8 Contemporary Art Exhibitions to Catch Now in Beijing

By Yinmai O'Connor, May 20, 2025

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Alex Hanke Solo Exhibition

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German artist Alex Hanke displays his ode to whales at Um gallery in 798. Alex Hanke is a distinguished illustrator and graphic designer, who is celebrated for his unique ability to blend intricate details with bold visual elements. His works are both visually striking and thought-provoking.

Alex has collaborated with a variety of prominent brands including Nike, The New Yorker, and Penguin Random House. His portfolio includes a wide range of works, from album covers and posters to book illustrations and branding materials. His stunning graphics make a fun show for the whole family to enjoy.

Until June 2

Um gallery, Zhong Yijie, 798 Art Zone, Chaoyang


Luminous Flux Group Exhibition

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'02E' by Atsuko Tanaka

Whitestone Gallery Beijing presents Luminous Flux group exhibition of Chinese and Japanese artists. This exhibition brings together ten distinguished artists from China and Japan: Chiyu Uemae, Sadamasa Motonaga, Kazuo Shiraga, Yasuo Sumi, Atsuko Tanaka, Tsuyoshi Maekawa from Japan, and Bao Pei,Yu Li, Jiang Miao and Wu Shuang from China. 

Through simple yet deep expressions, they infuse their personal experiences and Eastern aesthetics, focusing on the prominent use of color to create vibrant artworks.

Until June 28

Tue-Sat, 11am-7pm

Whitestone Gallery, Sevenstar East Street, 798 Art District, No.4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang


Lie Between Group Exhibition

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'Phantom Sugar' by Cao Shu

ShanghART Beijing presents the exhibition Lie Between, which showcases video installation works by Cao Shu, Yao Qingmei and Yin Yunya.

The artists have focused on the specific situation of individuals in modern society from different perspectives. The artists’ goal is to facilitate communication through the metaphorical virtualization of reality.

Until June 29

Tue-Sun, 11am-6pm

ShanghART Beijing, No.261 Caochangdi, Airport Side Road, Chaoyang


Something Comes from Nothing

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Image via White Space

White Space presents Something Comes from Nothing, an exhibition of new paintings by Li Shurui – his fourth solo show with the gallery.

The exhibition takes inspiration from a verse by the Tang Dynasty poet Zhang Jiuling: 'Tall bamboos steeped in the serenity of morning light, the splendid pond cradles sky's mirrored blue.' 

The title of the exhibition is adapted from the word bixu in the original poem, which literally translates to 'azure void,' and this is the philosophical core behind the show. In this new body of paintings, Li explores water as a 'divine presence,' and the pieces reflect life, energy, and the nature of reality.

Until July 12

Tue-Sat, 11am-6pm

White Space, F1 Bldg D7, No.3 Jinhang Donglu, Shunyi


Bauhaus Unknown

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Image via UCCA Beijing

Bauhaus Unknown is a solo exhibition featuring the latest body of work from the Chen Ke’s 'Bauhaus Gal' series (2020-ongoing). Since breaking onto the art scene in the early 2000s, Chen Ke, from Sichuan province, has gained recognition for the way her work explores the emotional complexities of the individual within broader social and historical contexts.

This exhibition focuses on the lives and often-overlooked contributions of the women associated with the Bauhaus – a German art school that was active from 1919 to 1933. In particular, it focuses on women’s role in the school’s weaving workshop and their lasting impact on textile art.

Until September 7

Tue-Sun, 10am-7pm (last entry at 6.30pm)

UCCA Beijing, 798 Art District, No. 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang


Unbelievably Soft Process

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Image via Ocula

Unbelievably Soft Process is a solo exhibition by Wuhan-born artist Tant Yunshu Zhong who lives and works in Shanghai. Tant's artistic practice focuses on frozen moments that can be simple, elegant, slightly comedic, or even absurd.

By making strange combinations of random objects, she creates works of art by linking, arranging, combining, and constructing multiple associations between the different objects and the titles she bestows upon them.

Until June 21

Tue-Sat, 10.30am-6pm

Tabula Rasa Gallery, 706 North 3rd Street, 798 Art District, No.2 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang


Hold Tight

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'Hold Tight' by Clare Thackway

Hold Tight is Tabula Rasa Gallery’s first solo exhibition by Paris-based artist Clare Thackway, which will showcase the new body of work she developed during a one-month residency in London. The soft, gentle oil paintings capture mothers, daughters, and grandparents in religious inspired imagery.

The subjects of Thackway's portraits are shown in vulnerable and interlocking poses, with the women melting into each other across generations. There are also beautiful renditions of cloth that complement the soft linen they are painted upon. 

Until June 13

Tue-Sat, 10.30am-6pm

Tabula Rasa Gallery, 706 North 3rd Street, 798 Art District, No.2 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang


Australia Exchange - Contemporary Australian Art in the Brian Wallace Collection

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Image via Red Gate Gallery

The works in this exhibition were created by Australian artists with diverse ethnic and cross-cultural backgrounds. This includes local Australian artists such as Carolyn Fitzpatrick, Gregory Pryor, Kim Vernon, Kim Westcott, Michael Cartright, and Tony Scott, who have visited or worked in China. This collection of works focuses on cultural integration in the Asia-Pacific region.

Until June 1

Tue-Sun, 9am-5pm

Red Gate Gallery, 798 Art District, No.2 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang


[Cover image via UCCA Beijing]


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