In the Chinese art market, the 1980s were a turning point between the past and the future

China’s art market has evolved through several stages of development, with its structure and operations reflecting the distinct features that are intimately linked to the country’s political system, social environment, and economic growth. The 1980s are used as the context for the development of the art market after the People’s Republic of China was founded to explore the uniqueness of this period and its influence on subsequent generations. This paper examines the development of the art market during the 1980s, analyzing its constituent elements, operating mechanisms, contemporary characteristics, and relevant policies and regulations. During this period, Chinese society underwent a transitional phase, reflected in the art market’s synchronicity and lag. The art market’s transformation was driven by social transformation, gradually inclining toward Western trends by the 1990s. One may argue that the 1980s marked the final phase of the Chinese art market before undergoing a transformative shift, characterized by a connection between the preceding and succeeding periods.