With the pandemic under control in mainland China, the recovery of the Beijing gallery industry has gained significant momentum in an environment of both opportunities and challenges. 2021 witnessed a total of more than 730 exhibitions held by (or collaborated with) Galleries in Beijing participating in the survey, of which more than 330 were held in Beijing, an increase of 32% year-over-year.

1. The Number of Exhibitions Hosted (or Co-Hosted) by Galleries in Beijing

• 10% of the galleries hosted (or co-hosted) 1-3 exhibitions, which decreased by 12% year-over-year.
• 10% of the galleries hosted (or co-hosted) 4-6 exhibitions, which decreased by 28% year-over-year.
• 52% of the galleries hosted (or co-hosted) 7-10 exhibitions, which increased by 32% year-over-year.
• 16% of the galleries hosted (or co-hosted) 11-20 exhibitions, which increased by 1% year-over-year.
• 12% of the galleries hosted (or co-hosted) more than 20 exhibitions, which increased by 7% year-over-year.

Note: All of the Galleries in Beijing that participated in the 2021 survey hosted (or co-hosted) exhibitions, and the number of galleries that hosted exhibitions on a high-frequency (at least 7) is rising compared to 2020. 52% of the galleries held 7-10 exhibitions, which is the most common range of exhibitions held by Galleries in Beijing in 2021, whereas the most common range for 2020 was 4-6, with only one-third of the galleries lying in this range. The increase in the number of high-frequency exhibitions also reflects the galleries' active performance in the primary market and the increasingly dynamic atmosphere of the mainland art market, where the pandemic is under control.

6 of the galleries hosted (or co-hosted) more than 20 exhibitions, including Line Gallery, PIFO Gallery, Tang Contemporary Art, Hive Center for Contemporary Art, White Space, and CLC Gallery Venture.

2. The Number of Exhibitions Hosted by Galleries in Beijing in the Gallery Space

• 38% of the galleries hosted 1-5 exhibitions in the gallery space.
• 54% of the galleries hosted 6-10 exhibitions in the gallery space.
• 4% of the galleries hosted 11-15 exhibitions in the gallery space.
• 4% of the galleries hosted more than 15 exhibitions in the gallery space.

54% of the galleries hosted 6-10 exhibitions in their own gallery space, and 8% of which hosted more than 10, or even 15 exhibitions. It not only reflects the galleries' eagerness to promote their artists but also reflects the relatively hot market demand.

3. The Number of Exhibitions Hosted by Galleries in Beijing in (Art) Museums, and Other Academic Institutions

22% of the galleries did not host exhibitions in (art) museums or other academic institutions.

66%  of the galleries  hosted 1 - 5 exhibitions in (art) museums or other academic institutions.

4% of the galleries hosted 6-10 exhibitions in (art) museums and other academic institutions, including Beijing Commune and ShanghART Gallery.

8% of the galleries hosted more than 11 exhibitions in (art) museums and other academic institutions.

In addition to hosting exhibitions in their own gallery space, Galleries in Beijing also actively collaborated with (art) museums, and other academic institutions for external exhibitions, promoting their artists in academic ways. For example, White Space, Hive Center for Contemporary Art, and Tang Contemporary Art co-hosted more than 15 exhibitions in (art) museums and other academic institutions.

4. The Number of Exhibitions Hosted by Galleries in Beijing in Other Galleries or Institutions

• 40% of the galleries did not host exhibitions in other galleries or institutions.
• 50% of the galleries hosted 1-5 exhibitions in other galleries or institutions.
• 8% of the galleries hosted 6-10 exhibitions in other galleries or institutions, for example, PIFO Gallery and Hive Center for Contemporary Art.
• 2% of the galleries hosted 11-15 exhibitions in other galleries or institutions, for example, White Space.

In addition to collaborating with academic institutions, 60% of the galleries participated in external exhibitions with other galleries and commercial institutions. In general, these galleries are the ones that have been operating for a long time, with stronger performances and more collaborating artists. It shows the leading galleries in Beijing have made great efforts to promote artists; and also demonstrates the influence of Galleries in Beijing on selecting artists among national galleries.

5. The Number of Exhibitions Hosted (or Co-Hosted) by Galleries in Beijing Abroad

• 64% of the galleries did not host (or co-host) exhibition abroad.
• 26% of the galleries hosted (or co-hosted) 1-5 exhibitions abroad.
• 4% of the galleries hosted (or co-hosted) 6-10 exhibitions abroad.
• 6% of the galleries hosted (or co-hosted) more than 10 exhibitions abroad.

Even though Galleries in Beijing are deeply rooted in this city, and are becoming the platform for contemporary art in China, there are still many galleries that embrace the art world with a global vision, hoping to open dialogues between Chinese contemporary art and the rest of the world and to collaborate with artists and promote exhibitions overseas. Nearly 40% of the galleries actively engaged in overseas collaborations, and 6% of the galleries hosted (or co-hosted) more than 10 exhibitions abroad. Among them, Tang Contemporary Art, PIFO Gallery, Tabula Rasa Gallery, White Space, and CLC Gallery Venture were more enthusiastic about overseas collaborations.

6. The Number of Curated Exhibitions Hosted by Galleries in Beijing 

• 14% of the gallery exhibitions did not have curators.
• 74% of the galleries hosted 1-5 curated exhibitions.
• 10% of the galleries hosted 6-10 curated exhibitions.
• 2% of the galleries hosted more than 10 curated exhibitions.

Art exhibitions are getting more diverse nowadays, and galleries are setting higher expectations for more academic shows. In 2021, 86% of the gallery exhibitions had curators, which increased by 41% year-over-year. The demand for professionalism in exhibitions was also increasing, with 74% of the galleries hosting 1-5 curated exhibitions this year. Galleries paid more attention to curators. Cui Cancan, Bao Dong, Wang Jiang, and other curators carried out several curatorial works in 2021. They maintained a high standard, making the exhibition a continuous bridge between the public and the contemporary art world.