Jingan
JINGAN
As one of China’s four direct-administered municipalities, there’s no other city like Shanghai. Rich in art and culture as well as international relations history, every corner of Shanghai has a story to tell. The city is also one of Asia’s earliest contemporary art hubs, attracting many international galleries and artists while domestically growing and developing its own institutions. Shanghai’s emphasis on culture has also seen the growth of some key districts such as the West Bund, with many other new projects currently in the making.
Located in the heart of Shanghai, Jingan district got its name from the iconic Jingan Temple that traces its history to as early as year 247. In 2015, the Shanghai government combined what used to be Jingan with the Zhabei district to form a much larger and inclusive area. To Shanghai residents young and old, Jingan is a popular district with a rich city scene to offer.
Ullens Center for Contemporary Art (UCCA) Edge
First founded in Beijing by Guy and Myriam Ullens in 2007, UCCA’s mission is to bring the most cutting-edge arts to China through its best practices. For over 15 years, the UCCA Group has also played a vital role in bringing China into the global contemporary art dialogue. After the opening of UCCA Beijing and UCCA Dune in northeast China and over 140 exhibitions later, UCCA Edge opened its much-anticipated doors to the Shanghai audience in 2021.
OCAT Shanghai 华侨城当代艺术中心
The OCAT museum collective is a familiar name to many, and includes 5 different locations across China. Established in 2012, OCAT Shanghai was the country’s first institution to focus on media and architectural design. Presenting academic exhibitions year-round, OCAT Shanghai is a great representation of China’s professional art scene, providing public art education and initiating conversations between Chinese artistic academia and abroad.
MadeIn Gallery 没顶画廊
Established in 2014 by Xu Zhen, who is a leading figure and multi–media artist in the young generation of Chinese artists, MadeIn Gallery is a home-grown institution that is located in OCAT Shanghai. The gallery focuses on building dialogues between local artists and the global contemporary art stage, and prides itself in uncovering new talent and curating the newest thoughts and innovation.
Pearl Lam Galleries 艺术门画廊
Pearl Lam Galleries was founded in 2005 by Pearl Lam, a pioneer in the Asian contemporary art market, followed by her second gallery in her hometown of Hong Kong. With a team of international staff, the gallery’s reach is global, having presentations at major global art fairs including The Armory Show, Art Cologne, Art Basel Hong Kong, Frieze Masters, and West Bund Art and Design. The gallery’s Shanghai venue began with a focus on design, but has since evolved to become a platform to showcase contemporary Asian artists regionally and internationally.
Ming Contemporary Art Museum (McaM) 明当代美术馆
Transformed and repurposed in 2014 from the Shanghai Paper-making Machinery Factory, Ming Contemporary Art Museum presents a U-shaped space and a sunken stage, covering a vast area comprising two stories and a 15 metre-high ceiling. Its focus is on contemporary visual performing arts, especially in multi–media and avant-garde theatre. Throughout the year, the museum not only hosts professional artists, students, and scholars, but also presents numerous community events, making the Museum a platform of positive interaction between artists and the public.
ART LABOR Gallery
Established in 2007, ART LABOR Gallery embarked on a pioneering curatorial journey, exploring the evolving identity of Shanghai and the trajectory of emerging art in China. With a distinct perspective, the gallery continues to play a vital role in the contemporary art scene. It embraces a diverse range of mediums and aesthetics, representing artists whose works strike a delicate balance between concept and representation. In 2022, the gallery unveiled its fourth space, an expansive three-floor period villa located in Shanghai’s Former French Concession area – don’t miss out on it!
Gallery All
Founded in 2014 by Yu Wang and Xiao Lu, Gallery All expanded to Shanghai in 2021, aiming to create a ‘mini-museum’ space. The gallery serves as a platform to promote international designers and artists in Asia, facilitating their entry into the global art scene. Representing a select group of interdisciplinary contemporary artists and designers, such as James Jean x Oskar Zieta, Jonni Cheatwood, Aranda\Lasch, and Chulan Kwak, Gallery All showcases visually stunning and functionally compelling artworks that reflect deep research and creative potential.
CoBrA GALLERY
Founded in Shanghai in 2021, CoBrA GALLERY is a collectible design gallery that blurs the boundaries between the avant-garde and the classic. With a focus on ‘collectible design,’ the gallery explores the overlap between contemporary art and modern design. Through a multi-directional dialogue among space, furniture, and people, CoBrA GALLERY seeks to awaken viewers’ intuitive sense of material beauty and design, generating a unique aesthetic perspective in everyday life. Their new space, ‘CoBrA GALLERY SuHe@JK1933,’ invites visitors to discover the possibilities of integrating artworks into the living scene along the Suzhou River.
Vanguard Gallery
Vanguard Gallery, established in 2004, has been dedicated to discovering and promoting emerging contemporary artists. As a platform for young artists to gain exposure and experience, it has contributed significantly to shaping the discourse of Asian contemporary art. Through its support for conceptual and experimental artistic creations, Vanguard Gallery has become a trendsetter and a catalyst for exploring the future of contemporary art in Asia.
