[2] Named after a box sign attached to the unit, China Art Objects was founded in 1999 by a group of friends that included Peter Kim, Amy Yao, Mark Heffernan, Steve Hanson, and Giovanni Intra.

[3][4] The gallery evolved out of the critical theory program at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California where they had been students.

China Art Objects exhibited a new generation of Los Angeles artists, as well as presenting international projects.

Early exhibitions included solo and two person presentations by Laura Owens & Scott Reeder, Jorge Pardo & Bob Weber, Sharon Lockhart & George Porcari, Frances Stark, Jon Pylypchuk, Eric Wesley, Jonathan Horowitz, David von Schlegell, Angus Fairhurst, R.H. Quaytman, Jennifer Moon, Morgan Fisher, Sean Landers, Walead Beshty, and Julie Becker.

[2] Their inaugural exhibition was "The Notebook" by Cuban artist Marco Castillo, founder of Los Carpinteros arts collective.