8 Asian Women-Owned Galleries You Should Know (March 2023)
Perhaps not the most obvious or widely credited, galleries play an enormous role in an artist’s career as they navigate through the complicated world of creating art. Here are 8 women-owned galleries around the world that are shaking up traditions and spearheading what’s considered new.
1. Various Small Fires, founded by Esther Varet Kim
Co-founded in 2012 by Esther Kim Varet and Joseph Varet, Various Small Fires is based in Los Angeles, CA with additional locations in Seoul, South Korea and Dallas, Texas. The have presented work by artists including Mark Yang, Alex Foton, and Kyungmi Shin, whose work recently featured in a solo show with the gallery in Seoul, titled ‘Monster’s Appetite’ from March 4 until April 15, 2023.
Check VSF’s website for their latest exhibition offerings.
2. Galerie Marguo, co-founded by Vanessa Guo
Coinciding with the emergence of Paris as Europe’s next art capital, Galerie Marguo was founded in 2020 by Vanessa Guo, former Director of Hauser & Wirth in Asia, and Jean Mathieu Martini. The gallery has presented work by artists Feng Li, Ziping Wang, and Yang Semine, and notably invited LA-based curator Danielle Shang to organise ‘The Hearing Trumpet’ in 2021, a two-part group exhibition gathering works by artists of Asian descent from North America and Europe.
Check Galerie Marguo’s website for their latest exhibition offerings.
3. Make Room LA, founded by Emilia Yin
Make Room was founded by Emilia Yin in 2020 to create a space for platforming diverse artists and placing them into key collections. With a track record of regular participation at international fairs and working with the Hammer Museum, Columbus Museum of Art, and Yuz Museum (Shanghai), Emilia Yin was also named one of Forbes’ 30 Under 30 in 2022 in the category of Art and Style. With past exhibitions including shows for artists Guimi You, Yuri Yuan, and Xin Liu, the gallery is now running a solo show of work by artist Yesiyu Zhao: ‘In Search of Gold Mountain (Gum San)’ until April 15, 2023.
Check Make Room’s website for their latest exhibition offerings.
4. Latitude Gallery New York, founded by Sophie Shihui Zhou
Situated in the heart of New York’s Manhattan Chinatown, Latitude Gallery is a space dedicated to artists of Asian descent, especially Asian immigrants, led by the curatorial vision of founder Sophie Shihui Zhou, a woman artist and Chinese immigrant herself. The gallery has presented work by artists Fan Yuan, Yirui Jia, and Chen Ronghui, and will soon be unveiling the group exhibition ‘Cruel Spring’ featuring six artists who have in common their Asian-American upbringing.
Check Latitude’s website for their latest exhibition offerings.
5. LGDR & Wei in Asia, co-founded by Rebecca Wei
LGDR & Wei in Asia was co-founded by Rebecca Wei in 2022 after joining the partnership two years prior, and represents the Asia-Pacific wing of LGDR, formerly Lévy-Gorvy, which brings together the global expertise of four of the art world’s leading tastemakers. Bringing years of experience as President and Chairman of Christie’s Asia, Wei leads the Hong Kong base and relevant activities in the firm’s New York, Paris, and London locations as well. Artists presented have included Zao Wou-Ki, Zhang Zipiao, and Takuro Kuwata.
Check LGDR-Wei’s website for their latest exhibition offerings.
6. Tina Kim Gallery, founded by Tina Kim
Based in Chelsea, New York, Tina Kim Gallery has been open since 2001, and hosts a unique programme focusing on international contemporary artists. The gallery is particularly strong in its representation of Asian artists, with founder Tina Kim being credited with the introduction of Korean Dansaekhwa art to the US. Having previously presented works by art luminaries Kim Tschang-Yeul, Ha Chong-Hyun, and Park Seo-Bo, one of the gallery’s latest exhibitions is a group show titled ‘House for the Inhabitant Who Refused to Participate’, curated by Charlap Hyman & Herrero in early 2023.
Check Tina Kim Gallery’s website for their latest exhibition offerings.
7. Yeo Workshop, founded by Audrey Yeo
Founded by Audrey Yeo in 2013, Yeo Workshop is a multi-disciplinary gallery with a progressive outlook based in Singapore. Committed to supporting its roster of local Singaporean contemporary artists to innovate and gain prominence, the gallery has worked with artists Geraldine Lim, Shayne Phua, and Sarah Choo Jing, whose work is the subject of the space’s latest solo show, ‘Dancing Without Touching (2023)’, running until March 12, 2023.
Check Yeo Workshop’s website for their latest exhibition offerings.
8. Gallery KUZO, founded by Jini Yu
Gallery Kuzo traces its roots to 2012 when Jini Yu founded Space No Wave, a project space for ‘experimental and unconventional art’ in Seoul. Since then, the gallery has branched into art-consulting services and moved into a bigger building to rebrand as KUZO, now a special exhibition space dedicated to juxtaposing media forms and practices while also linking them together. They have previously presented artworks by Casper Kang, Min Byung-Hun, and Lee Sea Hyun, whose painting ‘Beyond Red’ (2020) made an appearance at Kuzo’s booth during the 2022 edition of Kiaf Plus in Seoul.
Check Kuzo’s website for their latest exhibition offerings.