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‘Tiffin’ 12-2pm for Reclining Drunk by Gilbert & George at Nigel Greenwood Inc Ltd, July 17, 1973.
Photograph courtesy of © The Nigel Greenwood Gallery Archive, Tate Archive, London.
Keith (Milow), Marcel (Broodthaers), ring Rita Donagh, ring Jasia Reichardt, 3.30pm Jack Wendler, leave key for Rudolf (Zwirner), 8pm reception for Miriam and Barry (bring swim suit)’
‘In the early 1970s the number of galleries in London committed to showing international developments in contemporary art, and especially European art, could be counted on the fingers of one hand. Nigel Greenwood Inc Ltd was one of the four. The gallery of Nigel Greenwood played a crucial part in introducing the work of emerging artists to the then small audience for contemporary art in London.’
Nicholas Serota
‘Nigel was without a doubt the most interesting and perceptive gallery in London — it was a time when other interesting galleries were in fact franchise spaces for New York galleries. As a painter himself Nigel loved painting, and didn't reject it completely, yet accepted art that was searching, conceptual, personal etc. He was, at a time when it was not easy, one of the greats. Nigel Greenwood Inc Ltd was also the only progressive gallery close to the art schools like Chelsea and the Royal College. The best students were frequent visitors. It was part of their education.’
Joel Fisher
Over two decades, Nigel Greenwood Inc Ltd presented an extraordinary group of artists including Bernd and Hilla Becher, Bill Beckley, Marcel Broodthaers, Marc Camille Chaimowicz, Rita Donagh, Gilbert & George, Richard Hamilton, Alan Johnston, David Lamelas, Christopher Le Brun, Keith Milow, Bruce Nauman, Ed Ruscha, John Stezaker, David Tremlett, Richard Tuttle and John Walker.
From 1972 to 1985, Greenwood ran the gallery from 41 Sloane Gardens, London, where he also lived. Visitors would encounter ground-breaking shows and enthusiastic conversation about the ‘now’ art on display. The exhibition will explore the special atmosphere of 41 Sloane Gardens, as a public exhibition space and home for Greenwood and an intimate, international group of visiting artists, friends and colleagues. Joel Fisher will be collaborating with students from the Chelsea MA Curating and Collections course to re-create his large-scale Apograph wall drawing (1973) and Marc Camille Chaimowicz has been invited to revisit his 1979 exhibition, Screens, incorporating original public/private domestic artifacts from the gallery and home.
The exhibition will include material from the Nigel Greenwood Inc Ltd archive which has never been displayed before in public. Works and documentation will revisit landmark shows and publications by Bernd and Hilla Becher, Rita Donagh, Gilbert and George, David Lamelas, Ed Ruscha, John Stezaker, David Tremlett and the influential group exhibition, The Book as Artwork (1972).
A publication edited by Phoebe Greenwood, including original contributions from Gilbert & George, Lynda Morris, Richard Cork, Ed Ruscha and Kynaston McShine will accompany the exhibition.
Nigel Greenwood (1941-2004) was a gallerist and curator influential in the development of British art during the 1970s and 1980s. An early promoter of Conceptual art, he presented Gilbert & George's Underneath the arches and the first UK exhibition of Ed Ruscha's artists' books at his gallery at Glebe Place, Chelsea (1969-1971). After moving to a new location at Sloane Gardens (1971-1985) and then New Burlington Street (1985-1992) he continued to introduce new British and international artists, including Keith Milow, David Tremlett, Rita Donagh, David Lamelas, John Stezaker and Marcel Broodthaers. He played an important role in artist books’, opening the influential Nigel Greenwood Inc Ltd book shop in 1971 and publishing artists' books in relatively large editions (ca. 1,000) to accompany exhibitions, rather than catalogues, He presented the seminal exhibition Book as Artwork in 1972. He curated the Hayward Gallery Annual Exhibition in 1985.
Nigel Greenwood Inc Ltd: running a Picture Gallery has been organized with Phoebe Greenwood and the Nigel Greenwood Art Prize. The Nigel Greenwood Art Prize is a new annual residency prize that supports independent-minded artists of all ages and gives them funds and a studio to complete work at pivotal moments in their careers.
www.nigelgreenwoodprize.com
The winner of the Nigel Greenwood Art Prize 2016 will be announced on Tuesday 21 June at CHELSEA space, 6-8pm. All welcome.
Special thanks to Gilbert & George, Joel Fisher, Marc Camille Chaimowicz, Cabinet Gallery and Tate Archive
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Publication
As with each exhibition at CHELSEA space, a new illustrated publication will accompany the show.
Press Information
For further information, images or to discuss interviews please contact:
Karen Di Franco or Cherie Silver at CHELSEA space via email info@chelseaspace.org or tel: 020 7514 6983
Notes to Editors
• Images and further information are available upon request
• About: CHELSEA space is a public exhibiting space, sited on the Millbank campus of Chelsea College of Arts, where invited art and design professionals are encouraged to work on experimental curatorial projects. See: www.chelseaspace.org
• In copy please refer to CHELSEA space and not ‘The Chelsea space.’
• Gallery opening times: Wednesday-Friday 11am-5pm and by appointment.
• Private view: Tuesday 7 June, 6:00-8:30pm
• Admission: FREE
Chelsea College of Arts is one of the world’s leading art and design institutions. Located at Millbank, next door to Tate Britain, Chelsea specialises in Fine Art, Graphic Design and Interior and Textiles Design. Since its origins in the 19th century, the College has produced many of the greatest names in the arts, including: Quentin Blake (illustrator and author) Ralph Fiennes (film and stage actor), AnishKapoor (sculptor), Steve McQueen, (artist), Chris Ofili (artist), Alan Rickman (film and stage actor), Alexei Sayle (comedian) and Gavin Turk (sculptor).
Operating at the heart of the world’s creative capital, University of the Arts London is a vibrant international centre for innovative teaching and research in arts, design, fashion, communication and the performing arts. The University is made up of six Colleges: Camberwell College of Arts, Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design, Chelsea College of Art and Design, London College of Communication, London College of Fashion and Wimbledon College of Art. Renowned names in the cultural and creative sectors produced by the University include 12 Turner prize winners and over half of all nominees, 10 out of 17 fashion designers named British Designer of the Year, more than half of the designers showcased in London Fashion Week and 12 out of 30 winners of the Jerwood Photography Award.
