In the increasingly globalised landscape of contemporary art, few galleries navigate the complex intersection of historical legacy and modern practice with the nuance of Rossi & Rossi. Founded in London in 1985 by Anna Maria Rossi and later joined by her son Fabio, the gallery initially established its formidable reputation as a leading specialist in classical Indian, Himalayan, and Southeast Asian art. However, over the past two decades, Rossi & Rossi has evolved into something far more dynamic: a vital conduit for contemporary Asian artists whose practices are deeply informed by the cultural and spiritual histories of the region.
Fabio and Anna Maria Rossi. Source: Rossi & Rossi
Operating from its expansive space in the South Island Cultural District of Hong Kong, Rossi & Rossi has become a cornerstone of the city’s vibrant art ecosystem. Their curatorial vision is not merely about juxtaposing the old with the new; it is about tracing the continuous thread of cultural evolution. By representing artists who actively engage with their heritage—whether through subversion, reinterpretation, or material innovation—the gallery offers a profound counter-narrative to the often homogenised discourse of global contemporary art.
The Evolution of a Gallery: From Classical Antiquity to Contemporary Dialogue
The trajectory of Rossi & Rossi is a testament to the organic evolution of curatorial focus. The gallery’s foundation in classical antiquities provided a rigorous scholarly framework, one that demanded a deep understanding of iconography, material history, and spiritual context. When Fabio Rossi began introducing contemporary artists to the gallery’s roster in the late 2000s, this scholarly rigor remained intact. The contemporary programme was not a departure from the gallery’s roots, but rather an expansion of its temporal scope.
This dual focus allows Rossi & Rossi to stage exhibitions that create powerful dialogues across centuries. A classical Tibetan thangka might be exhibited alongside a contemporary painting that deconstructs its very visual language. This approach challenges viewers to see historical artifacts not as static relics, but as part of a living, breathing cultural continuum. It also provides contemporary artists with a unique platform where their work is contextualised within the deep historical currents that inform it, rather than being viewed solely through the lens of Western modernism.
Tsherin Sherpa: Reimagining the Himalayan Narrative
Tsherin Sherpa, Untitled work from the exhibition Hello Darkness… My Old Friend (2025). Source: Rossi & Rossi
Perhaps no artist embodies Rossi & Rossi’s curatorial ethos more perfectly than Tsherin Sherpa. Born in Kathmandu in 1968, Sherpa was trained from the age of twelve in the rigorous discipline of traditional Tibetan thangka painting by his father, Master Urgen Dorje Sherpa. After immigrating to California in 1998, Sherpa began to develop a distinct contemporary visual language that fractures and reimagines the sacred iconography of his training.
Sherpa’s work is a vivid exploration of the Tibetan diaspora experience. His figures—often deities or protective spirits—are rendered with the precise, flat colours and meticulous line work of traditional thangka, but their forms are distorted, fragmented, or entangled in the detritus of contemporary consumer culture. They are beings caught between worlds, navigating the tension between sacred tradition and secular modernity.
Rossi & Rossi has been instrumental in bringing Sherpa’s vision to a global audience. The gallery has hosted multiple solo exhibitions of his work, including the critically acclaimed Hello Darkness… My Old Friend in 2025. Their support was also pivotal in Sherpa’s selection to represent Nepal at the 59th Venice Biennale in 2022, a milestone moment that cemented his status as one of the most significant contemporary artists emerging from the Himalayan region. Through Sherpa, Rossi & Rossi demonstrates how traditional techniques can be weaponised to address urgent contemporary issues of identity, displacement, and cultural commodification.
Ha Bik Chuen: Excavating Hong Kong’s Modernist History
Ha Bik Chuen, The Whole River Red No.1 (1967). Source: Rossi & Rossi
While Rossi & Rossi is deeply associated with Himalayan art, their commitment to the broader Asian contemporary scene is equally robust, particularly in their home base of Hong Kong. This is exemplified by their dedication to the estate of the late Ha Bik Chuen (1925–2009), a self-taught artist whose practice offers a fascinating window into the mid-century modernisation of Hong Kong.
The gallery’s 2026 exhibition, Ha Bik Chuen: 1960s–70s, highlights the artist’s inventive materiality and his unique position at the crossroads of Chinese tradition and Western modernism. Operating out of a walk-up factory space in the industrial district of To Kwa Wan, Ha repurposed industrial materials—paper pulp, plaster, sawdust, and salvaged wood—to create mixed-media sculptures and bas-reliefs. His work from this period, such as The Whole River Red No.1 (1967), mimics the weathered textures of ancient bronze and stone, embedding classical Chinese cosmological concepts within rugged, modernist forms.
By championing the work of Ha Bik Chuen, Rossi & Rossi performs a vital act of art historical excavation. They bring to light the gritty, bricolage mentality that characterised Hong Kong’s early contemporary art scene, ensuring that the city’s complex artistic heritage is recognised and preserved. It is a curatorial choice that reflects the gallery’s deep engagement with its local context, proving that their vision is as much about uncovering hidden histories as it is about promoting new voices.
A Global Platform for Asian Voices
The impact of Rossi & Rossi extends far beyond their gallery walls. They are a consistent and influential presence at major international art fairs, including Art Basel Hong Kong, where their booths are known for their thoughtful curation and museum-quality presentations. At the 2026 edition of Art Basel Hong Kong, the gallery continued its tradition of presenting compelling dialogues between artists, reinforcing their role as a key tastemaker in the Asian market.
Their roster is deliberately diverse, encompassing artists from Pakistan (Faiza Butt, Rasheed Araeen), Taiwan (Lee Mingwei), and beyond. What unites these disparate practices is a shared commitment to rigorous conceptual inquiry and a deep engagement with cultural identity. Whether it is Faiza Butt’s obsessive, pointillist ink drawings that tackle feminist themes, or Lee Mingwei’s participatory installations that explore the Buddhist notion of the ever-changing present, the artists represented by Rossi & Rossi are united by their ability to translate complex cultural narratives into universally resonant contemporary art.
In an art world that is often driven by fleeting trends, Rossi & Rossi’s curatorial vision stands out for its depth, consistency, and scholarly foundation. By bridging the classical and the contemporary, the East and the West, they have created a unique space where history is not a burden to be discarded, but a rich, living resource to be endlessly explored and reimagined.
Explore Further
FAQ
What is Rossi & Rossi known for?
Rossi & Rossi is renowned for its dual expertise in classical Indian, Himalayan, and Southeast Asian art, as well as its robust contemporary programme featuring artists from across the Asia-Pacific region.
Where is Rossi & Rossi located?
The gallery was founded in London in 1985 and currently operates a major gallery space in the South Island Cultural District of Hong Kong.
Who are some of the key contemporary artists represented by Rossi & Rossi?
Key contemporary artists include Tsherin Sherpa (Nepal/USA), the estate of Ha Bik Chuen (Hong Kong), Faiza Butt (Pakistan/UK), Rasheed Araeen (Pakistan/UK), and Lee Mingwei (Taiwan/USA).
How does Rossi & Rossi bridge classical and contemporary art?
The gallery frequently curates exhibitions that place classical antiquities in dialogue with contemporary works, highlighting the continuous cultural and spiritual threads that inform modern Asian art practices.
References
[1] Rossi & Rossi. “About Rossi & Rossi.” Rossi & Rossi Official Website.
[2] Rossi & Rossi. “Tsherin Sherpa.” Rossi & Rossi Official Website.
[3] Rossi & Rossi. “Ha Bik Chuen: 1960s–70s.” Rossi & Rossi Official Website.
