Fondazione Effetto Arte
Chinese artist Shuning Zheng has been awarded the New York Art Award for her sculpture Memory of the Sea, which was also selected for the “Creative Art Trophy” special exhibition at ArtExpo New York.
In April 2026, the New York Art Award was announced, with Zheng receiving the prize for “Memory of the Sea”. The work was presented at ArtExpo New York from April 9 to 12 at Pier 36 as part of the concurrent special exhibition.
“Memory of the Sea” is created using metal casting and heat coloring techniques. By placing a human figure alongside a seashell, the work explores the relationship between memory and spatial perception. When familiar landscapes are removed from their original context, individuals are prompted to reconnect with their surroundings. The piece continues Zheng’s practice of bringing together Eastern and Western artistic languages while linking material with personal experience.
Shuning Zheng holds an M.S. in Industrial Design from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a B.F.A. in Jewelry and Metal Arts from the Academy of Art University, San Francisco. In 2025, her work “Invisible Freedom” received the Gold Prize at the Berlin Art Biennale and the IF Design Award. Her participation in ArtExpo New York and recognition by the New York Art Award further reflect her growing presence in the contemporary art field.
The award-winning work will be featured in Issue 12 of “Effetto Arte”, with a curatorial essay by Sandro Serradifalco for international distribution.
