Pace Gallery will close its exhibition space in Hong Kong later this month, choosing not to renew its lease at H Queen’s. The gallery’s final exhibition there will be its current one for Alejandro Piñeiro Bello, which closes October 18.
A Pace spokesperson told ARTnews that the location was “no longer servicing us and since out lease is expiring, like many other galleries, we are taking the opportunity to exit.” Pace’s decision was first reported by The Art Newspaper.
The closure does not mark a full retreat from the city, the gallery said, as it will maintain its Hong Kong and Beijing offices and it is open to considering new spaces if the right opportunity arises.
Pace entered Hong Kong in 2014 with a gallery in the Pedder Building, relocating in 2018 to H Queen’s, a 26-story tower that was initially billed as a hub for blue-chip dealers including David Zwirner and Tang Contemporary. But the building has steadily emptied out; Hauser & Wirth has already moved to other sites nearby, while Pearl Lam and Whitestone have also exited.
The contraction reflects wider headwinds for Hong Kong’s art market, with spending from mainland Chinese buyers slowing, Beijing’s increasing control over the special administrative region, and the global downturn in the art market. Lévy Gorvy Dayan also closed its Hong Kong gallery last year, citing shifts in client behavior.
Despite the closure, Pace stressed its long-term commitment to the region, noting its early role as the first major Western gallery to open in Beijing in 2008. “We remain deeply engaged with Hong Kong and Greater China,” the spokesperson said, adding that the gallery will continue to support artists through offices, museum collaborations, and regional presentations.
