The overall performance of Beijing galleries in 2021 saw a fullscale improvement compared to 2020. In terms of the overall results of gallery operations, the total turnover of Beijing galleries has increased by 27.9% in one year. On an individual basis, 28% of the galleries reported that they were very satisfied or satisfied with their annual performance in 2021, 56% were generally satisfied, and only 16% were dissatisfied, a decrease of 13% from 2020. The increase in total turnover and the fullscale increase in satisfaction show, from another perspective, that the art gallery industry in Beijing is moving towards a healthier and more mature stage of development.

Review of the Beijing Art Gallery Annual Report 2021

In comparison to 2020, the Beijing Art Gallery Annual Report 2021 has incorporated more content and improved the depth of research in the following areas: 

1. In the part on gallery operation, the report this year surveyed the pricing of artworks of each gallery, providing a microlevel perspective of the gallery operation. This part provided more supporting data that helps to understand the total sales of the gallery and the logic behind it. This approach provided us with insights and a more precise anchor point on individual galleries' positioning and development direction.
    
2. Also, in this same part of the report, we added the research on the represented artists, including the number of represented artists, the age groups of these artists—ranging from those born in the 1970s to those born after the 2000s, and the amount of international and female artists represented. In this research, we can discover that artists born after the 70s and 80s form the core of the staple of Beijing galleries, with artists born after the 90s and 2000s being on the lower side. This reflects that Beijing galleries represent the most mainstream age group of artists in the contemporary art market, while there is still much room for expansion in discovering and internationalizing young artists. 
    
3. In the research on galleries' exhibitions, we have included the number of gallery exhibitions in art museums/other academic institutions, collaborations with other galleries, and overseas exhibitions. Notably, Beijing galleries have invested more resources in fostering academia. On the one hand, they have mounted more exhibitions curated by professional curators; on the other hand, 80% of Beijing galleries have held exhibitions at academic institutions. In general, Beijing galleries have been more active in developing the academic status of their artists. 
    

4.In the research on new collectors, the report surveyed the background of new collectors in 2021, analyzing the data sets according to different industries. In 2021, the financial industry was the largest source of new collectors, followed by the technology and culture and media industries, both accounting for more than 60% of new collectors. The influx of new collectors is the basis for judging market trends. The drastic increase of clients from the financial industry, combined with the uncertainties caused by the pandemic, has led to the public's mental and financial being in turmoil, making artwork, with its spiritual relief and financial characteristics, one of the most deserving objects of public attention.
 

The art gallery industry in Beijing is one of the main drivers of the active art market in 2021, and its upward trend has led to an industrywide focus on contemporary art. Although its connection with the overseas has weakened, given the current situation, the interactions and support between galleries have enabled resource sharing and joint advancement of the industry as a whole.