This book examines the rising global prominence of China's art market throughout the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. To understand the far-reaching impact of Chinese art on global consumption, this book traces the shift from regional markets to global markets. It asks how the Chinese art market re-emerged from its politicized past, innovated within the private economy boom, remained resilient despite the global financial crisis, and flourished on the global stage despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Ultimately, it argues that cultural entrepreneurship enabled Chinese art professionals to reinvent their space and to participate in the global artworld.

Li Ma is a research scholar and co-founder of Sage Creative Foundation, a think tank for cultural entrepreneurship.

Chapter 1: Introduction.- Chapter 2 : China's Art Market before 1978.- Chapter 3: Gradualist Market Reform and Unofficial Art Movements (1980s).- Chapter 4: Private Entrepreneurship and the Commercialization of Art (1990s).- Chapter 5: "Soft Power" Strategy, Wealth Creation and Art Consumerism (2000s).- Chapter 6: Digitalization, the Rise of Chinese Collectors and the Nation-wide Art Boom (2010s).- Chapter 7: Pandemic, Exceptional Recovery and the Ultra Wealthy in China.- Chapter 8: A Trend Towards Pluralism and Inclusion.- Chapter 9: Conclusion.