The 2025 Shanghai Art Week, which ran for a fortnight from the second week of November, was a resounding success this year despite market anxieties due to a weakened economy. The week was puncutated by two major homegrown art fairs and coincided with the China International Import Expo.
A high quality and vast number of exhibitions delighted visitors, with ‘Piercing the Sky,’ a solo exhibition by Yin Xiuzhen, being among the standout displays. Additionally, ‘Stilllife,’ a show that featured Chinese artists from overseas, and ‘Art Resort,’ a three-day blend of art, fine dining and wellness were other highlights.
Around 200 art events took place throughout the art week, with satellite exhibitions being held in neighboring cities to leverage the momentum of Shanghai. Charming renovated European-style houses in Shanghai’s French Concession hosted a variety of pop-up exhibitions, creating fascinating fusion of art, lifestyle and luxury brands.
However, the event wasn’t free from challenges. The economic climate saw a slight reduction in the number of galleries at the West Bund Art & Design fair and curbed the number of top-tier international attendees. Art dealers responded by exhibiting a variety of works under the US$500,000 range, leading to a diversifying of the art selection.
Despite the slowing economy, Shanghai’s rich collecting culture persists. As per an art adviser in Shanghai, the city’s middle-class buyers still enjoy attending and purchasing art without the often lengthy relationship-building process seen in other Asian cities. Collaborations between galleries, lifestyle brands and property developers also keep the market engaging and dynamic.
