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Insider Tips for Collecting Contemporary Art

Insider Tips for Collecting Contemporary Art

Our London guide Marine Tanguy's motto is "don't invest in art, invest in artists". She practices this affirmation as the founder of MTArt: the first artist agency promoting influential visual artists and specialising in talent management.    

Marine with a piece by Ignacio Munoz-Vicuna

Marine with a piece by Ignacio Munoz-Vicuna

What is your personal philosophy when it comes to collecting art for yourself?

I love living surrounded by inspiring artworks. It has to be inspiring visually, something so intricate and complex visually that I never get bored of it and also something with a deeper meaning which adds a reflective mood to my house. 


Can you tell us about one of your favorite pieces you have collected?

I've included images of some of my favorite artworks in this post. The first one is by Ignacio Munoz-Vicuna, Van Gogh used yellow to brighten up his mood and so do I with this artwork. The second picture in my lounge portrays the works of both Francesco de Prezzo and Alexandra Lethbridge, Francesco here had painted theses two paintings for hours and months until he destroyed them with white paint - it illustrates the temporarily of our effort - while Alexandra entertains my guests making them reflects upon their use of the gaze as an emotional content. I.e look at this girl and can you guess if she is surprised, happy or excited? Her gaze, now blocked by the artist, was your emotional context. The last works by Will Thomson are displayed in my spare bedroom often used by my artists, it is meant to be reflective, calm and inspiring with the blue colour he used. 

Marine with works by Francesco de Prezzo and Alexandra Lethbridge

Marine with works by Francesco de Prezzo and Alexandra Lethbridge

What is your advice for other collectors of contemporary art today?

Buy what you love, meet the artists and support them. We need to support the amazing artists of tomorrow. 

Marine with a work by Will Thomson

Marine with a work by Will Thomson

Take a tour with Marine in London to learn more about the art she loves and her collecting philosophy! 

London Art Guide - October

London Art Guide - October

It's that time of year again! To get over the September nostalgia, Frieze week is here to dazzle you with the best art in the world. 

I.

Sex Work at Frieze London 


This section pays homage to nine radical feminist artists making work during the 1970s and 80s. Be ready to encounter some pretty intense bodily depictions and explicit sexual imagery. Leave your prejudice and prudishness at home. 

CREDIT:Marilyn Minter, Rivulet, 2017. Dye Sublimation print.

CREDIT:Marilyn Minter, Rivulet, 2017. Dye Sublimation print.


II.

Kallos Gallery London at Frieze Masters


The reason I adore Frieze is mainly for the Frieze Masters as it gives a general, grounded context to my favourite contemporary artworks. One of the most dramatic antiquities stands this year is that of Kallos Gallery with its constructed arched colonnade and intimate niches. 

CREDIT: Gallery. Kallos Gallery. A Roman marble theatre mask acroterion, 3rd century AD

CREDIT: Gallery. Kallos Gallery. A Roman marble theatre mask acroterion, 3rd century AD


III.

UNFOLD


After the Frieze Week, enjoy a new engaging way to look at art with the festival UNFOLD. Church Street in Central London is transformed into an immersive experience celebrating emerging artists. Go on a journey through a working artist's studio and two innovative exhibition spaces with talks and workshops. 

CREDIT: Artist Adelaide Damoah - UNFOLD Opening night 

CREDIT: Artist Adelaide Damoah - UNFOLD Opening night 

The Top Arty Destinations This Fall

The Top Arty Destinations This Fall

With copious art events to choose from this season, we decided to create a handy list of the top five global arty events we recommend.  

I. 

Event: Vienna Contemporary

Dates: September 21st to September 24th

Venue: Marx Halle | Vienna Karl-Farkas-Gasse 19, 1030 Vienna

Vienna insider, Itai Margula has declared Vienna Contemporary, “a must see in the Viennese art calendar”! This year the fair includes 110 galleries and cultural institutions from 27 different countries and will present the art of over 500 artists. It is precisely this international aspect of the fair that makes it a must for Itai. He told us, “offering an intriguing selection of contemporary art in Central and Eastern Europe together with an exquisite set of Austrian and international galleries, the fair has gained the reputation of bridging the East and the West.” 

