Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts

Shanghai University (SHU) is one of the top 40 Chinese universities, top 100 Asian universities, the premier university of Shanghai, and a member of China Project 211 Universities. It is a comprehensive university offering 82 undergraduate programs, 187 graduate programs, and 97 doctoral programs in various disciplines including science, humanities & social sciences, engineering, economics & management, art, etc.


Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts (SAFA), Shanghai University, originally Shanghai Technical Art School which was established in 1959, inherited Shanghai Style of Art Spirit of STAC started up in 1912 by Haisu Liu. Merged into new Shanghai University in 1983, the school’s name was shifted to the Art College of Shanghai University. In December 2016, ACSU was officially changed its name back to SAFA. At present, SAFA has three Master degree, three National First Class of the doctoral majors (Fine Arts Theory, Design Science, and The Artistic Theory) and one post-doctoral moving station. Now the total students are about 2000 including 1200 undergraduate students, 580 graduate and PhD students, and 30 overseas students.


The Jewelry and Metals Studio was established in 2003 as one of the first few jewelry studios in China ’s universities. The director of the studio, Shannon Guo, studied jewelry & metals and obtained her MA and MFA degree from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania, USA. Currently, the studio has three other faculties and technician, besides MA and MFA students, each semester there are elective courses open to the undergraduate students. The studio is well equipped for working in both traditional and contemporary techniques related to jewelry making and metal-smithing.
The graduate study in jewelry and metals is a three years Master program. Students in the program are carefully selected based on their individuality and creativity. Critical thinking is encouraged and respected. Students are encouraged to explore both traditional and non-traditional jewelry design concepts, techniques and materials, as well as to seek their own unique perspective.
Courses are designed to help students to combine mastery of techniques with the investigation of current ideology in the jewelry arts in order to develop the highest level of professionalism. Over the years we have invited multiple internationally known artists to come to teach, such as Kim Buck, Norman Cherry, Mary Lee Hu…etc. Works of faculties and students have been exhibited nationally and internationally.