Beijing Galleries are too numerous––and some too fleeting––to include a comprehensive listings here. The following are a list of recommendations–galleries showing contemporary art with consistent quality, artists to watch, or just plain interesting. This guide is only meant to introduce the best galleries showing primarily Chinese art, and from a more native perspective.

For complete listings, telephones and maps, consult each galleries home page, for a more complete list, please see the ArtForum guide for Beijing galleries. This page is ever-under construction, please come back for more listings.

798 七九八

Beijing Commune 北京公社
This “small” space under the artistic direction of Mr. Leng Lin, now the president of the Pace Gallery Beijing is turning its sights to lesser-known faces in the art world. Perhaps due to its low-key door, the BJ Commune might be one of the most overlooked spaces in 798 (by casual tourists).

Beijing-Tokyo Gallery 东京画廊
Beijing’s first gallery, the Beijing Tokyo Art Projects, shows a blend of artists from Japan and China. Shows a range from architectural documents to installation and strange performance art. Worth a visit.

Iberia Center for Contemporary Art 伊比利亚当代艺术中心
Another art space that transcends the function of gallery, but is not quite a museum––Iberia has a mission to promote contemporary art (especially from China, but with support from the Spanish Art and Culture Foundation). Their enormous space, and hyper-modern brick exterior house thought out exhibitions by a team of young Chinese curators with an academic focus. Don’t miss Iberia, tucked in the Southwest corner of 798.

Long March Space 长征空间
The Long March Space straddles a place somewhere between non-profit arts institution, commercial gallery, and museum. Look for socially conscious programming, artists on the vanguard, and shows that push the limits; look out also for the Long March’s ongoing project to transmit Chinese contemporary art across the world–an ambitious mission befitting such a loaded title.

Star Gallery 星空间
China’s young artists in a heaven of their own. Star Gallery deals with exclusively “Post 70s” artists, see mostly easel art from some of the most talked about emerging artists in the Chinese art world. While mostly known for their painting, and under criticism for price gouging, Star Gallery’s enthusiastic director Mr. Fang Fang wields skills at getting shows with all the new talent, mostly from his alma mater, the Central Academy.

Tang Contemporary 唐人画廊
One of the largest exhibition spaces in China with enormous budgets in this enormous space, which manages to pull in some of the biggest artist names in China.

Ullens Center for Contemporary Art 尤伦斯当代艺术中心 (UCCA)
Enjoy the Ullens Family collection and curated shows with real international flair. The UCCA is not quite a museum, but its strong staff of international art world professionals make it much more than a gallery. The UCCA plays host to various artist lectures, film screenings, awards, and a the art/fashion world jet set. While their somewhat intimidating staff of “art bodyguards” may put off some visitors, the high caliber exhibitions will leave you with much more to talk about.

草场地 Caochangdi

Boers-Li Gallery Boers-Li 画廊
(formerly Universal Studios) Boers-Li gallery is operated by international team Pi Li, who hails from the Art History Department at CAFA, and Dutch-born Waling Boers, curator, writer and founding Director of BüroFriedrich-Berlin. Boers-Li works with primarily Chinese artists, and is known for its spectacular installations.

China Art and Archives Warehouse 艺术文献仓库
When this first gallery to Caochangdi planted themselves in the “middle of nowhere” the art world marveled, then everyone drew in close to the new center. Ai Weiwei is art director, shows reflect his minimalist and loose mix of conceptual and experimental works.

doART 都亚特北京
That’s “Doe” art for the non-Hangul reading set… doArt is the late-comer to Beijing among the three Korean giants (including Arario, PKM), doArt is owned by Gallery Hyundai, whose multi-storied space in Seoul perhaps rivals its lux Caochangdi location. With the Hyundai reputation to bear, doArt works hard at filling their enormous hall with Chinese, Korean and international shows.

Galerie Meile 麦勒画廊
Situated in an enormous, freestanding grey-brick courtyard designed by Ai Weiwei, one of its represented artists, Galerie Meile has built a reputation for bringing high quality Chinese artists to Europe and fostering their work at home and abroad.

Pekin Fine Arts 北京艺门
The gallery homebase of dynamic dealer and Chinese art world maven Meg Maggio, who shows high quality shows deftly installed with an increasing number of Japanese and Korean artists.

Platform China 站台中国
Indeed a platform for young artists, experimental, conceptual and especially good video art, Platform China dominates the “East End Arts” complex across from Three Shadows, and is spread across two enormous exhibition spaces.

Three Shadows Photography 三影堂
This newly established non-profit center for the advancement of photography realized the long-term dream of its founders, photographer Rong Rong (of early East Village fame) and his Japanese artist wife, Inri. The space is intelligently designed specifically with the purpose of displaying photography in mind, lower celings and tunneling hallways enclose a courtyard that plays host to public screenings and concerts. Three Shadows also has a library and a small cafe.

Other Beijing Locations

Arario Beijing  阿拉里奥
This giant gallery stretches over three independent and enormous halls in the Liquor Factory art district of Beijing.Korean-owned, but with a serious commitment to Chinese contemporary art, Arario hosts not only “art star” shows, but experimental video art, rock star-cum artists and more.

Aye Gallery Aye 画廊
Located across from Yonghegong Temple, Aye Gallery is pioneering its own niche in Beijing’s art world. Working with artists of repute as well as young artists, and even the occasional international artist, the gallery is sure to provide something unique to visitors.

Today Art Gallery 今日美术馆
The Today Art Gallery has had private museum status for many years when, two years ago it consolidated two locations into one enormous museum in the Pingod District just south of the CBD district in central Beijing. While the space seems as large as their budget, the lack of curator diversity sometimes reflects in the lack of interesting shows.