JANUARY
2024 started with an incredible milestone: our first-ever presentation at the prestigious London Art Fair. As newcomers, we were thrilled to be part of such a vibrant and dynamic event, showcasing a curated selection of exceptional works from our talented artists and stand out works by Modern British masters. The experience exceeded all our expectations, as we not only received an overwhelmingly positive response but also achieved a remarkable milestone—selling over 28 works during the fair. This was the highest number of sales recorded by any exhibitor that year, an achievement that filled us with immense pride.
The fair provided us with an invaluable opportunity to connect with a diverse audience of art enthusiasts, collectors, and industry professionals, further cementing our commitment to championing contemporary art. It was an unforgettable start to the year, and we look forward to building on this success with this years LAF.
When we arrived back at the Gallery we were greeted by this lovely surprise, our certificate for The Manchester People’s Culture Award.
Adam shone a spotlight on the dynamic beauty of Manchester’s urban landscape depicted in vibrant oil paintings, showcased alongside serene waterway scenes from Venice.
In April we held an exhibition titled 'Art Botanique', a collection of textile designs by Pierre Adolphe Valette. The show was a remarkable success and I am incredibly pleased to say that a piece from the exhibit was acquired by the Special Collections Museum at Manchester Metropolitan University! Not only is this a wonderful achievement for the Gallery but it is also heartwarming to see a piece of Valette's work back at the University he taught at for so many years.
This exhibition comprised a beautiful collection of exclusive and unseen floral designs. Created in the first half of the 20th century, these delicate blooms show the artist’s skill as a draughtsman. A number of works feature text by the artist; coding systems and colour palette studies - showing the hidden processes behind design manufacturing. Valette is best known for his atmospheric and moody depictions of Manchester created in the early 1900s. His impressive works sit alongside the paintings of his student L.S. Lowry in the Manchester Art Gallery.
Unlike his most recognisable works, these pieces are a beautiful mix of exquisite vibrant floral paintings, some with a Japanese influence and many with colourful birds. They reinforce what we already knew, that he was a superb draughtsman who never stopped creating. With over 70 paintings, the show was the largest exhibition of Valette’s paintings to be seen in a commercial Gallery.
‘STAGED’ was a group exhibition highlighting the importance of the still life in the modern era. We invited the viewer to see the push and pull in interactions of staged objects, depicted by an array of artists from different fields. Frequently fusing form with hidden meaning, the academic tradition of the still life has often been used to portray artists’ thoughts, desires and manifestos. We intended to shed a contemporary light on this classic subject matter, integrating modern methods with a discipline paved for us by the masters.
This month we also sold an excellently unique surrealist piece by British mid-century artist Keith Vaughan.
It is very rare to come across works like this by Keith Vaughan and as such we think it is a real gem.
We are extremely proud to say that we sold an important early work by Bomberg in August.
“My object is the construction of Pure Form. I reject everything in painting that is not Pure Form”. David Bomberg, born to Polish-Jewish parents in Whitechapel, London, grew up in poverty. He formed close ties with fellow artists Mark Gertler, Isaac Rosenberg, and Jacob Kramer, collectively known as the 'Whitechapel Boys.' In 1911, he began studying at the Slade School of Fine Art, where his style merged cubism and futurism under the influence of Walter Richard Sickert. Bomberg was expelled from Slade in 1913 and traveled to Paris with Jacob Epstein, where he met artists like Picasso, Modigliani, and Derain. This experience shaped his fusion of the European avant-garde with his Jewish identity.
Bomberg served with the Royal Engineers during World War I, and in the post-war years, his art reflected the influence of the 'machine age,' using strong geometric forms. His 1919 work, Figure Composition, represents a transition between his early and later styles, combining bold, angular shapes with a softer tone. Bomberg created many painting series, including Barges, Bomb Store, and Ghetto Theatre. His Stable Interior series, which includes works like Horses and Riders (now held by the Harris Museum), examined abstracted figures in a vertical format.
Although Bomberg was an influential teacher at Borough Polytechnic (1945-53), mentoring students like Frank Auerbach and Leon Kossoff, he died in poverty in 1957. His work has been featured in major retrospectives, including a 1988 Tate exhibition curated by Richard Cork and a 2017 show at Pallant House in Chichester. His art is held in prestigious collections, including those at MoMA and Tate.
Figure Composition (Stable Interior Series), 1919
Oil on paper laid down on board
88 x 39 cm
British Art Fair was another brand new experience for us, enbolded by our success at LAF earlier in the year we decided to take part in annual art fair at the distinguished Saatchi Gallery. We were very pleased to have sold numerous works of note, including 'Hubberholme, Yorkshire, 1972' a work on paper by Modern British artist Ben Nicholson. Our showcase included a number of Gallery artist's and some stand out Modern British works including a small Hockney drawing, a piece by Leon Kossoff, works by L.S. Lowry, Shani Rhys James and even an oil painting Howard Hodgkin!
We are pleased to say that both the Hockney and Kossoff sold during our presentation.
Meanwhile, in our main Gallery space, we held a solo exhibition ‘The Fragile Thread’ by Ghislaine Howard, which offered a glimpse into the artist's life through a curated selection of works that spanned her illustrious career in painting.
Simultaneously, ‘Landscape in Colour’ by Norman Adams RA was featured in our more intimate downstairs Gallery. Its dark walls provided a striking contrast, ideally suited to showcase the vibrant hues of Adams' works on paper.
In November, we were thrilled to participate once again in the Manchester Art Fair, one of the highlights of our year! It provided the perfect platform to shine a spotlight on our talented Northern artists, celebrating the vibrant creativity of our region.
Our stand featured a carefully curated mix of contemporary paintings and Modern British works on paper. The response was phenomenal, with many pieces finding new homes.
It was a hugely successful event, both for the gallery and our artists, and a wonderful way to round off the year. We’re already looking forward to next year’s fair and can’t wait to see what’s in store!
In December, we proudly opened our brand-new gallery space, Contemporary Six Hale, marking a significant milestone in our journey. When Alex first envisioned opening a gallery back in 2013, he could never have imagined that one day we would be running two!
This achievement wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible dedication and talent of our artists, as well as the unwavering support of our clients and community. We are deeply grateful for the role you’ve played in helping us grow and flourish.
As we look to the future, we’re excited to continue showcasing exceptional art, fostering creativity, and sharing unforgettable moments with all of you. Here’s to many more years of success and collaboration!
