CHERUBY is pleased to announce the appointment of Joni Zhu as its new Director. She is a curator working at the intersection of contemporary art, critical theory, and cultural analysis, with projects including programming, commissioning, writing, and lecturing. From 2023 to 2025, she was the Head of Programs and Initiatives at the Rockbund Art Museum in Shanghai.

As the Director, Joni oversees CHERUBY’s organisational direction and curatorial vision, guiding exhibitions, residencies, discursive programmes and initiatives that connect art and fashion through experimental frameworks. Drawing from her background in practice and academia, she is committed to fostering dialogue between local and global perspectives, cultivating sustainable creative ecosystems, and advancing CHERUBY’s mission to transform cultural hierarchies through innovation and collaboration.
Bringing a wealth of experience and a dynamic curatorial perspective, Joni will guide CHERUBY into its next phase of creative growth and engagement with global contemporary art and fashion.

“Joni brings a depth of intellectual and curatorial rigour that aligns perfectly with CHERUBY’s vision of connecting art, fashion, and critical discourse. Her ability to weave theory and practice into meaningful cultural production will be instrumental as we shape CHERUBY into a space for experimentation and dialogue. I’m thrilled to welcome her to lead this next chapter and to continue building a platform where creative and conceptual practices can thrive together.”- Cherry Xu, Founder of CHERUBY

“CHERUBY offers a rare and vital space where art and fashion are not just presented but rigorously interrogated, critically contextualised, and actively reimagined. Since 2024, CHERUBY has supported a roster of interdisciplinary artists—including Duyi Han, Andrew J. Greene, and Bruno Zhu—and now proudly presents its first resident artist and designer, Bárbara Sánchez-Kane, with his exhibition Coro de Soles Menores.

With the launch of our physical space in Shanghai, we are poised to expand the very framework of creative production, transforming CHERUBY into a dynamic site for experimentation, artistic support, learning, and exchange. I am thrilled to advance this vision, fostering new forms of collaboration and critical dialogue within Shanghai’s vibrant cultural ecosystem and across international networks. ” – Joni Zhu, Director of CHERUBY