Yuming “Griffin” Liu is a sculptor born and raised in China. He holds a BA from Kenyon College and an MFA in Sculpture at the University of Notre Dame, where he has taught for two years. His work explores themes of displacement, solitude, and the tension between institutional control and human agency through surreal miniature landscapes. Drawing from personal and familial experiences of seeking for political asylum, Liu constructs intricate scenes that blend poetic melancholy with a dreamlike sensibility. His work has been exhibited nationally, including at the Midwest Museum of American Art, the Hopkins Center for the Arts, and Soo Visual Art Center for an upcoming solo show. He has received various grants and awards, including multiple Graduate Research Grants from the University of Notre Dame and the Outstanding Student Achievement in Contemporary Sculpture Award (2025).