Global Auspicious Chinese Zodiac Design Exhibition Inaugurates at UN Headquarters | BCAF International Exchange
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On February 2, 2026, the Global Auspicious Chinese Zodiac Design Exhibition was officially unveiled at United Nations Headquarters in New York. Centered on Chinese zodiac culture, the exhibition interprets the ever-evolving vitality of this tradition through diverse contemporary design approaches, aiming to build a bridge for cross-cultural dialogue. It offers international audiences an opportunity to feel the pulse of Eastern aesthetics and experience the resonance between tradition and modernity.
Co-hosted by the Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations, the Beijing Municipal Culture and Tourism Bureau, and the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA), and co-organized by the Beijing Overseas Cultural Exchange Center (BOCEC) and the Beijing Contemporary Art Foundation (BCAF), the exhibition will remain open through February 13.
▲"Global Auspicious Chinese Zodiac Design Exhibition" installation view. Photo© Beijing Contemporary Art Foundation, photography: Liu Yixin, Wang Pengyue
Marking the completion of a full twelve-year cycle of the "Global Auspicious Chinese Zodiac Design Award," this exhibition prominently features outstanding creative works accumulated over the award's twelve-year history. It also specially presents Year of the Horse-themed design works created through a joint open call with American design institutions. This call for entries gathered over one hundred exceptional creative works from designers in China, the United States, and other countries, spanning graphic design, product design, multimedia art, and other categories. These works deeply extract the aesthetic essence of traditional zodiac culture while integrating contemporary innovative design concepts, creating a cultural feast imbued with both Eastern charm and an international perspective. They vividly illustrate the creative transformation of zodiac culture and its cross-cultural resonance.
▲"Global Auspicious Chinese Zodiac Design Exhibition" installation view. Photo© Beijing Contemporary Art Foundation, photography: Liu Yixin, Wang Pengyue
As an international cultural brand cultivated by the Beijing Municipal Cultural and Tourism Bureau for many consecutive years, the Global Auspicious Chinese Zodiac Design Award, since its inception in 2014, has collected over 40,000 works from nearly 30 countries globally. Among these, 645 outstanding pieces have been exhibited across 17 countries worldwide, establishing it as a platform for the international dissemination of zodiac culture that integrates creation, exhibition, exchange, and transformation. For this exhibition, the Central Academy of Fine Arts was invited as a co-curator, leveraging its professional design expertise and cutting-edge design concepts to empower innovative expressions of traditional culture.
▲"Global Auspicious Chinese Zodiac Design Exhibition" installation view. Photo© Beijing Contemporary Art Foundation, photography: Liu Yixin, Wang Pengyue
Making its debut at the United Nations Headquarters, this exhibition not only provides a higher-profile stage for young global designers but also underscores China's proactive stance in promoting dialogue among civilizations and fostering cultural exchange. Moving forward, the Global Auspicious Chinese Zodiac Design Award will continue to uphold principles of openness and inclusivity, strengthening the bridge for cross-cultural creative cooperation. Using the zodiac as a cultural link, it will continue to tell China's stories, amplify China's voice, and facilitate deep exchange and mutual learning between Chinese culture and world civilizations.
▲"Global Auspicious Chinese Zodiac Design Exhibition" installation view. Photo© Beijing Contemporary Art Foundation, photography: Liu Yixin, Wang Pengyue
○ Exhibition Information
Exhibition Venue: United Nations Headquarters, New York
Exhibition Date: 2026.2.2-2026.2.13
Co-Host: Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations; Beijing Municipal Culture and Tourism Bureau; the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA)
Co-organized: Beijing Overseas Cultural Exchange Center(BOCEC); Beijing Contemporary Art Foundation (BCAF)
Curator: Cunzhen Lin, Jieqiong Yue, Hairu Wang
Media Contact
Beijing Contemporary Art Foundation (BCAF)
Email: jiawen.luo@bcaf.org.cn
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