Shanghai explores, through the mirror of its art, the tumultuous history that has resulted in one of the world's most dynamic and cosmopolitan cities. For more than a century Shanghai artists have not only been documenting the city's many changes but also leading its way into the future. This exhibition features more than 130 oil paintings, Shanghai Deco furniture and rugs, revolutionary posters, works of fashion, movie clips, and contemporary installations. They are significant visual documents of the city’s rich and ever-changing culture.

The Asian Art Museum's Shanghai exhibition is the cornerstone of the Shanghai Celebration—a year-long Bay Area-wide collaboration honoring SF's sister city and coinciding with the 2010 World Expo hosted by none other than Shanghai.