For the first time in Art Miami‘s history, the Maddox Gallery will be showcasing Banksy canvases including many original works. Creative director of the Maddox Gallery, Jay Rutland, talked to GRAZIA about the process of acquiring the Banksy pieces for the Art Miami show, as well as what the gallery has planned for upcoming shows post-Art Miami.
How did the Banksy exhibit come about for Art Miami?
Jay Rutland: “Street Art is a category of contemporary art that can be challenging for many galleries, especially where artist anonymity and provenance are involved. At Maddox, however, we are specialists in this area and work closely with Pest Control – Banksy’s official authentication body. Their guidance, combined with our level of expertise, has allowed us to become a trusted seller of Banksy works and has opened the doors to some incredibly rare and unique pieces, many of which we’re delighted to be bringing to Art Miami this year”.
What pieces are you most excited about?
Jay Rutland: “We’re returning to Art Miami with one of the strongest bodies of works we’ve ever showcased, so I’m incredibly excited about all of them. If I had to pinpoint a couple of works, I’m naturally curious to see the reaction to and performance of the Banksy works, especially Girl With Balloon and Keep It Real, as these are both very rare pieces. Street artists like Invader and STIK are also becoming increasingly sought-after in the contemporary art market, so I believe these will perform well.
We have a longstanding relationship with globally renowned photographer, David Yarrow, and were delighted to unveil his most recent creation ‘Catwalk’ in London during his current exhibition with us. We’ll be the only gallery bringing this work to Art Miami and are contributing a percentage of the proceeds to the Kevin Richardson Foundation – a charity that is committed to the conservation and preservation of the lion community – so we’re excited to see how this image performs. It’s truly a stunning shot”.
What other exhibits can guests expect at the studio post-Basel?
Jay Rutland: “In 2022 we’ll be doing some big thematic group shows, including one on the genre of Street Art, and introducing some of the emerging American artists on our roster to a European audience, such as the works of Dawn Okoro, Lefty Out There and Cooper. They’re all such talented artists and we know the reaction to their work in London will be phenomenal”.
Any other news/plans to share?
Jay Rutland: “In addition to growing our artist roster in 2022 and introducing more emerging artists, we’re also delighted to be opening a new gallery in Beverly Hills on North Canon Drive, and it’s a significant space. We’re not able to say too much on this just yet, but we have some exciting and creative plans for how we will celebrate our artists within the space”.
