Art Walk Continued: getting my culture on

After visiting the Halcyon Gallery last week, I was wandering along New Bond Street and came across Sotheby's Auction house. They were advertising for their upcoming Contemporary Art auction (Feb. 13) and the galleries were open to view the pieces that were going up for sale. 

When I was doing my semester abroad, my Art History class often took us around London to small commercial galleries that are clustered together as well as the big auction houses (Sotheby's and Christies).  I was excited to pretend that I was viewing potential acquisitions and not merely stopping in to escape the blustery wind that day.

Chewing gum as art

Sometimes it can be a bit intimidating heading into a commercial gallery knowing you will not and probably not ever buy a piece from them. But I say, get over that fear, you will see some amazing pieces. On this day I saw several Andy Warhol's, Salvador Dali's and a Tracey Emin. The art history student in me was giddy. 

Dale Chihuly: Beyond the Object

Have you ever visited the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A as it's affectionately known) in London? Did you go into the rotunda and were stopped dead in your tracks by a gianormous glass chandelier? The vibrant colours and shear size of the piece always demands your attention, even if just for a moment.  

When I heard Dale Chihuly, the American artist who created that V&A piece and has spent his career using the glass-blown technique on a large scale for his assemblages and installations, was being displayed at the commercial gallery the Halcyon Gallery I knew where I'd be spending a few hours one afternoon.

As a child, and even still, I was fascinated with this art technique and today often toy with the idea of taking lessons in glassblowing. 

I just loved photographing these pieces, the gallery had done a great job at lighting each piece so the colours and the glass could really pop.
The exhibition is free to visit and all the pieces are for sale if you have a spare £200,000 or so.

Halcyon Gallery

144-146 New Bond Street

London

W1S 2PF

Opening Hours

Monday-Saturday 10am-6pm

Sunday 11am-5pm