Haunch of Venison

Lunchtime and again I’m visiting a posh art gallery. After all, they grow like mushrooms around Mayfair. This one is co-​owned by Sothebys … does that make a change to the impression of it? Not really. As many other contemporary galleries it doesn’t look much from the outside. The writing advertising the exhibition is rather small (I would be pissed off if I were the artist) and from just looking into the window one wouldn’t really know what to make of it. Could be a posh bookshop, as it has a lot of catalogues near the window? It could also be a dentist, or a very posh hairdresser … no clear signage… and a few nice looking girls behind the counter.
Anyway I wanted to see a particular display so I just waltzed in, gave the gallery assistants behind the counter a nice smiled and asked if photos were allowed … yes, but without flash. Great for me, as my phone doesn’t have a flash anyway. The exhibition space starts behind reception and goes deep into the building. It has nice wooden flooring and tries to trap some light with a few skylights. There is also another room one floor up, which has amazing light because the whole ceiling is basically a skylight. The basement holds a bookshop.
All in all a nice little gallery, but nothing outstanding.

One of my favourite galleries. H of V is located behind the Royal Academy and personally is better than the RA. It’s not as pretentious as the RA and there are less old posh people sipping tea! There’s always a large variety of contemporary artists both well known and not so. The shop, well stocked with cutting edge art literature, is a good place to visit if interested in finding the latest up and coming artist. A larger than expected gallery space with traditional architecture. This gallery really is a must see. Another free gallery! (well sometimes)

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Polly Morgan «Phychopomps», at Haunch of Venison Gallery 6 Burlington Gardens.
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Joana Vasconcelos «I Will Survive» at Haunch of Venison Gallery 6 Burlington Gardens.

The Haunch of Venison is an interesting gallery, well placed in the centre of London just round the back of Picaddilly by Saville Row and Cork Street.
A lovely big and spacious exhibition venue, having moved here in March 09 from its original location at ‘Haunch of Venison Yard’ off Bond Street — hence the name.
The imposing building used to be the location of the Museum of Mankind (
) .
An air of controversy surrounds the gallery after its takeover by Christies in 2007, which created a conflict between the primary and secondary art markets.
The gallery represents a stable of successful contemporary artists and is currently showing work of Stuart Haygarth.
Also, interestingly, the Royal Academy is hosting an exhibition here, ‘Earth: Art of a changing world’ — a fascinating collection of new and recent work from more than 30 leading international contemporary artists. (This is not free, but Haunch of Venison galleries are free.)
The RA exhibition includes Tracey Emin and her ‘I Loved you like the sky, 2009′ — that odd embroidered calico thing, Cornelia Parker’s spooky Floridian forest and Anthony Gormleys terracotta army spilling out of one one of the rooms with all those little eyes looking up at you — chilly.
Recommended.

Located off Bond Street in London’s West End, the Haunch of Venison represents hugely successful artists and has branches in New York, Berlin and Zurich as well as in London.
I have seen some truly memorable shows here, which you would undoubtedly expect from such a prestigious gallery with an annual turnover of £50 million. Keith Tyson’s show in early 2007 was a ten year survey exhibition of his studio wall drawings, a series which recorded his thought patterns and working process. These were spread over the galleries three floors, and made good use of the huge rooms.
It’s location makes it a popular choice among gallery goers, and it’s a gallery that should be high on your list if you’re spending a day wandering the West End art exhibitions.

The Haunch of Venison is one of my favourite art galleries in London. Located just of Bond Street, down a little yard called Haunch of Venison Yard of course.
I have seen some fantastic shows here, the latest one I have seen was Mat Collishaw’s show earlier this year. His fantastic creation zoetrope, a cylindrical device that produces the illusion of action from a rapid succession of static images. Entitled ‘Throbbing Gristle’, the sculpture features one hundred and eighty mythological figures in various stages of motion. As the zoetrope begins to spin, the forms of the figurines blur, before becoming animated by a strobe light which transforms them into coherent, moving characters.

It sounds like a restaurant or a hipster clothing store in Shoreditch but it’s not. Haunch of Venison is a contemporary art gallery located down a alley of the same name off New Bond Street. This 3 story mega gallery represents some outstanding artists. Every exhibition I have seen at Haunch of Venison has been out of sight. Memorable artists include Rachel Howard, Keith Tyson, Gajin Fujita, and Zhang Huan. It’s a gallery which any artist dreams of showing in. So, I continue to dream and visit as a gallery-​goer.

Part of mission of being of a newly arrived art-​lover in London, is to of course seek out every happening gallery in the city Haunch of Venison being another ‘find’. Tucked away in a small cul-​de-​sac just off Brook St (parallel to Oxford St), it provides art with a welcome ‘edge’ in comparison with the hordes of more traditional art dealerships and galleries in the area.
Also, with three floors, the space is disarmingly big. When I was there, I saw new paintings by Rachel Howard. Her work was disturbing, yet quite uneasily beautiful. In particular, her huge abstract, paint-​dripping Suicide canvases on the second floor were really spectacular in this space. Check out the gallery’s website: