CAFA Art Museum

CAFA Art Museum

The CAFA Art Museum, formerly known as the CAFA Exhibition Hall, was built in 1953 and is located at No. 5 Xiaowei Hutong, Dongcheng District, Beijing. The museum houses a collection of over 13,000 works, spanning ancient to contemporary times, covering both Eastern and Western art, and encompassing various fields of fine arts, reflecting the stylistic diversity of different artistic categories. It includes not only representative works by art masters and famous contemporary artists, but also outstanding pieces by students from each graduating class since the establishment of the academy.

The new museum was completed in March 2008 and is situated within the CAFA campus. It is one of China's most modern-standard art exhibition venues. The architectural design of the museum features a gently twisted three-dimensional curved surface, with a natural stone panel façade, paired with a highly modern, sculpture-like structure. It showcases the reserved and understated character of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, while also integrating harmoniously with the deep-gray, courtyard-style buildings on campus designed by Mr. Wu Liangyong. The total area of the museum is 14,777 square meters, with four floors above ground and two underground, plus a partial lower level. The total exhibition and display area is 4,150 square meters. The second floor is dedicated to permanent exhibitions, showcasing ancient calligraphy and paintings, donated artworks by senior professors of the academy, as well as works by current faculty members. The curated exhibition spaces are located on the third and fourth floors, both featuring open-plan, modern exhibition halls with skylight ceilings. The 11-meter-high exhibition hall on the third floor provides ample space for contemporary art displays. The museum’s collection storage facility is situated on the second basement level, covering 1,120 square meters, and employs the latest international information technology and digital management systems, meeting international standards in both hardware and software. Public service facilities are primarily located on the first floor, including an auditorium that can accommodate 380 people, providing a convenient venue for academic seminars, lectures, and press conferences. Other public amenities include a service desk, café, and bookstore.

With the completion and operation of the new building, the museum will, based on the academic research of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, organize a variety of exhibitions and academic events aligned with international standards, making the museum a platform for artistic exchange both in China and abroad. It will provide a practical space for students, faculty, the general public, and artists from China and overseas to observe, learn, and showcase their work. In particular, in addition to academic exhibitions, the new museum will actively carry out public and community-based art education activities, establishing itself as a landmark, professional, and international fine arts museum in China.