Beijing
Art Guide

Whether you want to discover contemporary art from established artists or emerging talents, you will find some of the best galleries across Beijing's vibrant art scene.

Many of Beijing's leading galleries are situated in the 798 Art District in the northeast of the capital. Among them, Beijing Commune has played a significant role in shaping the Chinese contemporary art scene since 2004, showing the most influential figures including Zhang Xiaogang, Song Dong and Yin Xiuzhen, while supporting the cutting-edge practices of younger generations such as Song Ta, Ge Yulu and Ma Qiusha. Galerie Urs Meile, Tabula Rasa Gallery, and HdM Gallery have set their flagship spaces in Beijing, showing works by local and international artists. Other significant galleries include Magician Space and Tang Contemporary Art.

While 798 continues to be the central art hub of Beijing, some galleries have started to explore other options. Blanc Art Space is located in the National Foreign Cultural Trade Base, 30 kilometres from the city centre. As the city's first art centre with a tax-free policy, the space has attracted major local and international galleries to set outposts here, including Tang Contemporary Art, White Space, and Lisson Gallery.

Immerse yourself in Beijing, China's contemporary art scene and experience the diverse variety of artistic expressions on display. Over the last few decades, Beijing, China, has become a contemporary art hub for Asia and beyond.

Contemporary art sprung up in many cities after China's reform and opening in 1979, but Beijing quickly emerged as the most dynamic. Pioneering artists and collectives such as the Stars Art Group helped to establish the city's reputation for an energetic scene that drew in artists from around the country and collectors from abroad. Today, with Shanghai's thriving art market, Beijing is no longer the uncontested home of Mainland Chinese contemporary art—but its galleries and museums continue to put on some of the best exhibitions in the country.

The Beijing contemporary art scene boasts several world-class galleries, including ShanghART, Lisson Gallery, Tabula Rasa Gallery and more.

Best Exhibitions to See in Beijing

Ocula aims to introduce Contemporary Chinese art to the general public while highlighting some of China's most highly regarded artists. We've selected the best of Beijing contemporary art so you can experience the whole spectrum of what China's art galleries have to offer. View each exhibit's profile to gain insights into the realm of work displayed. Each profile includes information about the artists, details for news publications, and where the contemporary art exhibit is held.

Although the Chinese contemporary art community is vibrant year-round, a few significant events bring Chinese contemporary art to the larger cultural market for the greater public to experience. These include Gallery Weekend Beijing, held in springtime, and the Beijing International Art Biennale, held every two years. Beijing contemporary art exhibitions explore established cultural subjectivity, Chinese society's value systems, and the evolving cultural landscape.

Bringing Together the Leading Art in Beijing

If you're ready to explore the Beijing contemporary art scene, you can use our multilayered platform to find an art exhibit in Beijing, China, that suits your interest. You may wish to visit the No. 52 Liulichang East Street exhibit, created by Ma Qiusha. Combining personal family heirlooms, antiques, and artist-made pieces, Ma Qiusha uses her work to forge connections between the past and present.

Immerse yourself in Chinese contemporary art at Painting Sociology, which features visionary presentations created by abstract painter Zhu Jinshi. Inspired by the intersection of sociology and contemporary art, Zhu Jinshi's pieces communicate his expression of art's place in society for all parties involved.

Explore Ghost on Demand, a contemporary art presentation by Li Jingxiong, one of China's most innovative artists. This collection of installations offers commentary on modern society's value systems, including our relationship with technology. View each gallery profile to discover the best of China's contemporary art on display.

Majority of Beijing's best dedicated contemporary art museums are privately owned, with the exception of the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) Art Museum. The Ullens Center for Contemporary Art (UCCA) has long been a cornerstone of Beijing's art scene with important retrospectives and surveys, such as Bao Dong and Sun Dongdong's ON | OFF (2013), an authoritative overview of Chinese artists born after 1975. After the museum's original owners withdrew funding, the UCCA renovated the building and extended its programme, presenting major solo exhibitions of renowned modern and contemporary artists from Picasso and Matisse to Andy Warhol and Maurizio Cattelan, while continuing to exhibit Chinese artists including Liu Xiaodong, Cao Fei, and Huang Rui.

Other key institutions that warrant a special trip include the 20,000-square-metre Red Brick Art Museum, founded by collectors Yan Shijie and Cao Mei in 2014. Also worth a stop are the Beijing Minsheng Art Museum and the Beijing Inside-Out Art Museum, which is located in the west of the city and known for its research-based programme focusing on Chinese modern and contemporary art.

Private museums continue to emerge in recent years, including M Woods, X Museum, and Song Art Museum, all located in the northeast of Beijing. A noteworthy non-profit space is the Macalline Art Center founded by arts patron Che Xuanqiao. Opened in 2022, the institution shows a primary interest in multidisciplinary practice by emerging and mid-career artists.

After devoting over 20 years to the collection, research, and exhibition of Chinese contemporary art, Taikang Space has expanded into Taikang Museum, moving from Caochangdi to the Taikang Life building near the CBD.

Since its launch in 2010, Ocula Magazine has interviewed some of Beijing's most significant artists including Wang Jianwei, Liu Xiaodong, and Wang Tuo. Ocula Magazine has also published features of Beijing-based artists such as Shen Ling and Hao Liang.

Led by Ocula's founder Simon Fisher, Ocula Advisory assists new and established collectors in growing and managing their collections.

With 40+ years of combined experience and extensive relationships with galleries, auction houses, art dealers, and collectors, Ocula Advisory has exceptional knowledge of modern and contemporary art, as well as market trends.

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Beijing has propelled the careers of Chinese and international artists, with its renowned galleries and museums providing a global stage for seminal exhibitions. Artists who have recently held major exhibitions in the city include Geng Jianyi, Martin Margiela, Patty Chang, Matthew Barney, and Louise Bourgeois.

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