Art gallery tour Shanghai – explore the local art scene the most efficient way.
After living in China for almost 5 years and making many art strolls in Shanghai I found that most information I searched on the internet was rather incomplete, old, or just too much information. Because of the very scattered art scene in Shanghai compared to Beijing’s rather central 798 & Caochangdi area this took me many days to visit the most interesting places. And even longer to find the spots that I stop now regularly because of the good shows and concepts they present. Today it is my aim to make you this knowledge accessible in the very practical way of an art gallery tour Shanghai.
Three tours to see around 80% of what Shanghai’s art scene has to offer. (If you are interested in a Beijing Art Walk click here!)
So here is the plan. We packed around 12-15 must-see Galleries & Museums together on each tour which you can visit easily in one day. (In Shanghai you need at least 3 days to get an overview compared to Beijing where the art scene is more compact and easier to explore.) We put it in an easy overview map simply based on a Chinese Baidu map so you can as well show it to some locals and they might be able to help you around if you are lost. Also, we put a small Info (not too much) of each gallery below and the rest we believe you will find out yourself by just visiting them.
Note that the official opening times of Galleries & Museums are usually from around 10:30 am to 17:30 pm. Also, we recommend that you check them out during the week from Tuesday-Friday since then it will be not very crowded. However, if you like you can do them as well on the weekend and if you are lucky to end up in an official opening with canapes and drinks ☺. But don’t go on Mondays since all of them are usually closed if you do not have an appointment. now let’s get started with our first art gallery tour Shanghai…
Art Gallery Tour Shanghai 1: Westbund
This is the sunshine tour if you ask me. Because this makes up for a perfect Sunday tour on the bicycle or a nice walk in bright light. Take Subway line 8 to Xizang South Road and walk towards the Huangpu River. You will see a big power plant where you start at the Power Station of art. From here it is a long walk around 30min to the next location. Take your time or grab a mobike from there, usually there are plenty around.
Well… now you are ready to go. Just follow our suggested art gallery tours Shanghai route in the order from 1-11. Enjoy! And let us know in the comments how you liked it. Ah… and not to forget, you can take subway line 11 at Yunjin Road to go back. (Note: if you are using a taxi in the evening better use DIDI to call a car since at that time it is very hard to get one on the street!)
Art Gallery Tour Shanghai – Art Walk – Westbund
1. Power Station of Art
Established on Oct. 1st, 2012, the Power Station of Art (PSA) is the first state-run museum dedicated to contemporary art in mainland China. It is also home to the Shanghai Biennale.
Standing tall by Shanghai’s mother river, the Huangpu River, PSA now occupies an area of 42-thousand square meters. With an internal height of 27 meters, the museum now houses exhibition sections that add up to 15-thousand square meters. And its 165-meter chimney, being an independent exhibition space, has also become an integral part of Shanghai’s world-famous skyline.
2. Long Museum (West Bund)
Founded by Chinese couple collectors, Mr. Liu Yiqian and his wife, Ms. Wang Wei, the Long Museum owns two huge places for exhibition and related functions: Long Museum Pudong and Long Museum West Bund. West Bund is located at the center of the West Bund Culture Corridor in Binjiang. Designed by Liu Yichun, a Chinese architect of Atelier Deshaus, the building covers an area of 33,000 square meters with up to 16,000 square meters for exhibition.
The main part of the building is a unique umbrella-vaulted structure. The first and second floors above ground are devoted to contemporary art including paintings, sculptures, installations, and new media. The first basement is the permanent exhibition area for precious artifacts in ancient China and art works of the Republic of China. Resembling a “white box,” the rectangular exhibition hall highlights the historical continuance and intellectual profoundness of traditional Chinese art.
3. Edouard Malingue Gallery
A Hong Kong-based commercial gallery founded by French art dealer Edouard Malingue in 2010. They show emerging and established contemporary artists from around the world. In addition to solo exhibitions, the gallery is recognized for its support of public art projects. Stimulating artistic discourse through collaborations with curators worldwide. The Shanghai gallery opened in November 2016.
4. Arario Gallery
Arario Gallery was founded by CI Kim in 1989. Since reopening its current space in Cheonan, Arario Gallery has been running 4 branches in Cheonan(Korea), Samcheong, Seoul(Korea), RYSE HOTEL, Seoul(Korea) and Shanghai(China). Arario Gallery has always endeavored to explore new grounds that have never previously been looked at by other institutions in Korea. Promoting hybridization and diversity in the regionally localized art world through its active interactions with international art world. On the basis of experience in China’s art industry, the gallery currently introduces various works from India and Southeast Asia’s artists which have yet been introduced within the country. From 2005 to 2012 in Beijing, ARARIO gallery ranked among the greatest galleries in China. ARARIO gallery opened space at Hengshanfang, Shanghai from August 2014 to June 2017, and is relocating to Westbund, Shanghai in July 2017 to continue being a pioneer of modern art.
