Founded in 1991 by Brian Wallace who first arrived in China in 1984, Red Gate Gallery is the first private contemporary art gallery to be established in China. Prior to opening its doors at the 600-year old Ming dynasty watchtower in Dongbienmen, Brian Wallace has started from the late 80s to organize and curate exhibitions for young Chinese artists in other exotic locations such as the Ancient Observatory Tower.

Today, Red Gate is recognized both as a tour de force and trail blazer in the history and development of the contemporary Chinese art scene. Over the last 18 years, the gallery has been engaging and promoting Chinese artists by exhibiting the best of Chinese contemporary art as well as facilitating cultural exchanges and dialogues between China and the rest of the world through its vibrant residency program established in 2001.

Red Gate gallery represents 18 artists who work with various medium, reflecting the dynamic and ever-evolving local art scene. With monthly exhibitions, the gallery showcases painting, works-on-paper, graphics, sculpture, photography and installation by both established artists and emerging talents. The gallery also holds regular special exhibitions in collaboration with guest curators and galleries from China as well as overseas. In addition, Red Gate gives art talks for various organizations and holds charity events and various functions as part of the gallery’s aim to cultivate interest and appreciation for Chinese contemporary art on the whole.

Having founded one of the oldest contemporary art galleries in mainland China in 1991, I have had an excellent vantage point from which to observe these changes. With the good fortune of having a front row seat to this artistic production, it is not difficult for me to understand the world’s sudden and intense interest in Chinese contemporary art. With a menu of stylistic and technical options finally at their fingertips, the artists of contemporary China can respond with unbridled creative energy to the laboratory of progress that bustles around them”

Brian WallaceFounder / Director

Opening hours:

Everyday  9 am - 5 pm