There might not be 798 galleries at Beijing’s most famous art district, but choosing from the great many that are can still be tough. Truth be told, it’s worth wandering among all of them, taking your time to find a favorite. But if you’re short of time, why not start with these, five of the best art galleries in Beijing. Use the handy map to help you find them.
Special Focus: 2009 Beijing 798 Art Festival

1. Galleria Continua View In Map

Galleria Continua, Beijing

Galleria Continua is an Italian gallery that features the works of both local talents and international artists, including heavy-hitters like Anish Kapoor and Michelangelo Pistoletto. Artists’ exhibitions include art work of all kinds with a range of media and often feature elaborate installations. The well established gallery is one which serves as an intermediary between Chinese artists and artists from around the world, bringing new and refreshing dialogue to the Beijing art scene. At its conception one of the main aims of the gallery was to bring contemporary western art to Chinese patrons, and it has succeeded well in its goal.

Add: Rm. 8503, 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Dashanzi Art District, Chaoyang District, Beijing北京市朝阳区酒仙桥路4号内798大山子艺术区
Tel: 010 - 6436 1005
Website: www.galleriacontinua.com

 

2. Long March Space View In Map

Long March Space

Long March is known for its progressive approach to the art world, the name itself is a metaphor for what the gallery describes as a ‘process of movement through space, time, or thought without a fixed beginning or end, involving multiple transformations’. The gallery was conceived with the high-minded aim of helping to find people new ways to perceive political, social, economical, and cultural realities. The Long March Gallery is amongst Beijing’s more avant garde and unorthodox galleries and it is known for housing larger installations, alongside smaller works from both Chinese and international artists. It is also one of China’s few non-profit galleries.

Add: 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Dashanzi Art District, Chaoyang District, Beijing 北京市朝阳区酒仙桥路4号内798大山子艺术区
Tel: 010 - 64387107
Website: www.longmarchspace.com/english/homepage.htm

 

3. The Iberia CenterView In Map

The Iberia Center was founded by the International Art and Culture Foundation of Spain. Its focus is on that of film and video, and especially documentaries. The gallery states its functions as being exposition, research, education, publication, and collection of contemporary art, as well as cultural exchange between China and Spain. In addition to a massive, newly constructed exhibition hall, the center also features a museum store, and a café with affordable, high quality food within a Mediterranean setting.

Add: 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Dashanzi Art District, Chaoyang District, Beijing 北京市朝阳区酒仙桥路4号内798大山子艺术区
Reception: 010 - 5978 9530
Guided Tour: 010 -5978 9030 

4. UCCAView In Map

The Ullens Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing

The Ullens Center for Contemporary Art is a truly community-spirited endeavor and a top class gallery to boot – in many respects it’s more of a contemporary art museum than gallery. Founded by Guy and Miriam Ullens, a Dutch couple in possession of what may be the world’s finest collection of Chinese contemporary art, the gallery’s main aim is the fostering of the growing art scene in China. The UCCA’s specialty is massive installations of some of China’s most progressive artists, many of whom have been living and exhibiting outside of China for decades. The gallery’s patrons include a cross section of society from families with young children to specialist art enthusiasts, and the UCCA hosts regular events ranging from workshops for kids to films for adults. The revenue generated from sales of art work is put directly back into the community through education and research. The UCCA is known as one of the top galleries in Beijing. Within the building is the ‘Super Ganbei’ restaurant, which is popular for its live music performances, cocktails and alfresco dining.

Add: 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Dashanzi Art District, Chaoyang District, Beijing 北京市朝阳区酒仙桥路4号内798大山子艺术区
Tel: 010 - 8459 9269 

5. Happy Sheep Gallery

The Happy Sheep Gallery, even amongst the avant garde establishments of the 798 district is still a somewhat eye-opening spectacle. The nature of the gallery is forewarned by a sign stating 'if your lovely pet unfortunately dies one day, please don't throw it away, come to us and produce it into a specimen, so that it will be with you forever'. The gallery is owned by Jin WeiJian, considered by some to be quite eccentric – and his ‘fashion decorations’ certainly push the limits of taste. Works of art include taxidermized clothes-wearing dogs striking human poses, which seem to be changed every few months, and guinea pigs clinging to Olympic Rings, amongst other distasteful works of art (see image).

The Happy Sheep Gallery is located 10 meters north of the east entrance to the Paris-Beijing Photo Gallery. 

Special Focus: 2009 Beijing 798 Art Festival

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