![Xichao (Carol) Cao: Untitled (installation view), 2019. Glazed Ceramics.](https://bfafinearts.sva.edu/wp-content/uploads/200218_Chromaphilia_Chomophobia_SVA_Chelsea_Gallery_29_edited_1500px-1200x800.jpg)
Carol Cao, Installation view of “Chromaphilia/Chromophobia”, 2020 at the SVA Chelsea Gallery, New York.
Carol Cao traces her inspiration to be an artist to a lost childhood as a deaf Chinese-American. Carol suffered a pediatric stroke before her first year and, against all odds, spent many of her formative years in rehabilitation. Throughout this period art was her only escape. Her childhood memories continue to serve as an inspiration for her ceramic work, which references the delicacy of life. Climate change inspires her use of flowers and animals as subjects in her art.
![Installation view of multiple ceramic artworks in Cao's studio during “Fall Open Studios”, 2019, New York.](https://bfafinearts.sva.edu/wp-content/uploads/Xichao-Carol-Cao_013-1_edited_1500px-881x600.jpg)
![A coloful pile of ceramic flowers with bright blue, yellow, red, green and pink colors.](https://bfafinearts.sva.edu/wp-content/uploads/IMG_8770-Xichao-Cao_edit_1500px-542x600.jpg)
![Organic ceramic sculpture in pale pink tones highly decorated with floral motives.](https://bfafinearts.sva.edu/wp-content/uploads/Y6A7592-Xichao-Cao_edit_1500px_-400x600.jpg)
![A pile of ceramic white flowers and some bright red elements.](https://bfafinearts.sva.edu/wp-content/uploads/IMG_8762-Xichao-Cao_edit_1500px-524x600.jpg)
![A ceramic animal-shaped sculpture with delicate floral line motives.](https://bfafinearts.sva.edu/wp-content/uploads/Xichao-Carol-Cao_010-1_edit_1500px-400x600.jpg)
![A bright yellow and grey ceramic scuplture extensively decorated with line patterns.](https://bfafinearts.sva.edu/wp-content/uploads/Xichao-Carol-Cao_003-1_Edited_1500px-900x600.jpg)