Gallery exhibiting diverse artists opens to shake up London’s art scene

On a busy street in London’s affluent Fitzrovia district, a new gallery has taken on the challenge of representing underrepresented people. From Venezuela to Nigeria, Tanzania to Colchester, talented artists from around the world see their works on display in Hope 93, which opened this month.

“I like underdogs,” said Aki Abiola, a former banker and art enthusiast behind Hope 93. “I wanted to create a place where people can feel like they belong.”

The idea for the gallery came after Abiola spent five years on the Tate acquisitions committee, where he advised the group on which underrepresented African artists to exhibit.

“I really didn’t like the lack of inclusiveness in the art world,” he said. “I wanted to do something different – ​​with people from all walks of life. »

Hope 93’s first group exhibition brings together the work of 12 diverse artists. There are monochrome portraits of black women created by the self-taught Tanzanian painter Sungi Mlengeya. Nearby, honey-toned Yoruba figures emerge from Renaissance-inspired foliage in Celestial bodies by Tunji Adeniyi-Jones, whose work represented Nigeria at this year’s Venice Biennale.

Nearby hangs a figurative oil painting by Emily Gillbanks, 25, from Colchester, who was the youngest person to complete her master’s degree at the Royal College of Art in London. “I’m sure she will have her first solo exhibition soon,” Abioa added.

“It’s not a charity,” he added. “You see the talent hanging on the walls. In general, I tend to deal with female or minority artists.

At the back of the gallery’s entry room hang 48 thick white flowers painted on a rainbow of backgrounds by Haitian-American artist Guy Stanley Philoche, on sale for $1,000 each. “It’s a beautiful message behind his work (Give us our flowers) to show appreciation, to give flowers to people, while they are still alive,” Abiola said.

He added of cost: “Fine art is expensive. So I wanted to have affordable prices. We also have paints which cost £350.

Price aside, entering art galleries can seem scary. “If you don’t have a pedigree, it’s intimidating. I always feel nervous walking into these spaces,” Abiola said in the gallery lounge featuring a sofa, record player and other flower-adorned works by Philoche. “I want Hope 93 to be known for having amazing art on the walls and also for having a lot of fun. Miscellaneous. Open. I want people to sit down and ask questions without feeling embarrassed.

The basement of Hope 93 is entirely dedicated to Brian De Jesus’ first solo exhibition, filled with large abstract oil paintings inspired by Venezuelan party music and covered in concrete. “Brian, by his own admission, is from the ‘ghettos of Venezuela,’” Abiola said. “No one had ever shown his work before and he has this incredible work ethic where he wakes up, paints until the afternoon, then hops on a delivery bike to Deliveroo for the rest of the day . Discipline. And look at this body of work.

When Abiola entered De Jesus’ studio and asked what was available, the painter burst out laughing. “He said, ‘Aki, everything is available,’” the gallery owner recalls. “No one has ever bought my work. »

As Hope 93 opened its doors to the public, Abiola accidentally invited about 400 people to the launch party. In the basement, there was a DJ booth, dozens of pairs of raver sunglasses, and a fully stocked bar designed by De Jesus, ready and waiting. As with the artists on the walls, everyone was invited.

“I want people to visit and come back,” Abiola said of his aspirations for Hope 93. “Art is very personal. There are no right or wrong answers. But what I want people to take away from here is that art is for them. »