London will welcome a new addition to its diverse and vibrant gallery scene with the launch of Tyburn Gallery in Marylebone this September. Founded by Emma Menell, a qualified barrister and former editor of the South African Journal of Human Rights, the Gallery will exhibit, represent, and champion established artists and younger talents from a global range of evolving art scenes, with Africa as a point of departure.Menell explained: “Tyburn Gallery is at the forefront of African and international contemporary art. Our initial focus is on the African continent because that is where our heritage lies, but we are engaged in a dialogue with other dynamic and emerging art scenes. Our aim is to exhibit great and innovative artists across all media from around the world and promote their work nationally and internationally.”Tyburn Gallery will launch on September 18 with an international group show titled “Broken English.” Curated by Kim Stern, the gallery’s curatorial adviser, the exhibition investigates “the categorisation of cultural identities in an increasingly globalised world” through the work of a diverse group of international artists including Athi Patra-Ruga, Mohau Modisakeng, Edson Chagas, and Joël Andrianomearisoa.Click the slideshow to see a selection of works from “Broken English”To find out more about Tyburn Gallery, BLOUIN ARTINFO got in touch with Emma Menell and asked her a few questions.Could you explain the motivation and inspiration behind the decision to launch Tyburn Gallery?There are so many talented artists in Africa at the moment who I believe need a strong international platform in order to gain the recognition they deserve. I grew up in South Africa and I have been passionate about art all of my life. My own experience of artists in Africa led to my wanting to help promote a deeper, critical understanding of these artists’ work internationally.What will differentiate Tyburn Gallery from all the other commercial galleries in London?I believe our focus on young and established artists from emerging countries is unusual in London. As London is the centre of the international contemporary art world, it is the perfect place for us to showcase talented artists who have their roots in the African continent.Who is behind the establishment of Tyburn Gallery and what are their backgrounds?I founded the gallery and although I have long been passionate about art, my professional experience is in law. I gained a Doctorate in International Relations from Oxford University and then worked as a barrister as well as being the editor of the South African Journal of Human Rights. My love of art has brought me into contact with a wide range of artists and collectors in Africa, and my own art collection includes works by William Kentridge, Guy Tillim, Robert Hodgins, Moffat Takadiwa, and other younger South African artists.Kim Stern, our Curatorial Advisor, is curator in residence at the ISCP (New York), consultant to the Global Africa Project at the Museum of Arts and Design (New York), and consultant to Saatchi Gallery (London) for their look into the South African market.Alessandra Olivi is the Director of the gallery. She was formerly the Art Editor of Piacere Magazine, and she helped launch Il Giardino dei Lauri, the arts organisation founded by Massimo and Angela Lauro.Most recently she was at Maureen Paley where she worked with artists Wolfgang Tillmans, Gillian Wearing and Rebecca Warren among others.How have you approached the exhibition program and what exhibitions do you have planned?Tyburn Gallery will open with an international group show called “Broken English” which includes artists such as Athi Patra-Ruga, Mohau Modisakeng, Edson Chagas and Joël Andrianomearisoa.After the group show, our exhibition programme will focus on a series of solo shows by our represented artists in line with our vision of showing established artists from emerging art scenes. Our first few solo exhibitions are by the artists Moffat Takadiwa, Michele Mathison, Mouna Karray and Bridget Baker.What are the aims and goals of Tyburn Gallery looking into the future?Our future aim is to exhibit talented and innovative artists working across all media, and promote their work nationally and internationally. At the moment Tyburn gallery is working primarily with artists who are from Africa, because we feel that this is where our area of expertise lies. As the gallery organically grows and expands in the future, this focus may evolve.
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