Auction House Veteran Evelyn Lin Leaves Christie’s for Pace Gallery

Evelyn Lin, a key figure in the world of auction houses, will leave that sphere for Pace Gallery, where she will serve as president of Greater China. She will oversee sales, business development, and artist engagement at the mega-gallery’s Hong Kong and Beijing locations.

Lin will be based in the former city, and she will begin in her new post on October 1.

She previously served as co-head of Christie’s 20th and 21st century art department. She joined the auction house in 2018 as deputy chairman following a period as Sotheby’s head of contemporary art in Asia, a position she held from 2004 to 2017.

Having worked at auction houses since 1998, Lin has become known for growing the market for Asian artists. Under her leadership, records have been set for Sanyu, Zeng Fanzhi, Kim Whanki, and Zhang Xiaogang.

At Pace, she will soon spearhead an exhibition of work by Robert Indiana at the gallery’s H Queen’s location. The show opens in March, coinciding with next year’s edition of Art Basel Hong Kong.

Lin joins following the departure of Pace’s former Asia president Leng Lin, who cultivated the gallery’s presence in the region for 16 years until he left earlier this year in the spring. He helped the gallery open its Beijing location in 2008. Since then, Pace has expanded to include outposts in Hong Kong, Seoul, and Tokyo.

“Asia is brimming with energy and creativity, and I am passionate about bringing more exceptional artists and exhibitions to the region. I’m thrilled to join Pace at this exciting moment in the international art world, and I look forward to collaborating with the gallery’s talented team and engaging with the dynamic community here,” Evelyn Lin said in a statement.

Samanthe Rubell, president of Pace Gallery, said in a statement, “As a gallery, we see incredible potential for our artists and our business in greater China, and Evelyn will help us identify and pursue those opportunities. Her appointment marks a new chapter in our long history in China, where we’ve been fortunate to build lasting, meaningful relationships with artists and collectors over the past 16 years. We look forward to continuing to nurture those connections, and to remaining a major player in Asia’s expansive art world for years to come.”