WHAT? Hoi Polloi
WHERE? The Brown Collection, 1 Bentinck Mews, London W1U 2AF
WHEN? Now until August. Free to view.
WHY GO? To satisfy curious minds. The building itself, a mews restoration, is as intriguing as the gallery’s eclectic collection of artworks curated by British artist Glenn Brown. Aptly named The Brown Collection, a four-storey mews within the stylish buzz of Marylebone is the brainchild of contemporary artist Brown whose own paintings are on show with those of artists from the sixteenth century to the present day and the whole museum/gallery is a treat to explore.
Satirically named, Hoi Polloi, Greek for ‘the people’, or ‘the many’, this extraordinary exhibition is indeed for many people of varying tastes.
There are works by Italian masters like Bernardo Strozzi, British abstract artists like Roger Hilton, conceptual talents like Gillian Wearing and, of course, Brown himself who is famed for being an ‘appropriation’ artist.
Each of the four floors is devoted to a theme which unites the diverse artists from different eras under headers like The Spiritual Human and The Ecstatic Mark, and the result is a weird and wonderful dynamic force of art to intrigue curious minds.
IN THE KNOW? Glenn Brown’s unique private gallery-cum-museum offers a whole lot more for culture lovers, from life drawing classes to lectures and exclusive film screenings.
Check the programme of accompanying events on The Brown Collection website; as with entrance to the gallery, many are free.