255-year-old gallery Colnaghi is relocating from its current premises on Old Bond Street to open a larger gallery at 26 Bury Street.
At the new gallery, Colnaghi will present international Old Master paintings, sculptures and drawings, with the company’s celebrated and treasured library sitting at the heart of the building. The new space will comprise of several exhibition areas and will have a window onto Bury Street at ground level.
Colnaghi will continue at its current premises on Old Bond Street until it moves to Bury Street during the first half of 2016.
“In its long history, the gallery has decided to move several times to places which better suited its purpose”, says Konrad Bernheimer, Chairman of Colnaghi. “St James’s sits at the heart of the London art market, and The Crown Estate, the major real estate owner in the area, has been extremely supportive of this, with initiatives such as London Art Week. We are very grateful that they offered us these magnificent premises on Bury Street. The increased size of the gallery and its bespoke design will allow us to have several exhibition spaces and will offer us far greater versatility in presenting a wider range of artworks. I am also delighted that for the first time in many years Colnaghi will have a large window at street level, which I’m sure will attract even more visitors to the gallery.
“As Colnaghi enters a historic new chapter and returns to St James’s 100 years after moving from Pall Mall to Mayfair, I am looking forward to maintaining Colnaghi’s pre-eminent position in the art world and to inspiring future generations of collectors from a magnificent new gallery in St James’s.
I am also committed to contributing to the success of St James’s as the premier destination in London for art lovers from around the world.”
Anthea Harries, St James’s Portfolio Manager at The Crown Estate said: “Colnaghi is a true specialist in its field so we’re delighted that they have chosen the new accommodation we’re creating at 26 Bury Street for the latest iteration of this world renowned gallery. The new gallery will be a wonderful attraction for the area.”
With a portfolio of over 4 million ft2 of commercial and residential accommodation, Crown Estate is the largest property owner in St James’s. The business is in the process of delivering a £500 million investment in the portfolio over 10 years, upgrading the accommodation within the historic buildings they own to meet the requirements of 21st century occupiers. As part of this strategy, they are focused on maintaining the area’s position as a premier destination for fine art and antiques, which are important parts of St James’s heritage.
St James’s is home to a selection of notable galleries and art dealerships including Agnew’s, Bernard Jacobsen, Christie’s, Johnny van Haeften, Fabrizio Moretti, Stoppenbach & Delestre, Rupert Wace and White Cube.
The refurbishment of 26 Bury Street, due to complete later this year, will provide six floors of office space, covering over 10,300 ft2. A new residential development, fronting St James’s street, complements the scheme.