About
Founded in 1991 by Australian Brian Wallace, Red Gate Gallery holds the historic title of the first private contemporary art gallery in China. For over three decades, it was famously housed in the 600-year-old Ming Dynasty Southeast Corner Tower at Dongbianmen, creating a legendary juxtaposition between ancient defense architecture and avant-garde Chinese expression. Today, with its primary operations in the 798 Art District, Red Gate remains a pioneer in the promotion of Chinese contemporary art, having supported many of the country's most significant artists during their formative years in the late 1980s and 1990s.
The gallery’s mission is rooted in "insider connectivity," offering a vital bridge for international artists to enter the Beijing scene through its renowned Red Gate Residency program. This residency, which hosts over 70 artists annually, has made the gallery an essential gateway for global artistic exchange. By maintaining a legacy of grassroots advocacy while adapting to the modern museum-grade standards of the 798 district, Red Gate continue to act as a historical and contemporary anchor for Beijing's cultural identity.