Art markets with potential

A painting by Ryan Sullivan. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Coles says the art community outside of China as a whole has had relatively little exposure to the works of this generation, and this in itself brought many visitors.

She adds that while speaking to the Chinese artists featured at the shows, she learned that "the voices they have are proudly their own", and they do not cater to the ideas of what Chinese art should look like.

She says the audience for contemporary art in China is growing fast, especially in art hubs like Beijing and Shanghai, both of which she feels are "accessible, receptive and open".

She says both cities boast communities "who are making serious and long-term commitments to building structures in which contemporary art can flourish".

Coles also advises women in art like herself to ignore the authority and superiority that men assume they have.

"I have always refused to accept that I am any different: I am the owner of an art gallery, I love art and artists, and I run my business to the best of my ability.

"I don't consider my gender to be any kind of impediment and am enormously thankful to all the artists who have given me the opportunity to work with them. I am pretty sure they didn't choose me because of my gender."