Modern Asian art is notoriously simple and sparse, so it's only fitting that this contemporary Asian art gallery follows suit in its own aesthetic. Located in the midst of River North's high-end art cluster, Andrew Bae Gallery presents simplicity at its finest. Focusing on paintings, sculptures and limited edition prints by contemporary artists with ties to Korea and Japan, the gallery features a new generation of artists who have trained in Asia and now live and work in the West, creating art that displays "Asian aesthetics with universal appeal," per Bae.

Bae's small group of resident artists creates simplistic yet vibrant work, well worth its five-digit price tag. Among the most notable sculptors is Jae Ko, who creates curvaceous 3-D wall pieces that look as if they are padded; if fact, their Styrofoam-like appearance is made from rolled paper colored with ink. In addition to sculptors, the gallery also represents a number of hand-picked painters and printmakers.

Andrew Bae Gallery is one of only three Asian art galleries in the River North area and one of only a handful of such galleries in the city, making it a mandatory stop for the contemporary Asian art lover who’s looking for a new centerpiece on a near-limitless budget.

Centerstage Reviewer: Sarah Dahnke