5. Don Gallery
Don Gallery is a contemporary art gallery in Shanghai showcasing both emerging and established Chinese artists. Since being founded in 2007, Don Gallery has championed the careers of artists who are contributing to the way Chinese contemporary art was presented. It endeavours to take an initiative on curatorial innovation and accommodate a promising configuration of international artists, yet continues to support an important generation of Chinese artists in collaboration with various institutions.
6. YUZ Museum
Yuz Museum, Shanghai is a non-profit organization under the umbrella of the Yuz Foundation. The museum will strive to promote the exhibition and development of contemporary art and to enhance the public’s understanding and appreciation of contemporary art. The space of Shanghai Yuz Museum was once the hangar of Longhua Airport. The museum boasts a total area of 9,000 square meters, among which the hangar-converted main gallery alone covers over 3,000sqm. By retaining the unique sense of grandeur of this enormous structure, the space perfectly sets off the magnificence of the installations in YUZ collection.
7. New Century Art Foundation
Co-founded by art collectors Mr. Wang Bin and Mr. Xue Bing, the New Century Art Foundation (NCAF) is a non-profit foundation committed to the study and promotion of Chinese contemporary art.
8. Aike Dellarco
AIKE is a contemporary art gallery introducing avant-garde Chinese contemporary artists to the world as well as working with emerging artists abroad to establish a presence in China. The gallery was initially founded in Palermo in 2005 by Roberto Ceresia, opened its branch in Shanghai in 2008 and moved its entire operations to Shanghai in 2011. Since 2016, the gallery is relocated to West Bund art district and expanded its space. The new space is designed by DEDODESIGN and characterized by its high ceiling and industrial structure. In 2017, Adrian H. Wang becomes the co-owner of AIKE and devotes his career to the local art scene.
9. Shanghai Center of photography
Shanghai Center of Photography (SCôP) was founded in May 2015 by Mr Liu Heung Shing. SCôP is a non-profit organization: the first such accredited art institution dedicated to photography in China, and Shanghai’s premiere museum for the photographic medium.
SCôP showcases international and Chinese photography in all its diverse applications. Here you will find the best of journalism, documentary, social history, fashion and art photography from around the world. In tandem with its curated exhibitions, SCôP offers a program of educational programs including workshops, lectures, and publications. Founder is Liu Heung Shing an accomplished photojournalist and Pulitzer-prize winning photographer.
10. ShangART (Westbund)
Founded in 1996, ShanghART Gallery is one of the first contemporary art galleries established in China. For the past twenty years, ShanghART has kept devoting to the development of Chinese contemporary art and also kept close and long-term cooperation with more than 60 artists. Nowadays, with spaces in Shanghai, Beijing and Singapore, ShanghART presents exhibitions and projects of the contemporary art with high-quality constantly.
11. Qiao Space
QIAO SPACE is a private exhibition space owned by collector Qiao Zhibing. Through exhibitions of renowned international and domestic artists,QIAO SPACE intends to deepen the perception of contemporary art of the public.Our belief is that the art of our time is as great as the art of any times in human history.
Art Gallery Tour Shanghai 2: Bund + M50
Our 2nd art gallery tour Shanghai is a bit more traveling and starts right at the famous Bund and takes you up to Suzhou Creek where you hop on the subway to M50 (Take line 12 at Tiantong Road – interchange at Hangzhong Road to line 13 for one stop to Jiangning Road – from there go north about 15min. After that you can do a final special and take the subway back to Lujiazui for the Aurora Museum to see ancient chinese works and then go up the skyscrapers for the blue hour!
1 Shanghai Gallery of art
Established in 2004 at Three on the Bund, Shanghai Gallery of Art (SGA) is one of China’s most distinguished galleries. Known for its quality programming and curatorial acumen, SGA is primarily focused on Asian Contemporary Art. Located at the Bund, Shanghai’s most prominent historic district, the gallery’s distinctive activities showcase a range of discourses relevant to contemporary art and cultural practice through its exhibitions, artists’ projects and interdisciplinary programs.
