Galerie Urs Meile Opens Flagship Gallery in Zurich

PRESS RELEASE

In June 2025, Galerie Urs Meile will inaugurate its new flagship gallery space at Ankerstrasse 3, Zurich, marking a pivotal evolution in the gallery’s trajectory. More than just an expansion, the new venue represents a renewed focus—honoring the gallery’s distinctive legacy while reimagining its vision for the future.

Founded in 1992 in Lucerne, Galerie Urs Meile has cultivated a distinctive position over the past three decades, deriving its significance from a steadfast commitment to fostering contemporary art in China and Europe and facilitating meaningful exchanges between the two. As one of the first Western galleries to enter China, Galerie Urs Meile began its activities there in 1995 and has maintained a permanent space in Beijing since 2005, now led by René Meile. Since 2020, under the directorship of Karin Seiz-Meile, the gallery has broadened its Swiss presence through an exhibition space in Ardez, in the Engadin region. In 2023, it opened a permanent exhibition space on Rämistrasse in Zurich—a move that laid the foundation for deeper connections within the city’s vibrant and internationally engaged art ecosystem.

With the permanent transition from Lucerne to Zurich and the establishment of its headquarters on Ankerstrasse—complementing its existing space on Rämistrasse—Galerie Urs Meile reaffirms its commitment to fostering artistic dialogue and advancing its vision.

The new Ankerstrasse space offers a flexible, adaptive architectural approach: the fluid layout allows for reconfiguration and subdivision, supporting diverse exhibition formats—from intimate presentations to multi-part installations. It underscores the gallery’s dedication to exchange and collaboration, reinforcing its role as a platform for critical conversations. The gallery envisions Ankerstrasse as an evolving platform where artistic inquiry expands through collective dialogue, fostering experimental, interdisciplinary, and cross-cultural practices.

We see Zurich not simply as a location, but as an ecosystem that aligns with our commitment to experimentation, discourse, and global connectivity. The Ankerstrasse space opens up new possibilities - not only for exhibiting work, but for rethinking how a gallery can function as a site of interaction, reflection, and shared experience.

-Karin Seiz-Meile, Partner

China’s contemporary art scene has undergone a remarkable development over the past few decades, making it all the more important to showcase the richness and diversity of its artistic voices on the international stage. With its vibrant local community and strong global connections, Zurich offers a natural setting to support and deepen this cultural exchange.

-René Meile, Partner

After more than three decades of building bridges between cultures and continents, the move to Zurich is a decisive step in the evolution of the gallery. It honors our legacy while positioning us for the future—creating a space where we can continue to grow, adapt, and support the artists shaping tomorrow’s cultural landscape.

– Urs Meile, Founder

GRAND OPENING

Ankerstrasse 3, 8004 Zurich
Friday, June 13, 6.00 – 9.00 pm
coinciding with Zurich Art Weekend

Opening Hours

Wednesday to Friday, 11.00 am – 6.00 pm
Saturday, 11.00 am – 5.00 pm

INAUGURAL EXHIBITION

Galerie Urs Meile opens its new Zurich headquarters with Anker Protocol – 1.0, the first edition of a recurring exhibition series that offers expansive insights into the gallery’s program and wider curatorial perspectives. Emphasizing dialogue across generations, cultures, and disciplines, the format reflects the gallery’s ongoing commitment to artistic curiosity and exchange. The inaugural show brings together works by Antonio Ballester Moreno, Cao Yu, Hu Qingyan, Klodin Erb, Urs Lüthi, Miao Miao, Rosalind Nashashibi, Shao Fan, Rebekka Steiger, and Alice Wang.