About me
Xiaoya Zhao is a London-based sound artist whose practice spans experimental film, sound design, land art, installation, and photography.
Born and raised in China, she studied Music and Sound Recording at the University of York and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Design Audio
Experience at University College London—a path that merges technical precision with conceptual exploration.This diverse academic and cultural background has shaped her artistic identity, enabling her to work across hybrid art forms with a sensitivity to the everyday. Influenced by Dadaism, postmodernism, and the avant-garde, Xiaoya challenges conventional frameworks, creating immersive experiences that invite audiences to engage with sound in unconventional ways.
She believes in letting objects and sounds speak for themselves—“In an autonomous state, things will flow”—allowing subtle details of life to guide her creative process and pushing the boundaries of auditory perception and self-exploration.
Exhibitions & Events
2025
October — Sonic Nomad Sound Art Festival, Seoul — Exhibiting Artist
October — Dirty Deal Audio: Ambisonics Weekend, Riga — Exhibiting Artist
October — Üle Heli Festival, Tallinn — Exhibiting Artist
September — Laidi Palace Residency, Latvia — Resident Artist
September — UCL Public Anthropology Graduate Showcase, London — Participant
August — Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Edinburgh — Sound Designer for Meaning (Theatre)
June — Feel the Sound Exhibition, Barbican Centre — Exhibiting Sound Artist
May — Open City Documentary Festival — Spatial Audio Installation, Exhibiting Artist
2024
January — Agored 2023, Galeri Caernarfon — Exhibiting Artist
2022
May — Resource For London: Collage Activity – Body & Space: Creating the Unexpected — Curating Artist