For collectors and institutions, Shanghai Gallery of Art is an important resource for both consultancy and acquisitions. The gallery offers long term strategic planning for private collectors and institutions on both established and emerging artists.
2. Perl Lam Gallerie
Founded by Pearl Lam, the Galleries is a driving force within Asia’s contemporary art scene. With over 20 years of experience exhibiting Asian and Western art and design, it is one of the leading and most established contemporary art galleries to be launched out of China.
Playing a vital role in stimulating international dialogue on Chinese and Asian contemporary art, the Galleries is dedicated to championing artists who re-evaluate and challenge perceptions of cultural practice from the region. The Galleries in Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Singapore collaborate with renowned curators, each presenting distinct programming from major solo exhibitions, special projects and installations to conceptually rigorous group shows. Based on the philosophy of Chinese Literati where art forms have no hierarchy, Pearl Lam Galleries is dedicated to breaking down boundaries between different disciplines, with a unique gallery model committed to encouraging cross-cultural exchange.
3. Matthew Liu Fine Arts
Matthew Liu Fine Arts intends to be the first gallery in China that focuses on promoting modern and contemporary Western art to the Chinese collectors.
4. Rockbund Art Museum
The Rockbund Art Museum is the first contemporary art museum in China that is fully devoted to supporting contemporary art production and creativity. The museum was founded as an important part of the Rockbund Urban Renaissance project which aims to renovate heritage buildings and revitalize the cultural milieu for the north end of the Bund through arts, fashion, business and leisure programs.
The deep involvement of the Rockbund Art Museum aims to elevate contemporary art and energize the Chinese and international art scenes.
5. ART+ Shanghai
Art+ Shanghai Gallery was founded in October 2007 by four partners who share a long passion and involvement in art. Showcasing established and emerging contemporary artists from within China and Asia, Art+ Shanghai Gallery is dedicated to the exhibition, promotion, and development of contemporary art with a focus on unique artistic style and high quality artwork.
Art+ Shanghai Gallery aims to bring to the art world original visions, new ideas, and shared knowledge though a variety of intimate gatherings such as artist talks, curators’ tour and lectures as well as concerts. In addition to mounting solo exhibitions and group shows, participating in international art fairs, Art+ Shanghai Gallery provides art advisory, management, and documentation services to both private and corporate clients.
6. Magda Danysz Gallery
Promote, support emerging artists and favour a larger access to contemporary art on an international level are Magda Danysz gallery’s goals. To achieve it the gallery actively works to offer an always original program, mixing visual art, digital art, urban art… The artists supported by the gallery have now became familiar names, as Miss Van or Obey, in street art, or Ultralab, in digital art, or the leaders of pop surrealism like Ray Caesar and Eric White. Supporting artists from all horizons, Magda Danyszhas always placed herself in constant search of multidisciplinarity.
The gallery also works a lot on curatorial projects and collaborations with foreign galleries as for instance in Los Angeles and New York. In addition, Magda Danysz is also member of the board of the Cube, the main French digital art cultural center.
7. Vanguard Gallery
Since established in Shanghai 2004, Vanguard Gallery embraces an immensely open attitude on art creation. The creation of the represented artists covers painting, sculpture, installation, performance, photography and video. Moreover photography and new media art are especially focused.
8. Madein Gallery
Established in 2009, MadeIn Company, is a contemporary art creation company, focused on the production of creativity and devoted to the research of contemporary culture’s infinite possibilities. In 2014, MadeIn Company founded MadeIn Gallery, a gallery dedicated to the promotion of talented international artists, holding high quality art events and exhibitions, with an accent on contemporary culture development and communication.
9. Antenna Space
Antenna Space was founded by Simon Wang in 2013. The gallery focuses on working with artists closely as well as helping artists achieving their projects internationally, the programs have been hyper-actively deploying overly Chinese motifs, though they appear to be quite emerging genre of art, but not necessarily regional or hierarchical; Artists are from China, HK, US and Europe, exhibitions variably echos and rhymes from one to another. The gallery is seeking new formality of art galleries’ development particularly as a China-based art space.
10. ShangART (Main Gallery)
This is their main Gallery Space located in M50. (more Info please see Art Tour 1/No.10)
11. Yibo Gallery
Shanghai Yibo Gallery was established in 1999, and it is one of the earliest commercial art galleries in China. Focusing on Chinese contemporary art since its inception, Yibo Gallery has held a series of highly influential exhibitions and art related events at the Shanghai Art Museum and at the gallery spaces. Yibo Gallery works closely with established and emerging artists, collectors, and the larger artistic communities to actively develop and engage with the promotion and collection of Chinese contemporary art.
