LONDON.- Dellasposa announced the launch of a new permanent gallery space at 2A Bathurst Street, London, in October 2018. The new gallery covers two floors and will benefit from five distinct rooms for exhibitions. It will form the new central London flagship to house Dellasposa’s growing stable of contemporary artists, a broader spectrum of works on offer by the modern masters, and a newly expanded events programme.
The gallery space is designed by the founders, Jessica McBride and Julian Phillimore, to create an immersive and contemplative experience for guests and visitors. Site Unseen, the inaugural exhibition at the gallery, comprises works by contemporary artists Alexander James Hamilton, Darren Coffield, Gail Olding, Guy Haddon Grant, Isabella Watling, Rad Husak, Sabatino Cersosimo, and Tahnee Lonsdale.
‘Having established the gallery through a variety of exhibitions in and around Mayfair, we are incredibly pleased to put down roots in Connaught Village’, says Julian Phillimore. Connaught Village, the luxury retail quarter of the Hyde Park Estate, and is well known for its independent boutiques and a unique 'oasis of calm' atmosphere in the centre of the city, a short distance from Oxford Street and Hyde Park.
The opening of the gallery occurs at a time when there is a fall in visitors attending museums and galleries nationally and internationally. ‘We are aware that many people find art galleries too intimidating to enter’, Julian Phillimore states, ‘We want to break through these barriers of entry by placing greater emphasis on engagement.’ Jessica continues: ‘Art is often a conversation piece; it is our responsibility as curators and gallerists, on behalf of our artists, to engage people in conversation about the art on show.’
The founders believe that socially-based experiences are the best way to inspire people and foster interest in art. Dellasposa wants to open its doors to a broader audience by developing a Salon series of events alongside the exhibition programme at the gallery. ‘The gallery is an environment for creating culture,’ Jessica says, ‘our vision is to reinvigorate the tradition of the Salon by hosting a series of events that are as social as they are a reason for intellectual discourse.’
One trending topic of discussion is Dellasposa’s ambitions is to readdress the gender-imbalance in the art world. ‘For too long women have been painted out of (art)history’, Jessica states. ’Being an advocate for artists is our responsibility, and we intend to make a difference by actively championing women in art through our exhibition and events programme.’
The re-examination of connoisseurship in our contemporary times is another important topic at the gallery. Recognising that art is a visual language that requires some fluency, the founders encourage audiences to explore new ways of looking. ‘We are creating a space for contemplation in an age of digital distraction. With scholarship at the heart of our work, we want to encourage viewers to slow down and contemplate, meditate on the art in front of you.’
The founders believe that trust is the root of building relationships with their artists and clients. Transparency fundamental to their business; by diligently informing collectors with an openness to information and research in the art market, they offer an impartial a bespoke art advisory service for art collectors. Whether someone is invested in the art scene or beginning one’s journey, Dellasposa provides independent, in-depth expertise to guide one through collecting art in today’s international, and often complex art market.
