JD.com, one of China’s largest e-commerce companies founded in 1998, has announced the establishment of the JD Museum in Shenzhen as part of its broader mission, “Making Lives Better through Technology.” American-born curator and editor Robin Peckham, formerly co-director of Taipei Dangdai Art & Ideas (2019-2025) and editor-in-chief of LEAP magazine (2014-2018), has been appointed executive director.

Slated to open in late 2027, the museum will span over 10,000 square meters and include spaces for exhibitions, immersive installations, live performances, participatory workshops, and creative retail. It is envisioned as an institution dedicated to “connecting people through art and technology,” focusing on contemporary visual, cultural, and performing arts. 

In a press release, Peckham stated that he was “thrilled to help launch a new cultural chapter for a company that is already one of the most fascinating stories in the development of the Chinese technology sector.” He continued: “Shenzhen feels like the most exciting place in the world to explore the intersection of art and technology right now.”

JD Museum will anchor the “Scenic City” (畫境之城), a forthcoming cultural complex that will house JD.com’s headquarters in the Shenzhen Bay Super Headquarters Base. Designed by international architecture firm Büro Ole Scheeren, with interiors by Neri&Hu Design and Research Office, the museum is currently under development.

Minnie Chan is an editorial intern at ArtAsiaPacific.