12. Gallery 55
The Gallery discovers young Chinese talents as well as re-discovers mid-career professionals and focuses on presenting project proposals with unconventional approaches since 2005.
13. Aurora Museum
It was the first private art museum in the Lujiazui area of Shanghai, which was officially opened in October 2013. It has six floors, 6316 square meters and is designe by Tadao Ando. The Aurora Museum pays equal attention to history and art, and considers collection, research, exhibition, operation and promotion as a dynamic whole. Adhering to Chinese culture of “protection, inheritance, and dedication”, the museum promotes the study of ancient artifacts with the core of “material, technique, form and pattern”, and cooperates with Peking University’s School of Archaeology and Museology etc. to strive to improve on the platform of cooperation between museum and universities. The museum collection can be divided into Buddhist Sculptures, Ancient Jade, Ancient Pottery Figures, and Blue-and-white Porcelains. Sometimes there are special contemporary art installations right opposite to the main hall.
Art Walk Tour 3 – French Concession / People Square
Our final art gallery tour Shanghai route takes you to the heart of Shanghai, the famous french concession and the peoples square. Some people think that french concession is just a small area or street but please note that this is a huge area to cover. Even with a bicycle, you will struggle to see most of it in one day! …but let’s get it on and check out our map for this route. We start on the North West corner of the people’s park with our first stop. (Subway station: peoples park Exit 11)
01. Longmen Art Projects
Founded in 1975, Taipei Lung Men Art Gallery dedicated itself in promoting modern & contemporary Chinese art presenting remarkable art works by oversea Chinese artists such as Yun Gee (1906-1963), Lee Chun-Shan (1912-1984), ZAO Wou-ki (1921-2013), CHU Teh-Chun (1920-2014), and Walasse TING (1928-2010). By the 1990s, these early masters’ works would eventually emerge in the international Post-War art scene and shape the foundation of 20th Century Chinese Art.
The gallery earned a reputation as a prominent and outstanding gallery managing industry-leading abstract contemporary artists in Asia.
2. Moca Pavilion
A tiny exhibition space on the way from Longmen to MOCA Shanghai at the entrance to peoples park. Check it out if something interesting is going on while you are making your way into the peoples park to see the show at MOCA.
Opened in 2015, MoCA Pavilion is a new space by Museum of Contemporary Art, Shanghai dedicated to emerging artists and ideas. Located at Gate 7 of People’s Park, it is a free and welcoming environment for the public to discover works of contemporary artists. The mission is to foster new trends in contemporary art, support emerging artists, and facilitate personal encounters between artists and the community.
3. MOCA Shanghai
Museum of Contemporary Art, Shanghai (MoCA Shanghai) was founded in 2005 as the first private contemporary art museum in China. Housed in the heart of Shanghai in People’s Park, the vision from the beginning has been to “gather together excellent artwork from around the world,” and to provide a platform for showcasing Chinese and international contemporary artists.
For over a decade, MoCA Shanghai has remained on the pulse of cultural shifts in contemporary art and design. Creating partnerships with top artists and institutions to imagine new possibilities, and helping expand the influence and understanding of Chinese contemporary art across the globe. By unearthing young talent, curating cross-cultural and cross-industry exhibitions, and integrating new technologies, MoCA strives to be “museum of the people” for citizens of Shanghai and the world.
Nice to know: Originally built as a greenhouse, the building was renovated to hold a 4,000-square meter museum space while preserving the outer glass wall. From the rooftop terrace, guests are treated to stunning 360º views of lush greenery and some of Shanghai’s most historic buildings.
4. FQ Projects
FQ Projects provides a unique platform for the promotion and development of young and mid-career Chinese contemporary artists. It is located in Huai Hai Fang, a lane favored by the Shanghainese bourgeois class and at the heart of Shanghai both geographically and culturally.
Over the years FQ Projects has participated in a number of major international art fairs in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Busan, Los Angles, London and Melbourne among others. In addition, a number of magazines and TV channels, such as Time Out, That’s Shanghai Art in Asia, Channel Young, ICS and No. 1 Finacial Channel often publish articles and interviews about FQ Projects and its exhibitions. Our international outreach, combined with frequent media coverage, has ensured our artists are always visible.
Many of the artists supported by FQ Projects have, in fact, achieved recognition worldwide. The young Shanghanese artist Yang Yongliang stands out as one of the gallery’s best success. Not only is he considered one of the most up-and-coming young artist in China, his works are now shown throughout the world and their value has impressively increased.
