Arts

Wilder Gallery Opens

Wilder Gallery is an independent art gallery championing emerging artists. They launched their website in December 2020 and opened their physical doors in April 2021 in Kensal Rise, London. Since launching during lockdown they have hosted online exhibitions on their website showcasing the works of exciting emerging artists and fundraising for charitable organizations such as The Trussell Trust, Cancer Research UK, Mind Charity and The Brain Tumour Charity. To date they have donated approximately £5,000. They have also exhibited an impressive list of sought after and exciting emerging artists including James Owens, Amy Beager, Olivia Sterling, Catherine Repko, Beth Rodway, Eleanor Watson, Sophie Vallance Cantor among many other fantastic talents.

Founded by Michelle Lee Medjeral-Thomas, an expert curator with over 10 years of industry experience, Wilder Gallery wants to put their own spin on the traditional gallery model. Wilder Gallery believes in transparency and accessibility. They want to make art accessible to all and encourage a new generation of conscientious collectors. As such, Wilder Gallery  supports collecting art with a conscience and a percentage of profits will continually be fed back into charitable and community projects that support social and environmental concerns.

All art within the gallery is accessible and affordable with pieces starting from £150. Each artwork in the gallery is eligible to buy with 10 interest free installments to try to breakdown the misconception that buying art can be an intimidating and expensive process and is reserved for the wealthy.  Wilder Gallery works with Own Art on this, which is a national initiative that makes buying contemporary art and craft affordable by providing interest-free loans for the purchase of original work. Own Art can be used to buy artworks priced between £100-2,500 and in some cases up to £25,000. By breaking down the price into 10 easy direct debit payments clients can buy the work they love in a more manageable way and support the next generation of talented emerging artists.  

Wilder Gallery takes a collaborative and open approach to both the artists they work with and the like minded curators and organisations that are invited to show in the gallery. Not only does this create a more exciting and dynamic exhibition program but also widens the opportunity for creativity and exposure.

The gallery is both child and dog friendly and wants to shed the stuffy image that can often be associated with the art world and its exclusivity.  Michelle says, “it’s important to me how the local community responds to the space, we have an open door policy and I would love everyone to feel welcome to come in and engage with the art”.

As a mother of three children it is important to me that the art world fits into my life. It is my passion and job, but I wanted to create a gallery that was welcoming and accessible. My children have grown up with me in galleries and feel at home in them but I appreciate galleries can often seem intimidating. The gallery is the perfect platform to showcase wonderful artists who I passionately believe in and I am grateful we can finally have our doors open!”

The exhibitions will run on a three week cycle in the physical space with more frequent online exhibitions running concurrently on their website. Again a break from the norm which means throughout the year the gallery will be able to host a wealth of artists.The current show is After Hours, a solo exhibition by acclaimed Greek artist Vasilis Avramidis and is on now until 5June 2021. He is a contemporary master of his craft, skillfully and delicately constructing imagined landscapes that live in between the genres of landscape and still life. Created between 2020-2021, Wilder Gallery presents a series of seven new oil paintings that are the culmination of an exploration and reintroduction of colour into Vasilis’ recent monochrome work but also bear witness to a playful approach to juxtaposition of form.

Online they are showing ‘Between Six & Seven’ new watercolor monotypes by Eleanor Watson with 30% of sales donated to The Brain Tumour Charity.

The next exhibition features new works by recent Royal College of Art graduates Catherine Repko and Anne Carney Raines. Online they will be showing works on paper by highly sought after artist, Amy Beager.

Photos Credit: Wilder Gallery Exhibition – Solo Exhibition by Vasilis Auramidis – After Hours. 12th May – 5th June 2021
© Demelza Lightfoot Photography

Address: Wilder Gallery, | 77 College Road, London NW10 5ES

Opening Hours: Wed- Fri 10am-3pm, Sat 11am-2pm or by appointment

Website: www.wilder.gallery

Social Media: @wilder.gallery