Gallery Weekend Beijing Returns For Its Nineth Edition with The New Initiative “Beijing Art Season”
Aranya Art Center, photo by Pedro Pegenaute, Courtesy Aranya Art Center
Gallery Weekend Beijing (GWBJ) is pleased to announce the dates and highlights of its ninth edition, taking place from 23 May to 1 June 2025, with a media preview on 22 May.
As China’s cultural capital, Beijing has long held a historically significant position in the development of contemporary Chinese art. Central to this evolution is the 798·751 Art District, which has played a pivotal role in shaping the city’s dynamic cultural ecosystem.
Since its launch in 2017, Gallery Weekend Beijing has established itself as a key platform for international artistic exchange in China and a highlight on the global cultural calendar.
Installation view of _Li Shurui_ Something Comes from Nothing_, WHITE SPACE, 17 May – 12 July, 2025. Courtesy the artist and WHITE SPACE
Anchored in the 798·751 Art District, Gallery Weekend Beijing’s programming continues to expand across the city’s cultural landmarks — from Caochangdi to the CBD, and from the National Agricultural Exhibition Centre to the Beijing Free Trade Zone Art District — fostering dialogue through a dynamic programme of exhibitions, art fairs, and public events.
Building on eight years of innovation and influence, the 2025 edition launches the bold new “Beijing Art Season,” extending its engagement and reach beyond the capital.
Beyond the Capital: the Debut of “Beijing Art Season”
This year, with the inaugural “Beijing Art Season,” Gallery Weekend Beijing brings together a coalition of Beijing-based organizations — including Beijing Dangdai, ART021 BEIJING, over 30 local galleries, and more than 10 non-profits — to co-create an extended cultural network. This edition also marks the first official collaboration with the Aranya Art Center in Qinhuangdao.
Aranya Art Center, Vivien Zhang, to be forgotten (Ithomia) 2, 2025 Acrylic and oil on linen 180 × 210 cm Courtesy of the artist and Pilar Corrias Gallery
Expanded Non-Profit Institutional Collaborations
Gallery Weekend Beijing 2025 will further expand its reach by strengthening collaborations with leading non-profit institutions.
Installation view of _Huang Yishan_ Interior Punctuation_, 22 March – 1 June 2025. Courtesy the artist and Song art Museum
In addition to UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, 798CUBE, and MACA Art Center in the 798·751 Art District, GWBJ will also collaborate with institutions across the city like the Red Brick Art Museum, X Museum, Inside – Out Art Museum, and the Louis Vuitton Beijing Espace in the CBD. Exhibition highlights include:
- UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, presenting Anicka Yi: There Exists Another Evolution, But In This One, the acclaimed Korean-American artist’s first solo exhibition in China
- 798CUBE, hosting the inaugural “798 Art, Science and Technology Biennale” with the theme SYMPTOMATICA | HORIZON
- MACA Art Center, showcasing solo exhibitions by two artists: Trust Fall, the first institutional solo of Hong Kong-based artist Liao Wen, and Greetings, a solo by Dan’er showcasing her long-term work focused on Xinjiang
- Louis Vuitton Beijing Espace, presenting Painting From Nature, a two-person exhibition of Joan Mitchell and Megan Rooney to mark Mitchell’s centenary
Installation view of _798 Art, Science and Technology Biennale_ SYMPTOMATICA _ HORIZON_ at 798CUBE, 2025. Photograph by Philip Beesley, courtesy 798CUBE
Simultaneously, Aranya Art Center in Qinhuangdao will present four solo exhibitions by David Ostrowski, Vivien Zhang, Massinissa Selmani, and Judy Watson, forming a key part of GWBJ’s regional expansion under the “Beijing Art Season.”
Aranya Art Center, Vivien Zhang, Stamps (Correos Mexico 40), 2024. Found stamps, 22.8 × 26 × 4.5 cm. Courtesy of the artist and Pilar Corrias Gallery
A Curated Model: Invitation-Only Participation
For its ninth edition, Gallery Weekend Beijing transitions from an open application system to an invitation-only model for participating galleries, emphasizing curatorial integrity and academic focus. A committee of five gallerists, elected by the galleries that participated in last year’s GWBJ, will review and vote on the 2025 lineup. Members of the committee include:
- Leng Lin, Founder, Beijing Commune
- Peng Yongyi, Director, Galleria Continua (Beijing)
- Qu Kejie, Founder, Magician Space
- Tian Yuan, Founder, WHITE SPACE
- Xi Tao, Founder, A26 Space
Ye Linghan, Yi, Lucy, Me_, 2025, acrylic on canvas, 50 x 30 cm. Courtesy of the artist and SPURS Gallery
Special Projects and Public Engagement
A special duo exhibition featuring the captivating works of Xinyi Cheng and Evelyn Taocheng Wang, curated by Antenna Space, will be unveiled at the 798·751 Art District during GWBJ.
Titled Between Shadows and Highlights, the exhibition is brought to life through a bespoke exhibition design by collector and artist Tian Jun, a passionate figure with nearly two decades of collecting experience and a keen presence in major art projects.
Installation view of ’Evelyn Taocheng Wang & Xinyi Cheng_ Between the Shadow and the Highlight‘, 10 May – 15 June 2025. Courtesy the artists and Antenna Space
Installation view of ’Evelyn Taocheng Wang & Xinyi Cheng_ Between the Shadow and the Highlight‘, 10 May – 15 June 2025. Courtesy the artists and Antenna Space
Another key highlight of this year is the launch of the “Art Store,” a hybrid project reimagining the art marketplace. Activating spaces across the 798·751 Art District, the Art Store will feature artist-designed industrial containers that combine exhibition, retail, and social functions. This immersive format aims to bridge high-end collecting with wider public engagement, creating a dynamic new model for experiential art commerce.
The full list of participating galleries and non-profit institutions is pending final confirmation and may be subject to additions.