Ju Ming
Taiwan, 1938–2023
Artist's works
Artist Profile
Tai Chi I & II
Bodhidharma
Living World Series: Screen Printing
Introduction and Experience
Ju Ming (1938–2023), born Ju Chuantai in Miaoli, was a pioneering sculptor and a defining force in contemporary Asian art. His artistic journey began at the age fifteen under the master carver Lee Chinchuan, through which he developed a distinctive sculptural language that bridged tradition and modernity.
His career is defined by three seminal bodies of work. The early Rural Living Series captured the warmth and humanity of Taiwan's agricultural culture. This evolved into the internationally acclaimed Tai Chi series, which distilled the movements and philosophy of Tai Chi into monumental forms characterized by simplified volume and dynamic spatial tension. In the later Living World Series, Ju turned his attention to contemporary life, capturing its rhythms, humor, and emotional depth through a sculptural approach that emphasized spirit over physical detail.
Deeply committed to cultural legacy and arts education, Ju Ming founded the Juming Museum, an expansive creative sanctuary housing more than 2,500 of his works. His sculptures have been exhibited extensively across Asia, Europe, and the United States, securing his legacy as one of the most influential figures in modern Taiwanese art history.
Exhibitions and Awards
Selected Exhibitions
Solo Exhibitions
2025
Let's Cherish! 2025 Ju Ming Living World Series Restoration Exhibition —Ju Ming Museum, New New Taipei City, Taiwan
Citizen 128: Ju Ming Wood Carving Special Exhibition —Ju Ming Museum, New New Taipei City, Taiwan
2024
Shanshui and Embroidery —Alliance Française de Singapour, Singapore
Painting the Living World: Ju Ming Sculpture Special Exhibition —Miaoli County Miaobei Art and Culture Center, Miaoli, Taiwan
2022
Ju Ming’s New Works Exhibition: Living World Series – Beauties—Ju Ming Museum, New New Taipei City, Taiwan
Black Hole is Not a Hole: Exploring Ju Ming’s Art World —Ju Ming Museum, New New Taipei City, Taiwan
Living World: Ju Ming Solo Exhibition —Asia Art Center, Taipei, Taiwan
2019 – 2021
The Immortal Ju Ming: Ancient Sunk Wood Tai Chi Arch —Ju Ming Museum, New New Taipei City, Taiwan
Form / Image: The Construction of Ju Ming's Sculptures and Images —Ju Ming Museum, New New Taipei City, Taiwan
2019
Living World Landscape @ Taipei 101 : Ju Ming Sculpture Exhibition—Taipei 101, Taipei, Taiwan
2018 – 2019
Deployment: The Progression of Ju Ming’s Exhibitions in Europe —Ju Ming Museum, New New Taipei City, Taiwan
Ju Ming’s New Works Exhibition: Living World Series – Ballet—Ju Ming Museum, New New Taipei City, Taiwan
2014
Ju Ming Sculptures Retrospective —Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong
2010
Ju Ming Living World Series Sculpture Exhibition —National Art Museum of China (NAMOC), Beijing, China
Ju Ming Living World Series: Swimming —The Fullerton Hotel Plaza, Singapore
Group Exhibitions
2024
Square Things: International Contemporary Sculpture Exhibition —Ju Ming Museum, New New Taipei City, Taiwan
2005
5th Vancouver International Sculpture Biennale—Vancouver, Canada
2000
Rebirth: 921 Earthquake Relief Reconstruction Art Exhibition —Times Square, Taipei, Taiwan
Art Fairs
1992
1st Nippon International Contemporary Art Fair (NICAF)—Pacifico Yokohama, Yokohama, Japan
Awards
2019
Cultural Cultivation Award—10th Presidential Culture Awards, Taiwan
2018
Asia Arts Game Changer Award—Asia Society, Hong Kong
2017
2nd Tsai Wan-tsai Taiwan Contribution Award—Taiwan
2007
Arts and Culture Prize—18th Fukuoka Asian Culture Prizes, Japan
Collections
Public and Institutional Collections
- Righteousness and Courage —Central Police University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Tai Chi Series: Tearing Tai Chi Open —Hsinchu Science Park / Cathay Life Insurance Building, Taiwan
- Living World Series: Harmonious Living World —Social Welfare Staff Training Center, Ministry of the Interior, Nantou, Taiwan
- King Wen's Eight Trigrams Pool —Chungcheng Martial Arts Stadium, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Tai Chi Series: Single Whip Lower Stance —Hsinchu Science Park (By the Lake) / Exchange Square (Hong Kong) / National Gallery Singapore / University of Kansas (USA) / International Olympic Committee Headquarters (Switzerland) / Citygarden (St. Louis, USA)
- Tai Chi Series: Cross Hands —Hsinchu Science Park / National Chiayi University / Wan Tai Bank Headquarters / Ebina City Government (Japan)
- Tai Chi Series —Hase New Building (Kaohsiung) / Chungcheng Martial Arts Stadium (Kaohsiung) / Tongxiao Township Office / Taipei Veterans General Hospital / National Taiwan University / Investigation Bureau (Ministry of Justice) / Hong Tai World Forum / Academia Sinica / Dingxi Metro Station / Taipei Fine Arts Museum / Tzu Chi University / Jinshan District (New Taipei City) / Chinese University of Hong Kong / Olympic Sculpture Park (Seoul) / National Military Academy (Singapore) / Banque Nationale du Luxembourg / Brussels (Belgium) / Harbour City (Hong Kong) / Montreal (Canada) / Cambridge University (UK) / Ashmolean Museum (Oxford University)
- Seagull —National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan
- Arable Pasture with Rich Harvests —Banqiao Railway Station, New New Taipei City, Taiwan
- South-Pointing Chariot —Aspire Park, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Tai Chi Arch —Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) / Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts / Jinshan District (New Taipei City) / St. Catherine's College (Oxford University)
- A Bronze Pen —Hanshang Magazine, Taipei, Taiwan
- Living World Series: Beautiful Childhood —Tongxiao Township Office, Miaoli, Taiwan
- Living World Series —Fu Jen Catholic University / Farglory Financial Center / Shanghai Jing'an Sculpture Park (China)
- Living World Series & Mother and Calf —National Center for Traditional Arts, Yilan, Taiwan
- Li Bai & Confucius —Marina Mandarin Hotel Lobby, Singapore
- Living World Series: Gentlemen —Shantou University (China) / Ho Bee Land Headquarters (Singapore) / Chicago (USA)
- Statue of Michael Sullivan —Ashmolean Museum, Oxford University, UK
- Guan Yin, Shennong Emperor, & Eight Immortals —Dajia Jenn Lann Temple, Taichung, Taiwan