“A highlight of the program is ZONE1, an established format showcasing the work of young artists” explained Itai. The ten artists selected for ZONE1 are all below the age of 40 and were either born or educated in Austria. Of the artists highlighted this year, Itai recommends seeing the work of Kay Walkowiak (Zeller van Almsick Gallery), “whose sculptural objects open up a choreography of references on the canon of forms of 20th-century painting”, and Samuel Schaab (Unttld Contemporary), “who developed a performative installation especially for ZONE1.” 

Take a private tour with Itai in Vienna to discover more!

© viennacontemporary / A. Murashkin

© viennacontemporary / A. Murashkin

II.

Event: Fiac (International Contemporary Art Fair)

Dates: October 19th to October 22nd

Venue: Grand Palais | Avenue Winston Churchill 75008 Paris | and other venues

Our Paris insider, Judith Souriau, couldn't be more ready for Fiac and the exciting energy it brings to the city! "The Fiac week is bursting with events and parties", Judith explained, "and both galleries and museums keep their best shows for that time of year. If you’re into modern and contemporary art it’s definitely the best time to visit Paris". This year Fiac will feature around 180 galleries within the Grand Palais which include both established major galleries and the emerging generation. The Lafayette Sector is best for those visitors inclined towards the younger generation of gallerists, as it was created to seek out and promote galleries who have existed for ten years or less. 

The majority of the fair will be held within the Grand Palais however make sure to explore the Hors les murs (outside the walls) programmes free of cost in the Jardin des Tuileries, Place Vendôme, and Musée Delacroix. Judith is also looking forward to going beyond the walls of the Grand Palais, she said, "I can’t wait to put on my sneakers and walk not only the Fiac but smaller fairs such as Paris Internationale and Asia Now that bring to town the very best of international contemporary art galleries."

Take a private tour with Judith to discover more!

Galerie du Secteur Général: Kohn Gallery / Artiste: Lita Albuquerque / Titre de l'oeuvre: Fibonacci Lunar Activation / Année: 2017 / ©the artiste and Kohn Gallery

Galerie du Secteur Général: Kohn Gallery / Artiste: Lita Albuquerque / Titre de l'oeuvre: Fibonacci Lunar Activation / Année: 2017 / ©the artiste and Kohn Gallery

III. 

Event: Frieze London

Dates: October 5th to October 8th

Venue: Regent's Park 

“Frieze week is my favourite time of year" our London insider, Marine Tanguy gushed, "I am very much looking forward to seeing the stand of Blum & Poe gallery as it's one of my favourite Los Angeles galleries and Frieze is a great opportunity to visit international art galleries on your doorstep." While Frieze London focuses exclusively on contemporary art Frieze Masters, which is running simultaneously to Frieze London, includes international modern and historical galleries.    

Take a private tour with Marine to discover more!

BIRGIT JÜRGENSSEN, UNTITLED (BODY PROJECTION) (1988/2009) / https://www.galeriewinter.at/en/

BIRGIT JÜRGENSSEN, UNTITLED (BODY PROJECTION) (1988/2009) / https://www.galeriewinter.at/en/

IV.

Event: Warsaw Gallery Weekend

Dates: September 22nd to September 24th

Venue: Various Galleries

2017 marks the seventh year of Warsaw Gallery Weekend, a three day activity-packed fair organized by private galleries in the city showcasing contemporary art. The gallery scene in Warsaw is fairly young which makes this fair all the more exciting as the city comes into its own in the art world. Included in the event are two galleries that came to prominence early in the emerging Warsaw scene during the late nineties, Foksal Gallery Foundation and Raster Gallery. Make sure to stop by Raster Gallery on September 22nd for the opening of a show of Mika Tajima’s work called AIR, which coincides with the opening night of Warsaw gallery weekend.   

