Paul Evans A sculpted front sideboard, 1969L acquered and gilt steel, wood and slate6 Courtesy of Sebastian + Barquet
Sebastian + Barquet, London’s First Modernist Design Gallery to Open in October 2008
www.sebastianbarquetlondon.com
Opening Exhibition: New Hope, 8 October – 15 November 2008
The gallery will open with New Hope, an exhibition of American Modernist design. Sebastian + Barquet London will specialise in 1940s – 1960s international Modernist design, of museum quality, presented through acoherent programme of curated exhibitions.
The gallery will mount five shows per year and the first year’s programme will include exhibitions of work by Isamu Noguchi and Jean Prouvé. Sebastian + Barquet London will be situated in the heart of Mayfair, atthe centre of London’s art market, and will offer 66 square metres of exhibition space,as well as offices and a private viewing room. New Hope, Sebastian + Barquet London’s inaugural show will be conceived by award winning architect Eric Parry. The exhibition will feature seminal and classic works by George Nakashima, Paul Evans, Philip Lloyd Powell and Wendell Castle.
Around fifteen works in the show will include Powell’s sleek curved walnut coffee table and Evans’ intricately sculpted sideboards, crafted from slate, wood and steel. The title of the show, New Hope, references an area of Pennsylvania, where many of the American Modernist designers lived and worked. Of the opening, Helene Murphy, Director of Sebastian + Barquet London said: “The gallery will present design masterpieces; works of art in the form of furniture.
There is a growing international trend for collecting Modernist design. We’re bringing Sebastian + Barquet to London, to give the London based collectors and interior designers access to the very best museum quality works. More and more people are starting to collect design like they collect art.” The inspiration for Sebastian + Barquet is Ramis Barquet, founder of Sebastian + Barquet, New York. In addition to launching as a gallery Sebastian + Barquet London will participate in the key international design fairs, including DesignArt London, takingplace in Berkeley Square from 15 to 19 October 2008.
