Our guest post this week is by Joanna Payne, Founder & Director of the network for women who work in the arts, Marguerite. Marguerite curates over 30, one of a kind events every year - from a studio visit with artist Polly Morgan to a Halloween Party inspired by designer Charlotte Olympia at Ennismore Sessions House.
Photo Credit: Dunja Opalko, taken at Mortimer House
I cut my teeth working in the VIP Department at Frieze Art Fair so Frieze Week is my absolute highlight of the art world calendar! Frieze London and Frieze Masters take place on 4-7th October and allow you to explore six thousand years of art in one trip to Regent’s Park!
1. Frieze London and Frieze Masters, Regent’s Park
frieze.com 4-7th October
I can’t wait to see Social Work: A new section at Frieze London dedicated to women who challenged the status quo and explored the possibilities of political activism in their art making in the 80s and 90s. The fair’s Artistic Director, Jo Stella Sawicka has described the section as ‘a response to the hard fact that women are still under-represented in every part of the art world’ - cheers to shining a spotlight on that!
2. A Kind of Solid Liquid by Jo Dennis at Sid Motion Gallery, King’s Cross
sidmotiongallery.co.uk Thursday - Saturday, 12 - 6pm and Sundays by appointment
Sid is one of my best friends and we started our companies at the same time so it’s been amazing seeing her go from strength to strength! Not only that, but both she and Jo Dennis are Marguerite members so this show will surely be an absolute corker! Jo’s practice centres around abandoned places and is made up of a mixture of photography, painting and found objects. The photographs used in this, her most recent, series are detailed photographs of the walls discovered in a derelict swimming pool in South London.
3. In The Company Of, curated by Katy Hessel of @thegreatwomenartists at TJ Boulting, Fitzrovia
tjboulting.com 5-17 October
In The Company Of will showcase three historic female artists: Barbara Hepworth, Lee Miller, and Alice Neel, alongside twelve dynamic contemporary female artists including, Juno Calypso and Maisie Cousins, who indirectly reference the former. The exhibition aims to highlight the legacy of Hepworth, Miller, and Neel and how the impact of their work still resonates with artists working today. Marguerite will be hosting an event with photographer, Maisie Cousins and Curator, Katy Hessel titled ‘Ants & Appetisers’ on Wednesday 10 October where Maisie will be serving up 'surrealist drinks and canapés'!
4. Partnership Editions x Mortimer House Present: Life Drawing with Venetia Berry, Fitzrovia
partnershipeditions.com Sunday 7 October, 12pm and 3pm
Mortimer House is the home of Marguerite and what better way to visit our manor than with a spot of lady-life drawing with our friends at Partnership Editions? On Sunday 7 October, to coincide with Frieze London, Partnership Editions have teamed up with Mortimer House to co-host a series of lively Life Drawing Workshops led by artist Venetia Berry which celebrates the female form. Watch out for details of a Marguerite x Partnership Editions supper club taking place as part of our upcoming Winter programme!
5. Strange Days: Memories of the Future: The Store x New Museum in collaboration with The Vinyl Factory at 180 The Strand, Aldwych
thevinylfactory.com 2 October - 9 December
The Store at 180 The Strand hosted the official launch of Marguerite back in November 2016 so it will always have a special place in my heart! This Winter, The Store X The Vinyl Factory is collaborating with New York's New Museum on a show that will explore the work of radical video artists and filmmakers. Strange Days: Memories of the Future will showcase some of the most important work exhibited at New Museum since it opened ten years ago. Many of the works, including those by Wu Tsang, Kahlil Joseph, Camille Henrot and Pipilotti Rist, are excitingly being shown in the UK for the first time! I always love the shows commissioned by The Store X The Vinyl Factory so have high hopes for this one.
Join other savvy and influential woman and give this utterly fantastic experience to a best friend or go together (even better) and join a unique Marguerite event around the capital. With 30 events each year there are lots of choose from!
