H+ Art Museum

Located on the bank of the Shangtang River in the ancient city of Suzhou’s Gusu District, H+ Art Museum is inspired by the city itself, which is renowned for its classical gardens and canals. The private institution by the Huamao Group takes its name from “Heart Plus,” the company’s belief in inner abundance, and embraces local culture, serving as a site for community and creative exchange.

The 8,500-square-meter building was designed by the Pritzker Prize-winning Japanese architect Tadao Ando, whose signature use of exposed concrete and interplay of light, shadow and the natural world define the structure’s character. By creating a terraced form, Ando envisioned the entire building as a vertical garden — one that dissolves boundaries through layered green spaces and a rooftop garden. The design draws on the spirit and history of classical Suzhou gardens, translating the tradition of “flowing scenery” to a contemporary space. A water patio further connects to the Shangtang River and provides the setting for Ando’s iconic green apple sculpture, a symbol of eternal youth.

Begun in 2018, the museum opened publicly in early 2026 with two inaugural exhibitions: “Roaming the Cosmos of the Heart — Infinite,” a group exhibition co-curated by Professor Zhang Zikang featuring works from 34 Chinese and international artists; and “Roaming the Cosmos of the Heart — Illuminated,” a retrospective of Chinese artist Liang Quan. Currently on view is “Civilization in Drift: A Technology of Assemblage,” the first solo exhibition by Xu Zhen in Suzhou.

Beyond its exhibition program, H+ Art Museum functions as an active site for public engagement, including the H+ Talks lecture series, an embroidery art project and future plans to host a writers’ program, which will invite researchers to produce in-depth scholarship around the museum’s exhibitions.

^{Photos courtesy of H+ Art Museum}