Rain Meets Canvas: Shanghai’s West Bund Turns Art into a Global Gathering
A downpour couldn’t dampen the spirit at Shanghai’s West Bund Art & Design, where 185 galleries from around the world converged by the Xuhui River for the fair’s largest edition yet. Once a modest event in a repurposed aircraft factory, West Bund has evolved into a cultural powerhouse, now rivaling the city’s most established art fairs.
This year, the fair balanced local and international voices, with works spanning painting, sculpture, video, and digital media. Returning blue-chip galleries like Lisson and Perrotin mingled with first-time exhibitors, creating a vibrant mix of artistic perspectives. Notably, Gladstone Gallery spotlighted Ugo Rondinone’s colorful sculptures, while White Cube’s booth showcased nearly 30 international artists, reflecting the fair’s global reach.
Female artists and emerging talents took center stage, as galleries used the platform to introduce new voices to Chinese audiences. West Bund’s growing influence mirrors the dynamism of China’s art market, where curiosity and openness fuel bold collecting and cross-cultural exchange. In Shanghai, art doesn’t just hang on walls—it flows, connects, and transforms.
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