Hope someone can help with this request,
We are interested in buying a piece of original artwork by a local artist. Not the usual photos of Shanghai and certainly not copies. I know Galleries are sprinkled about and I've been to Taikang Road. Is there some artsy warehouse/loft area that locals with actual skill display their wares? Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!

Seatrump

There's Moganshan Lu that has a few warehouses. I've not been around there for a couple of years so don't know if it's changed at all.

http://unearthingasia.com/uniquely-far- ... -district/

Nice place to wander round for an afternoon.

Sotheby's HK.

I bought a roll-up painting on my last trip to a water town. The asking price was 180 yuan, I haggled to 80. I was happy with the deal. There were many paintings of all styles, and the artist was working in the same shop that he was selling them. No, I can't give you directions. Good luck.

Taikang and Moganshan are both OK options. The problem is the terrific and terrible are all mixed together but you will certainly find something good in amongst all the derivative rubbish that is out there and some at really good prices. I bought a small (framed) woodblock for Y 200, and a small oil, framed, for Y 350 yesterday at Taikang.

If you want original works, try Zendai or Moganshan lu.
You will not find original works at Taikang lu..
You can also try giving Neocha a try - lots of original art on there, although they never seem to get back to you via email /yes I mean you Mr Schokora...

http://edge.neocha.com/
http://www.zendaiart.com/zh-CN/main/Default.aspx
50 Moganshan lu (tons of galleries, but pricier)
Weihai lu used to be decent but we all got thrown out mid last year sadly, and we all scattered to the wind...

This would give a better overview of the above:
http://www.cnngo.com/shanghai/shop/8-ti ... ess-636029


Lawrence (not a starving artist).

They have rubbish, copies and some interesting stuff. AS everywhere in China pretty & ugly all mixed together.

PAINTER STREET (a few blocks south west from Metro Line 1 Xujiahui - exit 1)
212 Wending Lu, near Nandan Lu
文定路212号，近南丹路，

^^^That is not true About Taikang. You been looking in all the wrong places. Yes, for sure the shops on ground level have rip off art but there is a building along the alley, walking into the shop houses area, on the right half way in from Pottery Workshop. This building on three or four levels houses a number of small galleries and studios. I purchase original work from one small, untidy, gallery inside that building.

An outstanding Chinese artists, Sheng Shaopeng, has work in his own gallery in that building, inside Tianzifang. His prices are high but not unreasonable for the quality of the work. Sheng Shaopeng's art is of international public gallery standards. His technical ability is superb and while I seldom see anything new in painting his technique, of application of paint, is not so easy to deconstruct. It keeps me guessing a little which is unusual for I can usually read technique as if it was transparent. The subject of his work is disturbing but has that magnetic quality of making you want to look and look away at the same time.

His is a gifted and insightful expression puting a more than a noble face to what could never be called propaghanda is so extraordinarily truthful in its depiction it makes me want to weep. I go to this gallery to pay homage to a true master of his art.

In Moganshan I like the Black and White gallery, housing Abstract Expressionist work that is a perfect marriage say Franz Kline and calligraphy. I adore this work and if you look at the edges, where white meets black there are delighful little twists and happy accidents of figures and other minute detail overwhelmed by the grandeur of large gestural strokes.

anter wrote:^^^That is not true About Taikang. You been looking in all the wrong places. Yes, for sure the shops on ground level have rip off art but there is a building along the alley, walking into the shop houses area, on the right half way in from Pottery Workshop. This building on three or four levels houses a number of small galleries and studios. I purchase original work from one small, untidy, gallery inside that building.

An outstanding Chinese artists, Sheng Shaopeng, has work in his own gallery in that building, inside Tianzifang. His prices are high but not unreasonable for the quality of the work. Sheng Shaopeng's art is of international public gallery standards. His technical ability is superb and while I seldom see anything new in painting his technique, of application of paint, is not so easy to deconstruct. It keeps me guessing a little which is unusual for I can usually read technique as if it was transparent. The subject of his work is disturbing but has that magnetic quality of making you want to look and look away at the same time.

His is a gifted and insightful expression puting a more than a noble face to what could never be called propaghanda is so extraordinarily truthful in its depiction it makes me want to weep. I go to this gallery to pay homage to a true master of his art.

In Moganshan I like the Black and White gallery, housing Abstract Expressionist work that is a perfect marriage say Franz Kline and calligraphy. I adore this work and if you look at the edges, where white meets black there are delighful little twists and happy accidents of figures and other minute detail overwhelmed by the grandeur of large gestural strokes.

I'm familiar with the building you describe in Taikang Lu and I have seen some of the stuff that is there (that i really like) also in Painter street. Besides 'pretty' & 'ugly' is relative regarding art as we all like different things/ styles.
I do think Painter Street may be a little bit more affordable than Moganshan or Taikang so I think OP should check it out first and as I said I have seen interesting stuff there as well.

Moganshan has excellent paintings. And some rubbish. Have bought some great oil paintings over there for rather serious money.

What is the general prices of actual original art being sold in Shanghai and not just copies. So many copies.
I don't know the first thing about how it all works in China and having no Chinese makes it tough to ever find out

yeah that is right but I'm not wanting to buy, just don't know basic prices in Shanghai.
I see Zendai Art is usually about 3 - 5k.
So seems like a good price to work with

I am looking at selling. Abstract, contemporary are the basic labels they would be given. Bold colours and strong shapes, Acrylic paint on Canvas. Good for plain walls.
Without doing at least 1 or 2 paintings a week I think I would go overly mental and kill myself and others so need to find new homes for them or I could burn them which would make for a nice installation.