June 24–July 3, 2022
In line with the latest relaxations of local Covid-19 restrictions and after extensive consultation with the event’s staff, partners and participants, this year’s Gallery Weekend Beijing (GWBJ) will officially run from June 28 to July 3, with a media day on June 23 and VIP previews from June 24–26. The sixth edition of GWBJ is slated to be one of the first major cultural event in Beijing to launch after weeks of local Covid-19 restrictions.
A virtual press conference will be held on June 22 (Wednesday) via Zoom. Further information will be announced in due course.
Welcoming 38 exhibitors with more than 40 exhibitions taking place in commercial galleries, non-profit institutions, the 6th iteration will present its largest and most extensive roster to date with a series of multi-strand exhibition programmes. Celebrating Beijing’s bourgeoning and diverse art landscape, the GWBJ Academic Committee has chosen “Sharing” as the theme that ties the event conceptually through the Main Sector Special Exhibition titled Crosstalk at the 798 Art Center, overseen by four curators from two prominent institutions in the city. The 2022 Main Sector will feature a diverse range of galleries with spaces in Beijing. Dedicated to galleries with spaces outside Beijing, Visiting Sector will see galleries with spaces in major global art hubs host exhibitions within the 798 Art Zone.
Enlisting the participation of more than 20 artists represented by Main Sector galleries, Main Sector Special Exhibition: Crosstalk will showcase a strong mix of artworks, including video, installations, sculptures, and paintings, among other medium. Crosstalk is co-curated by four young curators from Beijing Inside-Out Art Museum and UCCA Center for Contemporary Art—Wenlong Huang, Neil Zhang, Yichuan Zhang and Jiashu Zou—and will be on view from June 24 to July 3, 2022, on the first floor of 798 Art Center.
Since its inception in 2017, GWBJ has been committed to building a sustainable art ecosystem and a community by focussing on artistic practice and thinking in collaboration with galleries, art institutions, artists, collectors, and the public. The Main Sector Special Exhibition marks the first-time non-profit institutions based in Beijing are working together to stage exhibitions on the occasion of GWBJ, showcasing budding and cutting-edge contemporary art from the city and beyond.
“On behalf of the entire Gallery Weekend Beijing team, we would like to first express our sincere gratitude to the exhibitors and partners who have continuously shared their knowledge and suggestions with us in the last few weeks on staging the best possible event, whilst aligning with local health guidelines. Having worked more closely than ever with our exhibitors and partners during this postponement, this year’s theme of ‘sharing’ has taken on a whole new significance. As one of the first major events to kick off Beijing’s cultural calendar, we very much look forward to reconvening with our guests and introducing them to a robust line-up of innovative programs that would reflect and strengthen the city’s diverse and dynamic art ecosystem.” —Amber Yifei Wang, Director, Gallery Weekend Beijing.
About GWBJ
Founded in 2017, Gallery Weekend Beijing (GWBJ) aims to build a forward-thinking, professional, international platform for conversations about contemporary art. GWBJ opens every spring with a series of art events centered around a curated selection of new exhibitions from galleries and non-profit institutions across Beijing. The nine-day art event includes an opening ceremony, media-guided tours, VIP-guided tours, academic forums, performances, artist studio visits, private collection visits, parties, and the annual dinner. The three-day-long VIP Days feature important domestic and international museum directors, collectors, art critics, and media. Art professionals and collectors can discuss and share knowledge through a series of academic activities. The six-day-long Public Days aim to provide the public with the opportunity to learn more about art and provide Beijing residents with an insightful guide to art exhibitions in their own city.
Key dates
International virtual press conference: June 22, 2022
Media day: June 23, 2022
VIP previews: June, 24–26 2022
Public days: June 28–July 3, 2022
