With an interdisciplinary practice comprising sculpture, installation, and performance, Kelly Wu projects interpretations of their memories and multicultural upbringing into found objects and personal archived materials. Their research investigates heritage, gender, and class discourses and, through being at times inexplicit with the details of their autobiography, they prescribe to work secretive yet pointed political messages. Accompanying written texts and opportunities for oral storytelling are used at times as tools to explain, helping to unravel and interpret Wu’s political beliefs, memories, and psyche at large.
Wu was born in Essex to two immigrant parents from Beijing, China. Although they did not grow up in a creative household, their family life has been a significant source of inspiration for their conceptual work. Their practice continues to draw from their working-class Chinese-British background and their lived experience as a queer woman of the global majority, crossing borders, boundaries, and perspectives.
Wu was represented by Galerie Bulatov during 2023, and has shown extensively across London and Paris. Their first solo exhibition Missing Angel took place at Small-Time Project in 2025. Recently, they have participated in group shows such as GLORY BOX at the Shop at Sadie Coles HQ, and the East Wing Biennial at the Courtauld Institute of Art. They are a graduate of Central Saint Martins and are currently reading MA Fine Art at the Slade School of Fine Art.