With 26 galleries throughout the city participating this year we asked our Warsaw insider, Zuzanna Zasacka, to tell us where to start! Zuzanna shared what she’s most excited about, “I am already looking forward to see Wilhelm Sasnal at Foksal Gallery Foundation, Katarzyna Przezwańska at Dawid Radziwszewski Gallery and Odile Bernard Schroeder at Pola Magnetyczne.” 

Take a private tour with Zuzanna to discover more!

warsaw.jpg

V. 

Event: The Jerusalem Biennale

Dates: October 1st to November 16th

Venue: Various Venues 

The 2017 Jerusalem Biennale's title is Watershed, a word which "can be used as a metaphor to help us think about ourselves and the way we split and converge as individuals and groups". The Biennale is primarily interested in exploring the intersections of the Jewish world and contemporary art. We are excited to see how over 200 artists from Israel, Europe, the U.S, Russia and even India explore this theme.  

The juxtaposition of contemporary art within the context of the ancient city of Jerusalem makes this Biennale truly unique. Oh-So-Arty Jerusalem insider, Jenna Romano, said the Biennale "is bigger than ever, and this year features... 27 exhibitions at 8 diverse venues through out the city." One of those unique venues is the Tower of David, a structure dating to the Ottoman Empire.  

Take a private tour with Jenna to discover more!

Dawn/ Hila Ben-Ari /2011

Dawn/ Hila Ben-Ari /2011

 

Thumbnail Photo: Gerard & Kelly, State Of © Gerard & Kelly

London Art Guide - September

London Art Guide - September

I. 
Event: Don't Think Twice - Temporary Public Art at London Bridge Station
Artist: Jennifer Abessira  
Dates: 15 September - 26 November, 2017

Yes, art can come to you. Even when you quickly run to the train station with a coffee in hand. MTArt partnered with Network Rail and Team London Bridge in displaying 72 photographs of artist Jennifer Abessira outside of the London Bridge Station. Abessira specialises in using images which reflect cultures and communities and she assembles them to create a meaningful and colourful narrative.
 

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II.
Event: Clinic 2
Artist: Jasmine Pradissitto
Dates: 20 September - 25 September, 2017

Lead by creative agency Vitamin London, this show will discuss the future of technology. The works of Jasmine Pradissitto are described as ‘holograms you can touch’, forms inspired by nature, the human condition and scientific breakthrough, are melted and reshaped from plastics into sculptures.

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III. Turner Contemporary, Artist Rooms - Phyllida Barlow
Dates: Until 24 September, 2017

I am obsessed by the works of Phyllida Barlow - I LOVE the way she uses 'stuff' and makes it great, engaging and visually playful. 

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London Art Guide - August

London Art Guide - August

- by Marine Tanguy

I.
Exhibition: Giacometti 
Artist: Alberto Giacometti  
Venue: Tate Modern
Dates: Until 10 September   


An incredible exhibition highlighting the impact that the World War II had on the artist - from his nightmarish surrealist bronzes to his more human, emotional figures after the war. The war had changed him forever and his works had become more meaningful and powerful. It's a brilliant reflection on existentialism and the human condition. 

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II.
Exhibition: MTArt Virtual Gallery 
Artists: Scarlett Bowman - Tristan Pigott - Jennifer Abessira - Alexandra Lethbridge - Leni Dothan - Francesco de Prezzo - Will Thomson - Ignacio Munoz-Vicuna - David Aiu Servan Schreiber - Rob Branigan - Jasmine Pradissitto - Marine Hardeman - Neal Rock - Tim A Shaw 
Dates: Until 2 September, 2017



From the Gold Rush to our social media obsession, I like my curations to be engaging, revealing of our current times and bearing a small irony to most artistic dialogues between the works. 

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III.
Exhibition: Soul of a Nation
Artists: Many artists
Venue: Tate Modern
Dates: Until 22 October, 2017


The 150 pieces in 'Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power' were created in America between 1963 and 1983. It's a reminder of a difficult chapter in history and their constant struggle for change still resonates today. To learn from. 

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