Masterpiece London, sponsored by Royal Bank of Canada, returns on 30 June (until 6 July) as one of the world’s leading multi-disciplinary art fairs, offering the finest works of art, design, furniture and jewellery from antiquity to the present day. Attracting established collectors and the culturally curious, the fair introduces visitors to objects they might not otherwise encounter and presents an unparalleled opportunity to discover exceptional works of art for sale.
Held in a bespoke structure in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, Masterpiece is an extraordinary week of cultural and social experiences, integrating 128 exhibitors from every major market discipline.
Exhibitor highlights include:
Capturing the style and elegance of men of the past, Robilant + Voena will present a curated booth of portraits titled The Dandy. Tracing the evolution of menswear from the early 17th century to the fin de siècle, demonstrating the progress of fashion as well as its enduring significance for those who wear it.
In celebration of Peter Blake’s 90th birthday, Waddington Custot’s stand will feature a ‘Wunderkammer’ presenting work by the artist from the past 20 years. The gallery will also hold a solo exhibition featuring Blake’s Under Milk Series of over 150 works at their London space, coinciding with Masterpiece London.
Karen Taylor’s stand will highlight a number of historically overlooked 18th and 19th century British women artists including Edith Martineau, Marian Emma Chase and Sarah Stone – the first British female painter of birds and animals to achieve professional recognition. Stone’s drawings of birds are a highly important visual record of the specimens held in late 18th century English collections, and include some from the voyages of Captain Cook.
Sarah Myerscough Gallery’s curated presentation Seeing the Forest for the Trees will explore how environmental sustainability can be expressed through high-end design showing a tactile connection to the natural world. Amongst the objects and furniture crafted from organic materials and grown from practices which prioritise material legacy will be a 9m installation mural by Brazilian designer Domingos Totora.
Specialists in rare books, Peter Harrington will bring the only known authorial presentation copy of any Jane Austen novel to be offered for sale: a first edition of Emma in three volumes. One of only 12 allocated to Austen, this was the only copy given to a personal friend, Anne Sharp.
Featuring 16 carat fancy dark brown-yellow diamonds, surrounded by emeralds and sapphires, CINDY CHAO The Art Jewel’s new Fruit Earrings are an exquisite addition to their Black Label collection which continues to redefine high jewellery with intricate design and craftsmanship.
Also this year, Masterpiece Presents features monumental light installations by Pakistani-American artist Anila Quayyum Agha, represented by Sundaram Tagore Gallery. The artist is known for her award-winning, immersive light installations, and has been the subject of three solo museum shows in the last year. One of the two works for Masterpiece, This is NOT a Refuge II, explores the loss of family and home that stems from displacement and resettlement.
And this year’s Masterpiece Sculpture Series will be curated by Melanie Vandenbrouck, Curator of Sculpture at the V&A. The Series showcases dynamic work from across history throughout the Fair, from the personal to the political and the universal. The selection considers innovative investigations of form and matter, and how other disciplines may inform and enrich sculptural practice.
On arriving at the Fair, visitors will be welcomed by a large-scale reinterpretation of recent work by British artist, Sarah Graham. Known for her expressive, large-scale drawings of the natural world, the artist was inspired by observing spring at close quarters during the global pandemic. As Masterpiece returns to the Royal Hospital Chelsea, the spirit of spring and joy of summer in London will be celebrated with Graham’s enormous butter yellow anemones, created by Sarah Graham with Micha Weidmann Studio.
Masterpiece London, sponsored by Royal Bank of Canada, takes place between 30 June and 6 July. For further information and to book tickets: masterpiecefair.com
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Image: 2022 Black Label Masterpiece II Fruit Earrings, Courtesy CINDY CHAO The Art Jewel
Credit: Masterpiece London, sponsored by Royal Bank of Canada, is taking place from 30 June – 6 July (preview 29 June) 2022: www.masterpiecefair.com