Galleries - February 2014

art CHELSEA CONTINUED has an exhibition by rising British figurative painter Diarmuid Kelley. His is a distinctive talent, his taut, reflective portraits containing a fierce melancholy. Meanwhile, pushing further on down the King’s Road we come to Gagliardi Gallery which, at 35 years ofage, is the remarkable survivor ofthree major recessions. It’s done so by sticking very much to the policy with which it first started, a series ofmixed shows covering a wide choice ofstyles and subject matter, abstract to figurative, sculpture and painting and all at a wide range ofprices. An old-fashioned approach perhaps, in an age where solo shows are the fashion but the fact they are still there when many others have come and gone speaks volumes. Further still into the New King’s Road we come to what the marketing men now term the ‘Chelsea Design Quarter’ where, among a mix ofdesign shops, Thompson’s Contemporary has recently opened a major new space, again with mixed shows by up and coming young British artists, in February highlighting oil painters Paul Wright and Carl Melegari, sculptor Schoony and ball point pen realist James Mylne. Then, almost down to Putney Bridge, make a point of visiting Keith Chapman’s gallery. Normally a treasure trove ofthe very best and often less familiar 20th Century Modern British sculpture – eg Underwood and Ayrton alongside Epstein and Chadwick – but this month showing the work ofwell respected Chinese calligrapher/painter, 68 year old Sa Benjie who mixes these two techniques and abstraction and figuration to quite stunning effect. Now, heading back into town via the Fulham Road you encounter first Piers Feetham’s highly enterprising gallery and picture framing business. There was a time when such a mixed model was common practice but it is surprisingly rare and certainly not often done with quite his flair, the February show ofthe Small Paintings Group filled with a delightful cross- section ofwork, a good deal ofit by that now uncommon species, the Chelsea artist. Finally, back up the Fulham Road, we find a real sign of the changing scene in this area with the brand new opening ofthe John Martin Chelsea gallery. Still retaining his Mayfair space, the fact that he is now also in Chelsea says everything about the new-found potential of this wealthy, bustling district. The opening exhibition, ‘Vernissage’, a contemporary tribute to Chelsea’s fine artistic legacy, presents established gallery artists such as Andrew Gifford, Leon Morrocco, Barry McGlashan and Richard Cartwright to a new audience. Nicholas Usherwood from left: Gelindo Baron ‘Motorcycle’ at Gagliardi Gallery R ichard Cartwright ‘Nocturne in Blue and Gold’ at John Martin Chelsea. Kate Boxer ‘Red Wolf’ at Cricket Fine Art. 32 GALLERIES FEBRUARY 2014