Hauser + Wirth is expanding to Asia but not slowly. The gallery will have a full-service gallery space in Hong Kong and two offices in Shanghai and Beijing. Vanessa Guo (above, left) will be Senior Director of Asia, bassed in Hong Kong, and Lihsin Tsai, (above, right) joins the gallery as a Senior Director and will be based between Hong Kong and Beijing.

Iwan Wirth, Co-Founder and President of Hauser & Wirth, today announced plans to open a gallery space in the new H Queens development in the Central district of Hong Kong. Hauser & Wirth Hong Kong is expected to open in Spring 2018.

The 10,000 sq ft gallery space will extend over two full storys – the 15th and 16th floors – of the purpose- built, stacked gallery building designed by William Lim of CL3. Annabelle Selldorf, who has worked closely with Hauser & Wirth since 1996 and has overseen the architectural renovation of six of the gallery’s exhibition spaces internationally, has been appointed as architect for the project.

Hauser & Wirth Hong Kong will host an annual programme of exhibitions by gallery artists and estates, as well as presentations of work by other 20th-century masters.

Wirth also announced today that the gallery will establish Beijing and Shanghai offices, which will be operational as of October 2017 and will act as points of organisation for gallery projects and business in mainland China.

Iwan Wirth commented: ‘Our expansion into China marks the beginning of a new chapter for Hauser & Wirth. We have been active in Asia for over a decade, through our long-term close relationships with artists, curators, and collectors in the region, and through our participation at key art fairs in Hong Kong and Shanghai. We have spent the past two years carefully researching the most appropriate ways to expand in these places, to become a fully present part of the art scene in China and engage meaningfully. For us, it was never a matter of ‘if,’ only a matter of ‘how’ and ‘when.’ The moment has arrived and we are thrilled.