Art14 London Launch Night

3rd March 2014
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Catherine Dwyer
Untitled 1 Art14 London Launch NightThe Culture Club: Artists, Collectors, Celebrities and Chefs Attend Art 14 London| Image: Art 14

On Thursday 27th February Art14 London opened the palatial doors of Olympia Grand for the VIP and Preview Launch night, commencing the 2nd edition of this global art fair. Thousands were in attendance to see the diverse works presented by 180 galleries from 40 different countries. Sponsored by Citi Private Bank, the touches of glamour and luxury prevailed throughout the evening, not least for VIP guests who were chauffeured by Rolls Royce and sipped on Ruinart champagne. As was to be expected, the crowd was peppered with artists, collectors, museum directors, London personalities and celebrities, all united through their love of art and all enhancing the excited buzz in the atmosphere.

Artists who attended:

Notable artists were out in full force, showing their support for the Capital’s global art fair and inevitably there to peruse the new techniques and artists being shown on an international platform for the first time. Included amongst these art figures was celebrity portraitist Jonathan Yeo, Sir Peter Blake, Yinka Shonibare and Ryan Gander. As well as artists and collectors, there was also a contingency of powerful tastemakers from the East and West who were examining the reinvention of cities globally through art as part of the Art & the City programme.

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Sir Roy Ackerman(left), Sir Peter Blake (right) Images: Courtesy Richard Young

 

Celebrities who attended:

No event, no matter how magnificent, is quite complete without the appearance of a few members of the glitterati. This year Art14 had the pleasure of welcoming Sol Campbell, Richard Bacon, Jamie Wood (nothing like a bit of rock n roll royalty), comedian Griff Rhys Jones, Dan Macmillan and Sir Roy Ackerman. Celebrity chefs Michel Roux Jr. and James Martin were also mingling in the throng.

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Richard Bacon (left), Sol Campbell (right) Images: Courtesy Richard Young

 

What they ate:

The perfect harmony of food and art is fully realised through the Food 4 Art programme at Art14 London. To kick things off Florence Knight, Head Chef of the newly re-opened Polpetto in West London, served Venetian-inspired cicheti at her pop-up ‘Mayfly’ restaurant; keeping guests sustained and beyond satisfied. The Food 4 Art Programme is curated by London Evening Standard’ Chief Food Critic, Fay Maschler, and will see three top London chefs with a daylong residence.  Rainer Becker, Jason Atherton and Richard Corrigan, will each inhabit their own pop-up restaurant over the remaining three days, from which they will serve their mouthwatering, signature-style food.

With a crowd worth rubbernecking for, food worth indulging in and art from across the globe worth pilgrimaging for, Art14 London is undeniably one of the hottest art events in town.

 

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Florence Knight Image: VictoriaBirkinshaw, James Martin Image: WrittenLight