Above: Liu Wei at Lehmann Maupin, New York.

Lehmann Maupin has had its hands full fostering the careers of some of contemporary art’s household names since its inception 16 years ago—too full to put down roots in Asia. Owners David Maupin and Rachel Lehmann have, however, decided that the time is right to look eastwards and, following in the footsteps of fellow New Yorker Larry Gagosian, Lehmann Maupin will welcome visitors to its new space in Hong Kong’s iconic Pedder building from next spring.

The gallery has an impressive history of showing major works by European and U.S. artists. It was responsible for Tracey Emin’s first New York solo show and organized exhibitions by Gilbert & George and Billy Childish, and it has built a track record of promoting Asian art in the West for more than a decade—Lehmann Maupin gave Do Ho Su his first U.S. exhibition and the increasingly popular Liu Wei, whom David Maupin has followed for several years, was represented most recently by the gallery at London’s Frieze Art Fair—a prelude to a major exhibition in February next year.

The neoclassical Pedder building at 12 Pedder Street was constructed in 1923 and is the last prewar building standing on the block. Today it counts some of Hong Kong’s most influential art galleries among its tenants. Lehmann Maupin expects to have its program ready in early Spring with a solo exhibition by one of its Asian artists, which will be followed by a Hervé Mikaeloff-curated exhibition—timed to coincide with Art Basel in Hong Kong—focusing on the use of language across Eastern and Western art.

407 Pedder Building, 12 Pedder Street. Opens Spring 2013.