At Peace, Gillian Jason Gallery
Gillian Jason Gallery, 19 Great Titchfield Street, London
Curated by: Jade Foster
Artists: Alanis Forde, Miranda Forrester, Sahara Lounge, Cece Philips & Emma Prempeh
At Peace, At Last.
I almost missed this one. After finding out about this exhibition through Stylist Magazine, I had the date set to go in December, but it didn’t happen.
Just a few days before the exhibition ended, it came back on my radar. I went along on an early Tuesday morning, hoping the tube into Oxford Street would not be overly busy. It wasn't. I pretty much had an entire carriage all to myself. Result.
The Gillian Jason Gallery (GJG), which has just launched at this location, is a short walk from Oxford Street tube station. And what a beautiful space it is in. It’s quite elegant, which isn’t hard considering its location. On two levels, it’s spacious and intimate, with lots of natural light on the street level. It’s a perfect size, not too big and not too small.
GJG is the UK's first female and non-binary commercial gallery space. It is also a third-generation business with mother and daughter at the helm, continuing the mission of Gillian Jason, which started in 1982. Its mission is to amplify female and non-binary artists spanning three generations felt authentic, real and with deep intention to showcase specific artists and their work.
“The art world can’t remotely reflect the kind of equality society should be striving for until it includes artists of all colours and genders as equals rather than as additional considerations.” - Millie Jason Foster
“Art is both an expansive and a grounding force, and it’s fundamentally important at this time that people increasingly see the world from multiple perspectives.” Elli Jason Foster
The backstory of GJG is inspiring, as is their inaugural exhibition, At Peace - a re-imagination of how Black women and people have been regarded, positioned and historically excluded in Western traditions and paintings.
The curator, Jade Foster, selected the five UK Black artists exhibiting with the theme being that their creations were free from prejudice. And what a beautiful and stunning expression of love and freedom it was. To just exist and, importantly, to be seen.
The power and beauty this concept created felt affirming and freeing in showing that we exist, that we always have existed and that we are still here. Despite everything, we are still here. Although it was a reimagination of the past, it felt like it fast-forwarded into a more freeing vision of how the future could look, feel like, and what it could possibly be.
The intention of Jade Foster's curation of these particular artists was felt in each and every piece. With the artist all creating unique pieces that resonated with what this meant to them, it still managed to have the perfect blend of art that flowed seamlessly into each other. This magnified and illuminated each artist individually and all of them collectively.
Yukka x The Date x A Marriage Of Selves x She Likes The Smell Of Lavender x Walking Loud x De Speeltuin x Them x Ataraxis x Destination Wedding x Habitat x Healing x I See You, Do You See Me? Lovers x UpLate x Watermelon Woman
I was the only guest during the time and lucky enough to have my very own private tour. Shannyn, one of the gallery associates, kindly took me around, discussing each piece and the artists.
We started talking about the gallery's history and Gillian Jason’s legacy. Then we moved on to discussing amplifying Black art and artists, the art scene in her native Los Angeles, NFTs and the theme of At Peace. Yes, we spoke a lot, and at the end of our discussion, she added me to the email list so I could keep up to date with all the upcoming exhibitions. After my tour I went around three times to fully take in all the greatness on display.
Beaming off the white walls, the colours and figures pulled me deeper and deeper into each creation. The colours and details in each piece were just stunning and mesmerising. After an intense couple of years, it was great to escape into the minds of these five artists and their work, free from trauma and pain. It felt like Love was radiating out of each frame. Love of Black women and Black people and a Love of Self.
The colours didn’t seem real, and I got lost in the shades of the dreamiest bluest blues I had seen in a painting. There were full-scale oil paintings, paintings on PVC, gold leaf on canvas, a wedding destination and a pink power suit that I wanted in my closet.
Everything felt fragile and delicate and simultaneously so beautiful, bold and empowering. And I nearly missed this!! It was worth masking up and getting on the tube.
Although it was hard to have a favourite or favourites, I did. Those pieces had already been sold, as had most of them. Not that I was there to purchase, but it's nice to dream.
I was glad for the success of the artists and slightly envious of the new owners being able to experience a piece of this every day. Although this level of creativity and artistic expression has always existed, it is great to see more representation, opportunities and inclusion within gallery spaces.
This may have been just one exhibition, but the future doesn't create itself. We have to have a vision of a world we have not seen or experienced before, with art being one of the catalysts to get us there. With this being the first exhibition from GJG’s new location, exciting times and the increased amplification of female and non-binary artists are ahead. What a perfect start to 2022.
Here is a photo and video experience, so you don't miss out. Also, scroll down for the price list.
Gillian Jason Gallery
19 Great Titchfield St
London W1W 8AZ