TA London - Turkish Art Week

Our Venue

TA London will exhibit in London’s Saatchi Gallery, an iconic corner stone of the UK’s art scene since Charles Saatchi opened its doors in 1985 to showcase his vast art collection.

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History

TA London will exhibit in London’s Saatchi Gallery, an iconic corner stone of the UK’s art scene since Charles Saatchi opened its doors in 1985 to showcase his vast art collection. At first, the collection was exhibited in an old paint factory and favoured American Pop art. However, London’s young, renegade art students entranced Saatchi and he expanded the gallery to give these cutting edge artists a platform. Those fledgling artists are now ‘Britart’ icons such as Damian Hirst and Tracey Emin. Today the gallery attracts more than a million visitors every year

Architecture

In 2009 the gallery moved to the heritage listed Duke of York’s HQ in Chelsea. Architect John Sanders is best known for the famous Royal Military College at Sandhurst but the Duke of York HQ was his first work. Originally designed in 1801 to house orphan children of “the Regular Army”, it became the Duke of York’s Barracks in 1909. During WWII the Barracks held trials for high treason spies before finally housing Charles Saatchi’s extensive collection and evolving into a centre for the latest in contemporary art.

Location

The UK has cherished the Arts for centuries and is home to some of the world’s oldest and most prestigious museums and art schools. It’s the drive for innovation while respecting tradition that has set British art history apart, in particular London. The capital’s reputation as a world leading art centre that is diverse and dynamic is well deserved. Enthusiasts flock every year to gaze at old masters, wonder at the latest art movements and seek out the city’s energetic street art scene. Its multicultural population and lively student art community drive London’s reputation for tolerance, diversity and innovation.

The Saatchi Gallery is located in Chelsea, an area long devoted to art. Chelsea was home to the pre Raphaelite Brotherhood, the bad boys of Victorian art who challenged the status quo and created a new movement. Hundreds of artists flocked to Chelsea where it’s counter culture mood hit a high in the swinging sixties. It was a vibe everyone wanted in on and, inevitably, the artists’ “starving garrets” became hot property and they were priced out. However, the area’s artistic and stylish reputation attracted many high-end galleries and collectors and so Chelsea remains a vital artistic hub today.

Did you know the name Saatchi is Turkish and translates as watchmaker?

Directions

Saatchi Gallery, Duke of York’s HQ, King’s Rd, London SW3 4RY
The Gallery is a 4-minute walk from Sloane Square Tube Station (District and Circle lines) or a 10-minute walk from Victoria (Victoria, District & Circle lines).