The Saatchi Gallery
The Saatchi Gallery is a London [gallery]? for [contemporary art]?, opened by [Charles Saatchi]? in 1985 in order to show his sizeable (and changing) collection to the public. It has occupied different premises, first in North London, then the South Bank by the River Thames and Chelsea (opening to the public in 2007). Saatchi's collection, and hence the gallery's shows, have had distinct phases, starting with US artists and minimalism, moving on to the [Damien Hirst]?-led [Young British Artists]? and more recently promoting shows purely of painting.
The gallery has been a major – if not the major – influence on art in Britain since its opening. It has also had a history of media controversy, which it has courted, and has had extremes of critical reaction. Many artists shown at the gallery are unknown not only to the general public but also to the commercial art world: showing at the gallery has provided a springboard to launch careers.
External links
- The Saatchi Gallery
- Pictures of the gallery at County Hall and highlights of the collection there
- BBC report on the move to the new Chelsea location
- BBC story on the court case between the gallery and its landlords.
- BBC story on warehouse fire
- The Stuckists' criticisms
Books
- Sarah Kent, "Shark Infested Waters: The Saatchi Collection of British Art in the 90s", Philip Wilson Publishers Ltd, 2003, ISBN 0856675849
- Rita Hatton and John A. Walker, "Supercollector, a Critique of Charles Saatchi", The Institute of Artology, 3rd edition 2005, paperback, ISBN 0954570227