London According to: Alma Luxembourg of Luxembourg + Co.
‘London is a metropolis that thinks of itself as a community’ – the gallerist gives her view of the UK capital
‘London is a metropolis that thinks of itself as a community’ – the gallerist gives her view of the UK capital
With galleries in New York and on London’s Savile Row, Luxembourg + Co. (previously Luxembourg & Dayan) presents museum-quality exhibitions of works by modern masters and contemporary artists such as Derrick Adams, Alberto Burri, Paul Cezanne, René Magritte and Richard Prince as well as thematic surveys, including ‘Grisaille’, ‘Unpainted Paintings’, ‘The Shaped Canvas’, ‘Revisited’ and ‘The Ends of Collage’. Its display at Frieze Masters this year is dedicated to the US painter Alice Baber, coinciding with an exhibition at the gallery. Partner Alma Luxembourg looks at what makes London unique in the global art world, and recommends a very good café on Savile Row.
What’s great about your gallery’s location?
We have been on Savile Row since 2011 – one of the first art galleries to open on the street. We love the creative feeling that is reflected by the groundfloor tailors’ shopfronts, as well as the central location, a stone’s throw away from the Royal Academy of Arts.
What changes have you seen in London in the last few years?
London has always been a particularly dynamic city, but the past few years have seen a lot of changes thanks to COVID-19 and Brexit. One of the good changes, though, has been how the art community in the city has become closer. London Gallery Weekend, for one, has been a fantastic addition to London’s art calendar and a great way to connect galleries and audiences to one another.
What’s different about the London art world to that of other cities?
London is a metropolis that thinks of its itself as a community, and its art world is a mirror of this attitude. It is diverse and international but also very connected to its place.
How do you think that the way people see (and show) art is changing?
While people today are able to ‘see’ art from anywhere and at any time (online or on Instagram), the desire to experience art in person, to engage with physical objects, and to interact in real life is actually growing stronger.
You’re bringing Alice Baber to Frieze Masters this year – what influenced this choice?
We are very proud of this project. Baber was a master of light and colour and she made some significant innovations to painting in the 1950s through her own work and her practice as a curator. She is one of the names whose absence from art history books needs to change.
Which artists excite you at the moment?
This year we had the opportunity to work with two contemporary artists who really challenged my view on the historical art we so often display in the gallery. Liz Magic Laser’s project at our New York gallery – ‘Art Handling: An Installation Play’ – set out to invert the conditions of labour in the art gallery by giving centre stage to art handlers and the installation process of an exhibition, while placing major historical artworks as backdrop and props in the display. And this September, we are collaborating with Rebecca Ward, whose unthreaded canvases revive painting through the act of its deconstruction.
Favourite museum or gallery in London?
London houses some of the world’s greatest historical collections of art, but I have recently found myself more and more invested in what tomorrow brings. Studio Voltaire has become one of my regular go-tos as a vibrant and daring institution that not only exhibits emerging or under-represented artists, but enables and supports artists through its studios, residencies and public programming.
Last exhibition you went to?
I just went to see (and listen to) the current display of Jannis Kounellis at Tate Modern, which forms part of the Artist Rooms programme. The show features a small but exceptional group of works, including Kounellis’s 1971 painting Untitled, which includes a fragment of J.S. Bach’s St John Passion on it. The painting is accompanied by a cellist who plays the piece at selected times of the week. We exhibited a similar work by Kounellis a few years back and it is always such an exceptional experience.
Can you recommend a place to eat near the gallery?
After the extended COVID-19 lockdown period, in 2020, the Pollen Estate, whose holdings include a large part of Savile Row’s businesses, were extremely proactive in thinking about ways to revive the area. One of the most successful ventures that has really transformed our street is The Service, an excellent café with great breakfast and lunch options.
Best bar or pub near Luxembourg + Co.?
The Arlington is one of few places that manage to maintain the feel of old London with the city’s new and vibrant crowds. I love stopping by for a drink at the bar, and the restaurant itself is of course excellent.
Best thing about London?
It has a unique combination of local and global lifestyles. For such an international hub, London maintains a very active, local community.
Worst thing about London?
London is so large and has so much going on that you often feel like you are missing something on the other side of town.
Luxembourg + Co. is showing at Frieze Masters 2024
Further Information
Frieze London and Frieze Masters, 9 – 13 October 2024, The Regent’s Park, London
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Main image: Alice Baber, Songs of the Wind, 1977. Courtesy: Luxembourg + Co. Photo: Damian Griffiths
