AUTUMN ASIA WEEK NEW YORK EXHIBITION AND EVENTS
China Institute Gallery at 60: 1966-2026
September 10, 2026 – January 3, 2027
Founded in 1966, the China Institute Gallery has presented the history of Chinese art from antiquity to the present through original and thought-provoking exhibitions. The masterworks featured in China Institute Gallery at 60: 1966-2026, date from the 11th century BCE to the 21st, and exemplify what has made the Institute’s exhibitions groundbreaking. Through displays of fine jades, bronze vessels, paintings of gardens and trees as well as calligraphy, architecture, Buddhist sculpture, Chinese ceramics, and clay burial figures, China Institute Gallery at sixty will demonstrate how its presentations have consistently illuminated pathways to a deeper understanding of the arts of China. The exhibition features approximately 85 pieces on loan from more than thirty institutions and private collectors.
Curated by Dr. Annette Juliano, Dr. Alfreda Murck, and Dr. David Ake Sensabaugh
We look forward to welcoming you soon!
To learn more, click here.
Curator’s Talk: Strolling Together in the World of Chinese Art
Tuesday, September 15, 2026, 6:30-8pm
Join three expert art historians in unraveling China Institute Gallery’s anniversary exhibition, China Institute Gallery at 60, 1966–2026: Selections from Three Millennia of Chinese Art. Bringing decades of collective expertise, the speakers will recount the multifaceted stories and messages embedded within these works. They will unpack their ancient history, whether as objects of private scholarly treasures or as public assertions of dynastic power, while also remarking on their modern history in the Gallery’s 122 past exhibitions over the past 60 years.
The presentations will span a wide variety of media, featuring classical paintings and ceramics alongside garden rocks, jades, and other small objects that recreate the complete sensory tapestry of Chinese cultural life.
Through three keynotes and a panel discussion, the cherished tradition of scholarly dialogue will be revived. We invite you to stroll alongside our curators, to observe, admire, and contemplate these works in intimate detail.
Keynote One: “Pursuit of the Afterlife”
Speaker: Dr. Annette Juliano 朱安耐
For the ancient Chinese, the pursuit of the afterlife meant ensuring the deceased’s transition to another realm. This required anticipating their needs and correctly preparing the tomb. An ancient sage summarized the process: the deceased were treated “as though dead and yet still alive, as though gone and yet still present.” Well-cared-for ancestor spirits meant good fortune for living. Neglected spirits turned into implacable ghosts. My discussion will center around the enormous creativity this pursuit inspired in Chinese culture – making objects for the tomb, such as mingqi (clay spirit objects). I will incorporate objects from the exhibition as well as from other sources.
Keynote Two: “The Scholar’s World”
Speaker: Dr. David Ake Sensabaugh 江文苇
Over the past six decades, China Institute has held many exhibitions that have introduced the world of the Chinese scholar. I will concentrate on just a few works from exhibitions on gardens, rocks, books, and seals. These were all subjects of groundbreaking exhibitions, and we are fortunate to have been able to reassemble several works from those exhibitions. I will discuss paintings from the Ming dynasty depicting gardens and rocks; rocks from the Qing dynasty; rare books published in the late Ming dynasty; and hardstone seals and books of seal impressions from the early Qing dynasty. All of them open up aspects of life in traditional China.
Keynote Three: “What Makes a Great Chinese Painting?”
Speaker: Dr. Alfreda Murck 姜斐德
China Institute Gallery at 60 has fifteen excellent paintings on display. They range in date from the Southern Song (12th–13th century) to a few months ago. They range in size from small fans to a hanging scroll two and a half meters tall. Selected to represent ten exceptional exhibitions, many of these paintings exhibit the factors that make for a great work of art. I will talk about five factors that make a painting compelling. Most of my examples come from paintings in the exhibition; a few are from other sources. Full disclosure – these are subjective judgments but based on years of studying and admiring Chinese paintings.
To learn more and reserve tickets, click here.
AWNY Open House
Thursday, September 17, 2026
10am- 8pm
In celebration of Autumn AWNY, we invite you to join us for an open house with free admission and light refreshments. We look forward to welcoming you soon!
About China Institute Gallery
China Institute Gallery is renowned for its intimate, first-class thematic exhibitions. Since 1966, the Gallery has presented more than 120 exhibitions showcasing both historical and contemporary works across a wide range of media and art forms. Covering 5,000 years of Chinese history from the Neolithic period to the present day, China Institute Gallery is the only non-commercial exhibition space solely dedicated to Chinese art in New York and the United States. China Institute Gallery will celebrate its 60th anniversary in 2026, reaffirming the gallery’s leadership in landmark historical exhibitions while expanding the gallery’s commitment to the vibrant world of contemporary Chinese art.
