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Since the 18th century, Mayfair in London has been associated with a revered aesthetical appeal thanks to the area’s popularity with people from the higher echelons of society, who have invested in the architecture and design of their prime property. In fact, when Grosvenor Square was built in 1721, titled buyers bought 177 of the 277 houses. As Rev. Sydney Smith, the canon of St Paul’s Cathedral in the mid-19th century, said: “The area contains more intelligence and human ability – to say nothing of wealth and beauty – than the world has ever collected in one space before.”

So, it may come as no surprise that Mayfair is now a melting pot of exquisite art galleries and auction houses, housed in a range of architecturally fascinating buildings, from townhouses to modern designs. As well as being home to well-known names, such as Sotheby’s and The Wallace Collection, the area also hosts many smaller sized galleries, art dealerships and exhibition spaces that characterizes the London art scene.

© The Wallace Collection

Annely Juda Fine Art

Celebrated at the Mayfair Awards 2016 as the best exhibition in Mayfair this year, The Yosemite Suite exhibition by David Hockney has put the Annely Juda Fine Art gallery on the map. As well as exhibiting contemporary artworks from European and international artists, the gallery also displays avante-garde pieces from the 20th Century.

The Maddox Gallery

The Maddox Gallery is a contemporary gallery in the heart of Mayfair and is home to an eclectic collection of art, which is displayed over the converted townhouse’s 4 floors. The exhibition space is flooded with natural light from the attractive glass atrium. The new Maddox Gallery opened its doors only last year and has already received exceptionally good reviews. Currently, the Maddox Gallery is displaying an exhibition called, Disseverance, which features two highly acclaimed British artists, Chris Moon and Robi Walters.

© Maddox Gallery

It’s Art Call

Also currently on display in Mayfair is an interesting exhibition of 15 emerging, contemporary artists, thanks to collaboration between D-Contemporary and The Cult House. Called It’s Art Call and situated on 23, Grafton Street, Mayfair, this exhibition showcases some of the rising stars of the art world and cements the region’s reputation as a hub for artistic talent. These artists include the winner of the Cass Art Commission (Somerset House, 2014), Jean-Luc Almond – an artist that Saatchi Gallery labelled “one to watch” last year. The list also includes the winner of the 2016 Emerald Winter Pride Art award – an artist called Rosso Emerald who is celebrated for her incredible self-portrait, entitled Madame Moustache. Overall, the exhibition displays a varied mix of profound artwork, from ceramics to digital art, which offers a blend of colour, media and aesthetical pleasures.

©It’s Art Call

Blain|Southern

The innovative brainchild of former House of Venison founders, Harry Blain and Graham Southern, Blain|Southern is quickly establishing itself as one of London’s premier independent art galleries. The celebrated gallery in Hannover Square was opened in 2010 and has exhibited the work of Mat Collishaw, Bosco Sodi, Chiharu Shiota and Bill Viola. In 2012, the gallery displayed the drawings of Lucian Freud; in 2013, Damien Hirst’s work was presented in collaboration with Felix Gonzales-Torres. In 2011, Blain|Southern opened a sister gallery on Potsdamer Strasse in Berlin. The contemporary gallery featured in an article by the Telegraph that outlined the ten best independent art galleries in London.

Artists and collectors residing in the desirable district of Mayfair find inspiration around each corner, and are able to fill their properties with masterpieces from each cultural epoch. From Romantic oil paintings to contemporary sculptures, artistic form is varied and alluring in the independent galleries of London’s Mayfair. Some Mayfair residences resemble the galleries next to which they are positioned.

Info sourced by the author for LuxuryActivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only.

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