Phil Zheng Cai (he/him) is a curator and writer based in New York. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a BA in Social Science, and received his MA from Sotheby’s Institute of Art. He has held posts at Mary Boone Gallery, Phillips Auctioneers, and Eli Klein Gallery.
Phil Cai’s curated exhibitions have received critical acclaim. His curated exhibition “(In)directions: Queerness in Chinese Contemporary Photography” was reviewed by Hyperallergic, Musee Magazine, Asian American Arts Alliance AMP Magazine, and many others. His curated exhibition “Alienation?” was reviewed by the Brooklyn Rail. His independent curatorial projects include “Open Kitchen - Assembly,” and others. He has participated in panel discussions and talks at institutions such as the Asia Society Museum New York, the SCAD Museum of Art, Columbia University, Sotheby’s Institute of Art, among others.
Phil Cai’s writings are regularly published. His essay “Nomad Photography” was published in the Parsons MFA Photo thesis catalog in 2024. His exhibition review “A Proposal to Live with What Had Been There - Cynthia Gutiérrez at Museo de Arte Carrillo Gil”; “Enacting Disassociation - Jean-Luc Moulène Solo Exhibition at Miguel Abreu Gallery”; "Life as an Invitation - Yoan Capote Solo Exhibition at Jack Shainman Gallery" and critical essay "Take a Step: Phil Zheng Cai on the Opening of M+ Museum" were featured in the Widewalls Magazine. His critical text "Everything can become an NFT, is it true?" was published by the New York Time T Magazine China.
With an interest in philosophy, his translated book "The Story of Philosophy" was published by Shanghai Yuandong Press in 2020.
Phil Cai’s curatorial initiative Open Kitchen focuses on systemetic critique, re-contextualizing ideologies under the general dome of “insitutional critique,” but generalized to target any organic temporary systems.
Phil Zheng Cai currently works and lives in New York.