ShanghaiArt Guide
Your guide to Shanghai and the city's most important art fairs, museums, private collections, non-profits, and galleries, with tips on shows to see and artists to knowOver the past decade Shanghai has reasserted its status as the financial hub of China, thanks in part to the arrival of world-class galleries, museums, and institutions along the Huangpu River.
Despite lagging behind Beijing during China’s contemporary art boom of the 1990s and 2000s, Shanghai has developed a reputation as a global art centre, with a cultural offering to rival that of New York or Paris.
Shanghai’s museums and galleries are notable for their unique architecture, often adapted from a past life. The Rockbund Art Museum (RAM) is housed in a beautiful 1932 Art Deco building, originally home to the Royal Asiatic Society. The Power Station of Art, once a working power station, is now home to the Shanghai Biennale.
Following the barges upstream, visitors encounter three museums established by private collectors: Wang Wei and Liu Yiqian’s Long Museum, identified by its coal hopper design; Chinese-Indonesian collector Budi Tek‘s Yuz Museum, housed in former aircraft hangars and specialising in jaw-dropping kinetic and large-scale artworks; and entrepreneur Qiao Zhibing’s TANK Shanghai, located in repurposed fuel silos.
The iconic Museum of Contemporary Art Shanghai, as well as the cultural exchange initiative Centre Pompidou x West Bund Museum Project, are both crucial establishments in the city, serving exhibitions that consistently expand outlooks on contemporary forms of expression and global cultures.
Early 20th-century architecture—including RAM’s building—lends old-world charm at the Bund proper. The district is also home to global blue-chip galleries such as Lisson Gallery, Perrotin, Pearl Lam Galleries, and Almine Rech. Other leading commercial galleries include ShanghART, MadeIn Gallery, AIKE, and Edouard Malingue Gallery.
The West Bund is where mainland China’s leading art fair, West Bund Art & Design, takes place each November. Staged in the palatial Shanghai Exhibition Centre, the annual ART021 Shanghai Contemporary Art Fair and PHOTOFAIRS Shanghai have also contributed to the cultivation of an ambitious new generation of Chinese collectors.
Spread throughout Shanghai’s former French Concession in the Xuhui District is an exciting new generation of galleries backing young artists and experimental practices: Capsule Shanghai, Studio Gallery, BANK, Antenna Space, and Arario Gallery, to name a few. Fittingly located nearby is Dumonteil Contemporary, who spotlight modern and contemporary French and Chinese artists.
South of the Wusong River, M50 Creative Park hosts Chronus Art Center, whose focus is on research and new media art, as well as ShanghART’s second Shanghai location, where it showcases emerging and experimental talent.
UCCA Edge extends the UCCA institution further north, across three storeys of the EDGE tower. On the other side of the Huangpu River, the Shanghai Himalayas Museum promotes research and academic exchange in addition to exhibitions, reflecting Shanghai’s pluralistic, multifaceted approach to developing conversations around contemporary art.
What's On in Shanghai's Galleries
Shanghai Art Exhibitions
Experience Shanghai, China’s vibrant array of art exhibitions in the city’s numerous galleries and museums. Boasting a rich cultural heritage and thriving creative community, Shanghai is the perfect place to explore presentations from China’s established artists and up-and-coming talent.
Shanghai, China, is home to several distinct art districts, including Moganshan Road Art District and Tianzifang. These neighbourhoods are cultural hubs of Shanghai, housing communities of artist studios, galleries and shops displaying works from local artists.
Situated along the banks of the Huangpu River, ‘The Bund’ is a newly redeveloped area in the Xuhui district, featuring a cluster of contemporary art galleries, exhibition spaces, performance facilities and museums, including the Long Museum, Yuz Museum and the West Bund Art Center. Other notable galleries in Shanghai include Arario Gallery, Almine Rech and Perrotin.
With so many museums and art spaces in Shanghai, art enthusiasts can find a wide variety of displays showcasing work from Chinese and international artists. Explore current and upcoming exhibitions across Shanghai’s best galleries, institutions and non-profit art spaces.
Best Exhibitions to See in Shanghai
We have listed a variety of art exhibitions on display in Shanghai, China, allowing visitors to find a presentation that sparks their interest. Each listing includes an artist profile, exhibition details and artworks available to view online. We continually update our listings with new exhibits, ensuring individuals can stay up-to-date with what’s currently on display in Shanghai.
Although a wide variety of exhibitions are on show throughout the year, Shanghai has several art festivals and art events which bring visitors from around China and beyond. Each November, the global art community gravitates toward the city to partake in ART021 Shanghai Contemporary Art Fair, which has brought together major international galleries and local institutions at the Shanghai Exhibition Center since 2013. Founded by collectors Kylie Ying, Bao Yifeng and David Chau, the fair is a constituent member of the Shanghai International Arts Festival.
West Bund Art & Design was founded the following year, in 2014. This event, which celebrates contemporary art, design and creative expression, is held each November in Shanghai. Attracting a host of museums and galleries to settle near West Bund Art Center, west of the Huangpu River, the fair has cemented the region’s status as Shanghai’s official commercial art district.
Bringing Together the Leading Art in Shanghai
Whatever art style piques one’s interest, Shanghai, China, has an exhibit to suit all tastes. Experience.
Follow Advisory Picks, Perspectives, and Selections for leading art galleries, institutions, exhibitions and events in Shanghai. Visit our website to view the details of each artist’s exhibition showing in Shanghai, China, by date and location. JoinMy Ocula to follow artists, galleries, and cities, save artworks to your favourites, and be informed when new exhibitions and features are published.
Follow Shanghai's Important Museums, Private Collections, Galleries and Non-Profit Art Spaces.
Read More On Shanghai's Exhibitions, Artists, Galleries
Since it was launched in 2010, Ocula Magazine has interviewed some of China’s most significant artists, including Zhang Huan, Yan Fudong, Gu Wenda, and Xu Bing.
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Shanghai 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 solo exhibitions in the city include Cai Guo-Qiang, John Armleder, Joan Miró, and Yan Fudong.
Discover Exceptional Artworks on Show and for Sale in Shanghai
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