Spoonfed selects our favourite Cork Street Galleries.
Back in the day, Cork Street, part of the Mayfair Burlington Estate, was a Mecca for dandyism and bespoke tailoring, populated by nonchalant narcissists, the likes of Beau Brummell and his posse, strolling to the Royal Academy. Not much has changed since those Regency days, although the cravats, top hats and dapper gentlemen may be fewer and further between (or loitering round the corner on Savile Row). Today, the gallery-lined Cork Street is still the place to go if you like admiring art and fancy snapping up a canvas or two en route to Bond Street. From the long established to the more recent additions, we offer you a list of some of our favourite Cork Street residents:
Flowers, 21 Cork Street
The fashionable Flowers Gallery has been making a name for itself at number 21 since 2000. And when it comes to contemporary art, it's got the inventive and interesting correlation sussed. The gallery's West End premises are flanked by an edgier East London sibling, Flowers East, and a New York cousin. The gallery regularly exhibits at international art fairs and dabbles in a little bit of this and a bit of that, showcasing work across all media from the established and the relatively unknown out there.
Alan Cristea, 31 Cork Street
Alan Cristea publish an impressive 100 or so editions of everything from etchings, lithographs, photographs and silkscreens a year, making the gallery the largest publisher of limited edition prints and multiples in Europe. Aside from churning out prints, Alan Cristea divides its time between looking busy and important as a member of the IFPDA (that's the International Fine Print Dealers Association) and money managing SLAD (the Society of London Art Dealers). Based at number 31 for some 13 years, the gallery has recently expanded to include a new exhibition space down the road at number 34.
Waddington Galleries, 11 Cork Street
If prestige is more your thing, which let's face it, if you just happen to be wandering in this corner of Piccadilly, it probably is, then the classy Waddington Galleries should suffice. Exhibitions of the works of contemporary European and American artists complement the gallery's impressive collection of works by greats including Picasso, Moore and Matisse.
Bernard Jacobson, 6 Cork Street
Ben Nicholson, Graham Sutherland and Anthony Caro have all exhibited at Bernard Jacobson, since it was founded in 1969. With an emphasis on modern and contemporary British art, the Cork Street gallery encompasses two exhibition spaces and a graphic department.
Medici Gallery, 5 Cork Street
The established Medici Gallery has been open for business in the heart of Mayfair for over one hundred years now and has seen its fair share of fellow art galleries come and go over the years. With a programme of regular figurative painting, sculpture and craft exhibitions, the gallery is evidently still going strong.
And if you are in the area, why not check out Helly Nahmad Gallery, for a spot of Postmodern, Impressionist and contemporary painting, The Mayor Gallery for a slice of Surrealism and Pop Art, the beautiful listed Redfern Gallery for some of the great Twentieth Century artists or the light and airy Art First for a bit of painting and sculpture.
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