06 Apr 2015

Transcending Boundaries at Lacey Contemporary Gallery

Lacey Contemporary Gallery are proud to be showcasing the work of 35 West African artists in 'Transcending Boundaries 2015' between 24 April to 11 May 2015. An exhibition program conceived in collaboration with Aabru Art.

For the 3rd consecutive year 'Transcending Boundaries' will showcase some of the best Modern and Contemporary Art from West Africa, and this year Lacey Contemporary Gallery is proud to be partnering with Aabru Art on the exhibition program. The return of Transcending Boundaries highlights the growing importance of contemporary African Art in a year when La Biennale di Venezia is curated by its first African Director - Nigerian Okwui Enwezor. Exhibitions such as last year's Pangea: New Art from Africa and Latin America at the Saatchi Gallery have raised the profile of African art, which Aabru Art has been championing for the past 3 years with Transcending Boundaries.

The Transcending Boundaries exhibition at Lacey Contemporary - a new Holland Park gallery supporting artists from emerging contemporary markets - will run from 24 April to 11 May (after a preview at Asia House). As well as offering collectors the chance to admire and invest in paintings and sculptures in media as diverse as oil on canvas, wood and metal, the exhibition program will include a host of events to support the exhibition.

As part of the exhibition program, Lacey Contemporary will host; an artist's talk (25 April); a charity event for 'Safe Child Africa' (8 May); and a fashion show (9 May) with emerging African designers. These events will highlight the thriving cultural life of Africa.

Visitors to the exhibition at Lacey Contemporary will be able to see Modern and Contemporary West African artworks by well known Masters in their region, that have never been exhibited in the UK before, such as Kehinde Sanwo's oil painting Tribal Influence (2015). This work is part of a series paying homage to Pablo Picasso, which illustrates the influence of African Tribal art on Picasso's career, and documents the enduring relationship between African and European art embodied by his iconic 1907 painting Les Demoiselles d'Avignon. Transcending Boundaries is a metaphor for artists moving into previously unexplored frontiers in the fields of art, systems, culture, history and life.

Aabru Art founder Anshu Bahanda is co-curating an event at the 2015 Venice Biennale, which will include some of the artists exhibiting in Transcending Boundaries at Lacey Contemporary.

ABOUT LACEY CONTEMPORARY GALLERY:

Lacey Contemporary launched during the autumn 2014 in Clarendon Cross W11. Founded by Andrew Lacey, Lacey Contemporary represents UK-based contemporary artists, and supports artists from emerging contemporary markets.

Andrew Lacey is an art entrepreneur and businessman who, after years of meeting artists who had become disillusioned with high street commercial galleries, decided to harness his 17 years of business experience to provide a more complete service that would allow artists to focus on their own practice. Lacey explains, 'I decided to open a gallery that would remove the artists' business headache and allow them to focus on what they do best – create art!'

Drawing on his Bristol art scene upbringing, Lacey has developed an impeccable eye for new talent, which is reflected in Lacey Contemporary's focus on cutting-edge contemporary painters and sculptors. Gallery Manager Tessa Yee explains, 'Lacey Contemporary promotes a small stable of emerging British-based artists focusing on contemporary styles of painting and sculpture. All the artists have real craftsmanship that can be seen within their work. They bring back the beauty of painting, demonstrating that real painting is not a dead art, and that abstraction does not have to come at the expense of well-trained technique'.

Andrew Lacey explains his secondary specialism in the emerging art markets aims to maintain the same values of the gallery's own stable of artists, in terms of craftsmanship and a painterly style. By working with curators and dealers who can support and extend the gallery's reach into the emerging art markets, Lacey is able to provide a platform for these regions, and make the work accessible to the London Market, where there is now great interest and demand for it.

'Lacey Contemporary's ethos is based on ethical values and ensuring people are treated fairly and in a professional manner. When a connection was made with Aabru Art and the African Market, I was excited by the opportunity of helping 'champion' these artists, giving them an opportunity to receive the recognition they deserve, and that previously seemed out of reach.' commented Andrew Lacey.

Following this exciting three-week event, Lacey Contemporary will collaborate with JGM Art – run by director Jennifer Guerinni-Maraldi, an expert in contemporary Aboriginal Art from Australia. These two exhibitions represent the galleries desire to work with the emerging art markets in London and bring new and exciting work to the forefront, in juxtaposition with their British-based stable of artists.

Transcending Boundaries 2015 will feature new and unique artworks by 35 West African artists; Abiodun Olaku; Ade Ogundimu; Adebanji Alade; Alex Nwokolo; Abraham Uyovibisere; Ben Ibebe; Ben Osaghae; Bunmi Babatunde; Diseye Tantua; Duke Asidere; Ebenezer Akinola; Edosa Ogiugo; Emenike Ogwo; Fidelis Odogwu; Francis Uduh; Gab Awusa; Gbenga Offo; Gerry Nnubia; Joshua Nmesirionye; George Edozie; Juliet Ezenwa Maja-Pearce; Kehinde Sanwo; Kolade Oshinowo; Lekan Onabanjo; Nobert Okpu; Osagie Aimufia; Reuben Ugbine; Sam Ebohon; Sam Ovraiti; Segun Adejumo; Tayo Quaye; Tola Wewe; Toni Okujeni and Tunde Ogunlaiye.