Andy Hei is a young professional dealer with more than 20 years’ experience of appraising and restoring classical Chinese furniture. He is the second generation of the prominent H.L. Hei family, who have been dealing in huanghuali and zitan furniture from the Ming and Qing dynasties for over half a century.

In 1999, Andy Hei established his own classical Chinese furniture gallery, “Andy Hei Ltd”, on Hollywood Road, in Hong Kong’s traditional antiques quarter. The gallery has since become renowned for fine Chinese antique furniture and works of art.

An aficionado of art and Chinese history, Andy was keen to provide a vibrant new platform in Hong Kong for the art world in Asia and worldwide. With a firm belief in Hong Kong as the hub of the Asian art world, and his experience of participating in several art fairs in London and New York for many years, he decided to establish an art fair in Hong Kong.

In 2006, Andy Hei initiated and organized the first annual Hong Kong International Asian Antiques and Arts Fair (IAAAF 06). Following its success, in 2007 he organized the second IAAAF 07 and the first-ever Hong Kong International Contemporary Art Fair in May and October respectively. Both fairs gained a good response and favourable reviews. Then in 2008 and 2009, the two art fairs were combined into one, known as the Hong Kong International Art and Antiques Fair. This fair, held every October, is now recognized as Asia’s premier art fair presenting art and antiques and is a key annual event in the international art calendar.

Andy Hei is a collector of Chinese paintings and works of art, as well as Asian contemporary art.He now writes a special column for FT Rui, the Chinese language magazine published by the Financial Times Group, sharing his experience and knowledge of antique Chinese furniture. He has been widely interviewed by the media, including Bloomberg TV, Phoenix TV, CCTV, and many international magazines and journals.