Rachel Du of Bonhams Auction House to Deliver Lecture on the Chinese Art Market The art specialist’s talk will be held on March 25 at 5:30 p.m.

By Emily Innes
March 11, 2024

Rachel Du, Chinese art specialist and porcelain expert at Bonhams auction house, will deliver a lecture titled “Beyond Brushstrokes: Navigating the Evolution of the Chinese Art Market” at Washington and Lee University on March 25 at 5:30 p.m. in Leyburn Library’s Northen Auditorium. The lecture is sponsored by the Museums at W&L.

The lecture is free and open to the public and will be streamed online via Zoom. Registration for the Zoom livestream can be accessed here.

In her talk, Du will delve into the history of Chinese art collecting in the West, shedding light on the contributions of Gilded Age millionaires, missionaries and art dealers who played key roles in establishing significant Chinese art collections outside of East Asia. Du will provide valuable insight into the current Chinese art market and how geopolitical factors, such as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, influence the market.

Du is currently the Head of Sale for Chinese works of art at Bonhams in Los Angeles, California. Her areas of expertise include jades, porcelain, scholar’s objects and bronzes. During her tenure at Bonhams, Du has played a significant role in acquiring property for successful Asian art auctions and has overseen both live and online Asian art auctions, increasing Bonhams’ presence with major institutions across the United States.

Prior to joining Bonhams in 2017, Du worked in the gallery and museum sector. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Davis, and her master’s degree from the University of Chicago.