Hello and welcome to my article reviewing some of the many amazing art galleries and museums that can be visited in and around Nanjing! Besides teaching, my educational background and profession is in the arts, where I have worked with and exhibited art in various galleries and museums in my home nation in the UK as well as internationally. If, like me, you are interested in art and design and love to experience it in its numerous forms, then living in China, particularly in the Jiangsu province should more than satisfy your wants and needs! It is a fantastic place to view nationally and internationally renowned artworks by talented national and international artists of all ages. There is plenty of variety to interest and inspire you; from traditional practices such as large ink paintings, oil on canvases and sculptures; to contemporary multi-media installations, digital media and performance!
For those less familiar, there are different types of galleries that you can find the world over, roughly falling into five categories with some cross-over. 1. The major state-owned and/or funded institutions sometimes referred to as museums, where you are likely to see permanent exhibits. 2. Commercial spaces/galleries, where artworks (both traditional and contemporary), are displayed for potential buyers. 3. Curated touring exhibits, containing contemporary works or those of historical importance. 4. Galleries (sometimes described as independent), exhibiting local, national and international artworks in both traditional and contemporary mediums. 5. ‘Pop-up’ galleries, spaces that are hired to exhibit art.
Here are a few recommendations in some of these categories that I have visited and enjoyed in the Jiangsu province over the past 15 months. Follow the links for more information! Happy viewing!
Nanjing Galleries
A great place to visit each year right here in Nanjing is the city’s very own University of the Arts, where you can view the work of an impressive number of talented recent graduate and post-graduate artists, illustrators, designers and architects. This is possibly my personal favourite place to see art and design in China to date! Keep an eye out for graduate shows throughout the year!
Nanjing University of the Arts南京艺术学院Link: Search for AMNUA on WEchat.
Deji Art Museum 德基美术馆Link: https://www.dejiart.com/
G Museum 金鹰美术馆 Link: Wechat: #小程序://金鹰美术馆/kamH1rRIJjzyIFJ
Shanghai Galleries
Shanghai has many contemporary and commercial galleries, both large and small. If you want to find art by famous artists both dead and alive or are serious about purchasing expensive works, then Shanghai is the place to visit. Assessable via a fast train from Nanjing Railway Station. Here are two great contemporary galleries to visit!
Tank Gallery上海油罐艺术中心Link: http://tankshanghai.com/
West Bund Museum上海西岸美术馆Link: https://www.wbmshanghai.com/cn/
Nantong Galleries
Smaller in size than Nanjing, Nantong is a young city and like Shanghai, assessable via a short train journey. It is situated in a beautiful scenic area inside a park and next to the Grand Theatre (a building designed by a world-renowned French architect Paul Andreu). Nantong Gallery exhibits world class works of art that are often part of a tour that passes Shanghai.
The Nantong Gallery南通美术馆 Link: https://www.meipian.cn/3trrhfwt?ul=meipian%3A%2F%2Farticle%2Fdetail%3Fmask_id%3D3trrhfwt%26source%3Dm.baidu.com
