About Jian
“I am eager to explore our world and culture through a pair of cold eyes and to experience our lives with a warm heart and unceasing footstepts.”
Jian Gao is an award-winning creative production and operations leader with over a decade of experience in e-commerce, retail, media, and technology, grounded in a strong background in photography and video. His work has received 50+ international honors, including a Pulitzer Center grant (Washington, D.C.) and an Overseas Press Club Foundation scholarship (New York City).
With a strong hands-on foundation in visual storytelling and production, Jian has led creative teams, studio operations, and complex content projects across organizations including HSN (QVC Group), ByteDance, Magnum Photos, and News Corp. He combines creative expertise with project management and leadership, holding a PMP® certification and completing Leadership Essentials — Asian Leadership Academy at McKinsey & Company. He is also an FAA Part 107-certified drone pilot and continues to pursue photography and visual storytelling through independent projects.
Selected Achievements
National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest — Photo of the Day (May 9, 2014)
6th Pollux Awards / WPGA Humanitarian Category, 2014
6th Pollux Awards / WPGA — People Category, 2014
ONWARD Compé ‘14, 2014
AI-AP 30 (American Photography 30) The AI-AP Archive, 2014
Communication Arts Photography Annual 55, 2014
PhotoWorld 2014, Breaking Photography / NYPH — Documentary Category, Dumbo Arts Festival
7th Annual Photography Masters Cup (Color Awards), 2014
PX3 Prix de la Photographie, Paris Press, Feature Story, 2014
International Photography Awards (IPA) — Editorial: Photo Story, Feature Story & Deeper Perspective, 2013
The New York Photo Awards Documentary Category, Dumbo Arts Festival, 2013
PDN – World in Focus, 2013
Canon / Pixma Professional Awards, 2013
8th Annual Black and White Spider Awards — Photojournalism Category, 2013
Black and White Photo Contest — “I Shot It”, 2013
33rd Annual Spring Photography Photographer's Forum Magazine
3rd International Biennial of Documentary and Fine Art Photography
Municipal Museum, Malaga, Spain, 2014
ONWARD Compé ‘14 Summit
1305 Germantown Ave, Philadelphia, US, 2014
The Royal Photographic Society – International Print Traveling Exhibition 157
Berkeley Gallery, Greenwich Heritage Centre, Royal Arsenal, London, UK, 2014
PhotoWorld 2014, Breaking Photography / NYPH
POWERHOUSE Arena, Dumbo Arts Festival, Brooklyn, NY, US, 2014
See | Exhibition Space, Digital Exhibition
26-19 Jackson Avenue, Long Island City, Queens, NY, US, 2014
World Affairs Council – Global Visions (Permanent Collection)
312 Sutter Street, Suite 200
San Francisco, CA, US, 2013
Mezzanine Gallery, POWERHOUSE Arena, Dumbo Arts Festival
20 Jay Street, Suite M01, Brooklyn, NY, US, 2013
PDN PhotoPlus International Conference + Expo, World in Focus Gallery
New York City, US, 2013
"IN THE ZONE" Exhibition, 1650 Gallery
1650 Echo Park Ave, Echo Park,
Los Angeles, CA, US, 2013
Academy of Art University Spring Show
The Palace of Fine Art, 3601 Lyon Street, San Francisco, CA, US, 2013
Academy of Art University Spring Show
The Cannery, 2801 Leavenworth Street, San Francisco, CA, US, 2012
Jury Member, World Water Day Photo Contest
Italy, 2020
Recipient, China National Arts Fund
China, 2019
Jury Member, Siena International Photo Awards
Siena, Italy, 2018
Scholarship Finalist, Cortona On The Move
Italy, 2017
Grantee, Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting
Washington, D.C., US, 2016
Roy Rowan Fellow, Overseas Press Club Foundation Scholarship
Yale Club, New York City, US, 2014
Nominee, Joop Swart Masterclass (World Press Photo)
Amsterdam, Netherlands, 2014
Shortlisted, RPS International 157 (The Royal Photographic Society)
UK, 2014
Selected, Magnum Photos AGM 66th Portfolio Review
London, UK, 2013
Participant, Eddie Adams Workshop XXVI
Jeffersonville, New York, US, 2013
Shortlisted, APA / Lucie Foundation Scholarship (Pro)
11th Annual Lucie Awards
New York City, US, 2013
Winner, Canon Photography Award
Listed on PhotoServe by PDN
New York City, US, 2013