A huge pink and orange abstract, minimalist painting by Ham Darroch greets you when you first walk into new art gallery Meakin + Parsons on North Parade.
It sits in pride of place in the huge whitewashed space surrounded by equally spectacular contemporary and modern art, all part of the opening exhibition Here We Go.
Featuring major artists such as globally renowned Bridget Riley, Christopher Brooks and Barbara Nicholls alongside exciting emerging names like Charley Peters and Emily Wolfe – Here We Go certainly offers the perfect introduction to Meakin +Parsons and what it hopes to achieve.
The brainchild of art dealer Ben Parsons and his art advisor wife Lucy Meakin, both respected experts in the art world, alongside partner Hannah Payne, a keen champion of emerging artists, Meakin + Parsons opens on Friday.
So why North Parade and why now? “We really felt there was an appetite for what Meakin + Parsons wants to bring to Oxford. It just feels like the right time,” Ben said.
“This is also the prettiest street in Oxford,” Hannah remarks, “and North Parade has such a great community. It’s so atmospheric with a great footfall, markets, shops and restaurants, so we can’t wait to open.”
Lucy adds: “We want people to pop in for a chat and a cup of coffee, to become friends. We want to be part of the community so we are really looking forward to engaging with people here.”
“So while it is a gamble to open a new gallery, we feel that that we have the right credentials, while bringing something new to the table and offering the exhibiting artists a novel space, because Oxford has such a big artistic community and culture.”
Either way Meakin +Parsons looks set to provide a perfect platform for emerging and established contemporary and modern British artists in Oxford.
And with local artist Emily Wolfe taking up an artistic residency at Meakin + Parsons in March, and further solo exhibitions featuring the likes of Bridget Riley and Ham Darroch planned, Lucy, Ben and Hannah are certainly hitting the ground running.
Luckily, Ben and Lucy have already dipped their toes in the water by opening a gallery at home in Delly End near Witney, primarily for private clients, in 2018, and so are confident in their approach.
“The one thing we do know is that if you’re trying to convince someone to buy art you have to fully believe in it yourselves, and we are so engaged with all the artists exhibiting here,” Ben says, gesturing around him.
HERE WE GO runs at Meakin + Parsons from February 11 – March 11 and features art by Carl Anderson, Dominic Beattie, Christopher Brooks, Ham Darroch, Ann-Marie James, Jillian Knipe, Anna Liber Lewis, Zanny Mellor, Barbara Nicholls, Charley Peters, Bridget Riley, Toby Twiss, Robin Walden, Eleanor May Watson and Emily Wolfe.
Go to https://www.mandp.art for more details
