Exhibit 32.1

CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as created by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the undersigned officer of Griffin Capital Essential Asset REIT, Inc. (the “Company”), in connection with the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2018 (the “Report”), hereby certifies that:

(i) the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

(ii) the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Dated:	November 9, 2018	By:	/s/  Kevin A. Shields
			Kevin A. Shields
			Chief Executive Officer and Chairman
			(Principal Executive Officer)