly in a series of art events organized by the Hebei Sculpture Skills Academic Committee and the Hebei Sculpture Art Steering Committee, including advanced sculpture seminars, arts and crafts workshops, the Hebei Sculpture Skills Competition, and the Hebei Sculpture Competition, achieving outstanding results. Ran Yizhao has both pursued extensive reading and traveled far and wide. In recent years, he has visited and studied across most of China, appreciating cultural relics, enjoying famous mountains and great rivers, meeting master artists, and forging friendships within the industry. These experiences broadened his vision and inspired his creative thinking, gradually making him a prominent figure in Quyang. Skilled in management and proficient in professional operations, Ran Yizhao was among the pioneers who applied modern online sales platforms to expand Quyang’s traditional carving business to the national sculpture market. He is undoubtedly an outstanding talent among young artists in Quyang and even across the entire carving industry.

Professor & Doctoral Supervisor, Central Academy of Fine Arts

Member of the Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Council

Person in Charge of the Preparatory Group for the Alumni Association of Central Academy of Fine Arts

Vice Chairman of the Education Development Foundation of Central Academy of Fine Arts

Concurrent Positions:

Member of the National Steering Committee for Cultural and Art Vocational Education, Ministry of Education

Review Expert of the National Art Fund

Appraisal Expert of Art Studies and Cultural & Art Research Projects, National Social Science Fund of China

Appraisal Expert of Educational Research Projects, National Social Science Fund of China

Academic Member of the Fine Arts Professional Committee, Chinese Society of Education

Executive Director, Vice President and Secretary-General

of China Art Vocational Education Society

Executive Director and Director of the Sculpture Professional Committee

of China Arts and Crafts Society

Executive Director of China Sculpture Society

Executive Director of China City Sculptors Association

Member of the Sculpture Art Committee, Beijing Artists Association

Previous Positions:

President of the Sculpture Professional Committee of the China National Arts and Crafts Society

Chief Editor of the Chinese Sculpture Society Website

Executive Director of the China Urban Sculptors Association

Member of the National Urban Sculpture Art Committee

Advisor to the Changchun Urban Sculpture Society

Main Fields of Achievement:

Sculpture creation, sculpture education, sculpture theory, and public art, among others.

Graduated from the Department of Decorative Sculpture, Central Academy of Arts and Crafts, in 1982.

Worked at the Sichuan Provincial Institute of Arts and Crafts from 1982 to 1987.

Pursued a Master's degree at the Department of Sculpture, Central Academy of Fine Arts, from 1988 to 1991, receiving the degree in July 1991.

Following his Master's graduation, he worked at the Research Office of the Beijing Architectural Art Sculpture Factory until 2003, serving as Director of the Sculpture Research Office.

Served as Director of the Beijing Institute of Humanistic Space Sculpture from 2003 to 2007, holding the title of National First-Class Artist.

Has been a Professor at the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute since 2007.

Awarded the honorary title of "National Outstanding Teacher" by the Ministry of Education in September 2014.

Also serves as Professor and Master's Supervisor at the School of Art, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology; and as Professor and Academic Leader of the Sculpture Department at the School of Plastic Arts, Hebei Academy of Fine Arts.

He graduated from the Department of Fine Arts, Hebei Normal University in 1984 and has been teaching there ever since. He successively pursued advanced studies at the Department of Sculpture, Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts, the Department of Sculpture, Central Academy of Fine Arts, and the Advanced Research Class of China Urban Sculpture in 1985, 1993, and 1994 respectively.

In 2011, his sculptural work Dream was collected by the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA).

In 2021, his sculptural work I Am Naturally Motionless was collected by the Museum of the Communist Party of China History.

He has held solo exhibitions at the "Bridge" Art Space in 798, Beijing, and Guangyu Art Museum in June 2016 and September 2019 respectively.

In 1999, he published the monograph Clay Portrait Head. He has also published three personal art albums. He has published numerous papers in professional academic journals and more than 20 proses in provincial and above-level journals.

Born into a family of stone carvers, Wang Fanger counts Ran Wuyuan as his master’s master and Liu Daming as his direct teacher, and also pursued advanced studies at the Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts.

In his youth, he learned traditional carving techniques from his great-grandfather and mentor, Ran Wuyuan (who worked at the Beijing Design Institute and participated in the construction of landmark projects in the early years of the People’s Republic, including the Monument to the People’s Heroes, the Great Hall of the People, and the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall).

With over 30 years of experience in the carving art, he specializes in traditional works such as Buddha statues and stone lions. He has achieved a high level of artistic mastery in the traditional handcraft techniques of Quyang stone carving, adhering to the "authentic, original" ancient stone carving and pure handcraft traditions amid a fast-paced modern era.

His creations inherit the classic Quyang stone carving techniques, featuring elegant forms, unique conceptions, smooth lines, and a perfect balance of form and spirit, forming his own distinct artistic style.

2018: His sculpture The Dao Produces One was exhibited in the National Art Fund-sponsored "China North-South Stone Carving Exhibition".

2019: His sculpture Old Friends won the Gold Award at the Hebei Sculpture Exhibition for the 70th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China.

2019: Participated in the 2019 research project Research on the Value of Artworks in Beijing Core Areas organized by the Beijing Municipal Urban Sculpture Construction Management Office.

2020: His sculpture At a Glance, All Mountains Are Small won the Second Prize at the "Du Fu Cup" China (Gongyi) Urban Sculpture Design Competition.

August 6, 2020: Created the marble portrait Portrait of Zhong Nanshan during the COVID-19 pandemic and donated it gratuitously to Academician Zhong Nanshan, recipient of the Medal of the Republic.

June 2021: His sculpture Zeng Guofan won the Silver Award at the 6th Hebei Sculpture Competition.

March 2022: His sculpture Wang Yangming won the Silver Award at the "Hundred Flowers Cup" organized by the China National Light Industry Council and the China National Arts and Crafts Association.