朱高灿月 Zhu Gaocanyue (b. Hubei, China) is a multidisciplinary artist working across photography, printmaking, installation, and artist books. Viewing images as a form of visual vocabulary, Zhu Gao uses photographic language to excavate the unseen—probing beneath surfaces to engage with the layered realities of people, objects, and histories. Their recent research explores shifting definitions of value and investigates how humans relate to non-functional objects, obsolete knowledge systems, and marginalized forms of labor.
In 2024, Zhu Gao co-founded zug press with Zuya Yang—an independent publishing house dedicated to experimental approaches to fine art bookmaking and the expanded field of printed matter.
Education
2025, MFA, Photography, Rhode Island School of Design, USA.
2022, BFA, Industrial Design, Jiangnan University, China.
Rewards, Fellowship, Residency
2025 Shortlisted, Dear Dave Fellowship, DEAR DAVE Magazine, USA.
Shortlisted, Charta Award, Yogurt, Rome, Italy.
The Studios at MASS MoCA Residency (full fellowship), MA, USA. (November 2025)
Education Program Fellowship, 2025 Photography Grant, PhMuseum, Bologna, Italy.
2024 Vermont Studio Center Residency (full fellowship), Johnson, VT, USA. (October 2025)
Juror’s Pick, Emerging Talent Photography Awards, LensCulture.
Shortlisted, Artist’s Book Award, Studio Boîte, Italy.
2023 Fellowship Award, Rhode Island School of Design, USA.
Selected Exhibitions
2025 Within the Flood of Images, two-person exhibition, Project Wútopia, Shanghai, China.
Lucid Dream, Penumbra Foundation, New York, NY, USA.
New Contemporaries, Gelman Gallery, Providence, RI.
A Scientific Approach: Visual Documents and Creative Investigation Methods, curated by LoosenArt Gallery, Millepiani, Rome, Italy.
Young Power, Yichang Mass Art Gallery, Yichang, Hubei, China.
Photo London, Somerset House, Strand, London, UK.
2024 Symbio/Split, Gelman Gallery, Providence, RI, USA.
Outside the lines, GRID Gallery, Providence, RI, USA.
Ulises: Assembly, Grossman & Anderson Galleries, Boston, MA, USA.
Baker & Whitehall Artists’ Book Contest, Fleet Library, Providence, RI, USA.
The String of Terra, three-person exhibition, GAP Gallery, Chengdu, China.
World/Home, curated by Protyasha Pandey, Sol Koffler Gallery, Providence, RI, USA.
2023 Dreamed, I Dream, Woods-Gerry Gallery, Providence, RI, USA.
Palimpsest, Redeye Gallery, Providence, RI, USA.
Bookfairs
2025 Press Play 2025, Pioneer Works, Brooklyn, NY, USA. (future)
Taipei Art Book Fair, Taipei, Taiwan. (future)
Seoul Art Book, Seoul, Korea.
ICP Photobook Fest, New York, NY, USA.
Other Islands Book Fair, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY, USA.
Jersey Art Book Fair, Jersey City, New Jersey, USA.
2024 Press Play 2024, Pioneer Works, Brooklyn, NY, USA.
Singapore International Photography Festival, Singapore.
CBC Mini Market, Chinatown, Manhattan, NY, USA.
Unbound Art Book Fair, Providence, RI, USA.
In 2024, Zhu Gao co-founded zug press with Zuya Yang—an independent publishing house dedicated to experimental approaches to fine art bookmaking and the expanded field of printed matter.
Education
2025, MFA, Photography, Rhode Island School of Design, USA.
2022, BFA, Industrial Design, Jiangnan University, China.
Rewards, Fellowship, Residency
2025 Shortlisted, Dear Dave Fellowship, DEAR DAVE Magazine, USA.
Shortlisted, Charta Award, Yogurt, Rome, Italy.
The Studios at MASS MoCA Residency (full fellowship), MA, USA. (November 2025)
Education Program Fellowship, 2025 Photography Grant, PhMuseum, Bologna, Italy.
2024 Vermont Studio Center Residency (full fellowship), Johnson, VT, USA. (October 2025)
Juror’s Pick, Emerging Talent Photography Awards, LensCulture.
Shortlisted, Artist’s Book Award, Studio Boîte, Italy.
2023 Fellowship Award, Rhode Island School of Design, USA.
Selected Exhibitions
2025 Within the Flood of Images, two-person exhibition, Project Wútopia, Shanghai, China.
Lucid Dream, Penumbra Foundation, New York, NY, USA.
New Contemporaries, Gelman Gallery, Providence, RI.
A Scientific Approach: Visual Documents and Creative Investigation Methods, curated by LoosenArt Gallery, Millepiani, Rome, Italy.
Young Power, Yichang Mass Art Gallery, Yichang, Hubei, China.
Photo London, Somerset House, Strand, London, UK.
2024 Symbio/Split, Gelman Gallery, Providence, RI, USA.
Outside the lines, GRID Gallery, Providence, RI, USA.
Ulises: Assembly, Grossman & Anderson Galleries, Boston, MA, USA.
Baker & Whitehall Artists’ Book Contest, Fleet Library, Providence, RI, USA.
The String of Terra, three-person exhibition, GAP Gallery, Chengdu, China.
World/Home, curated by Protyasha Pandey, Sol Koffler Gallery, Providence, RI, USA.
2023 Dreamed, I Dream, Woods-Gerry Gallery, Providence, RI, USA.
Palimpsest, Redeye Gallery, Providence, RI, USA.
Bookfairs
2025 Press Play 2025, Pioneer Works, Brooklyn, NY, USA. (future)
Taipei Art Book Fair, Taipei, Taiwan. (future)
Seoul Art Book, Seoul, Korea.
ICP Photobook Fest, New York, NY, USA.
Other Islands Book Fair, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY, USA.
Jersey Art Book Fair, Jersey City, New Jersey, USA.
2024 Press Play 2024, Pioneer Works, Brooklyn, NY, USA.
Singapore International Photography Festival, Singapore.
CBC Mini Market, Chinatown, Manhattan, NY, USA.
Unbound Art Book Fair, Providence, RI, USA.