Each Year FQ Projects carries out a number of exhibitions by artists working with different medium, designed to bring together a varied audience, from artists to critics, from curators to collectors and the general public.
5. Gallery Dumonteil
Since 1982, Galerie Dumonteil has assumed a major role in the market of the figurative sculpture. Focusing on modern and contemporary art, Galerie Dumonteil has three gallery spaces in Paris, New York and Shanghai respectively. While the headquarters in Paris focuses on gathering a permanent collection of artifacts, the branches in New York and in Shanghai serve to preserve the zeitgeist of the Interwar Period and promote European artists from this epoch to both Chinese and American audiences through focused, themed exhibitions.
Established in 2008, Galerie Dumonteil’s Shanghai branch, committed to strengthen the collaboration and professional ties within the art scene in Asia, is one of the first Western art galleries that has been involved in the early stage of the burgeoning Chinese contemporary art scene.
6. Leo Gallery
Established in 2008, Leo Gallery is respected for being a progressive force in nurturing young and representing established contemporary artists regardless of nationality. Situated in Ferguson Lane in Shanghai, the diplomatic quarter of Shanghai’s former French Concession, Leo Gallery has 2 galleries at 374 and 376 Wu Kang Road.
Apart from exhibition programs that promote Asian and European art, Leo Gallery has also been working on a number of public art projects with commercial and educational entities ranging from various shopping malls like Shanghai Time Square and Crystal Galleria, Ferguson Lane to public and private schools.
7. Capsule
Capsule, the newest addition to Shanghai’s burgeoning contemporary art scene, opened its doors in October 2016. Located in the historic Former French Concession, the gallery is set in a stunning 1930’s garden house, away from the hustle and bustle, a haven in which to experience and enjoy art. (Note: it is a bit hard to find right at the end of a tiny alley…)
More than a place to show art, Capsule is also a lab, an experimental space geared to the unique rhythm and fast-changing dynamic of contemporary art in China. Here, creativity is ignited, as visitors are inspired to learn, to engage and to broaden their knowledge and appreciation of contemporary art.
8. BANK / MABSOCIETY
BANK is the studio of MABSOCIETY. It was founded in July 2013 and is housed in the former Bank Union Building (est 1929) located near Shanghai’s historic Bund area. BANK functions as the offices and studio of MABSOCIETY and is dedicated to an exhibition program that engages international issues of contemporary art and culture. The projects are research based and meant to provoke issues of cultural history(s) and global interests and attitudes, especially as it pertains to China in the 21st Century.
MABSOCIETY is an international curatorial and consultancy firm based in Shanghai founded by Mathieu Borysevicz in 2012. It is a hybrid organization that acts as a cultural conduit between China and the rest of the world by producing exhibitions, publications, educational programs, as well as consulting for collections, institutions, and individuals.
9. Gallery Vacancy
To be honest I have not much to say on this. They have an amazing lineup of artists such as Gao Ludi, Ke Peng, John Yuyi and many more as well as a nice space… so give it a shot while you are around and get surprised!
10. Art Labor Gallery
Now in a brand new space opened July 2017, ART LABOR Gallery is a contemporary gallery based in Shanghai. Winner of Time Out magazine’s “People’s choice award for best gallery in Shanghai” in 2014 and on ART INFO’s 20 best galleries in Asia list, the gallery has always strove to find unique artists, both emerging and established, from China and around the globe. ART LABOR has played an integral role in the expansion of the Shanghai art scene, which is now, decidedly more international in scope and is truly becoming the centre of the art world in Asia.
Cooperating with galleries and art professionals from around the world, the artists on show are a mix of half Chinese mainland and half of other countries.
11. M97 Gallery and Project Space
One of the largest of its kind in China, M97 was established in 2006 in Shanghai, China’s financial capital and global city. Consistently exhibiting contemporary and fine art photography that spans all genres of the medium, M97 represents an eclectic range of important emerging and established artists working with photography. After 10 years on Moganshan Road, in 2016 the gallery relocated closer to the city center in Shanghai’s Jingan District in a converted 1940’s factory complex developed by the Anken Group and is located at 363 Changping Road near North Shaanxi Road. On the first floor M97 operates the gallery space and located on the second floor is the M97 Project Space. In the over 10 years since it’s founding, M97 is dedicated to promoting and developing the appreciation of photography as a modern and contemporary art form in China.