‘I still get star-struck when Frank Auerbach walks through the door’

Alexander Platon

Which exhibition or event are you most looking forward to in 2015, and why?

I am hugely excited about the Frank Auerbach retrospective starting in Bonn in June and coming to the Tate in London in October. He is an incredibly important and influential artist and I feel that this exhibition will be inspiring, informative and educational. It is a real privilege to work in a gallery so closely associated with him and I still get star-struck when he walks through Marlborough’s door. He is such a legend. Last year the Tate held an exhibition of Frank Auerbach’s painting and drawings from the Lucian Freud Estate which was sensational, and I anticipate that the retrospective in 2015 will be simply unmissable.

Frank Auerbach, Catherine Lampert Seated, 1990.
Oil on canvas. 61.3 x 56.2 cm (24 1/8 x 22 1/8 ins). Courtesy of the Artist and Marlborough Fine Art.

What do you predict will be the most significant development or biggest talking point in art in the year ahead, and why?

Last year was full of excitement in the art market, with record prices being reported, and amazing exhibitions, auctions, and art fairs being held internationally. The art world had never felt so global before. An area that I have been specialising in for the last 15 years is Asian collectors and I am very happy to see their growing interest in Western Art. I have every belief that as global as the market will continue to be, Asia will steal the spotlight in 2015. What is going on there is just fascinating and I am confident that this year we will see significant action from clients ranging from mainland China and Hong Kong to Korea, Indonesia and Taiwan.

Which artist most excites you right now, and why?

The artist that I am really excited about is Jason Brooks, because his painting is just phenomenal. He is such an unbelievably talented and hard working artist and a real master of his style. Each brushstroke, each layer, every square inch of a canvas is interesting. He is preparing an exhibition for Marlborough Contemporary this coming June, which I am thrilled about. Experiencing the preparation and the development of the forthcoming show and seeing paintings as they are gradually created is a real treat. The impact of standing in front of an individual Brooks painting is immense, so I can't wait for the opportunity to see the whole show hanging on the walls of the gallery.

Jason Brooks, Hog Tied, 2014.
Acrylic on canvas. 135.5 x 102 cm. Copyright Jason Brooks. Courtesy of Marlborough Contemporary.

Jason Brooks, Kate, 2013
Acrylic and paper on canvas 273 x 213 cm. Copyright Jason Brooks. Courtesy of Marlborough Contemporary

Tell us about the project that you are working on/showcasing in 2015.

Between the art fairs that Marlborough Fine Art will participate in, the exhibitions that we will hold, consignments and strategic planning and development of projects, it is tough to pick one! But what I am sure of is that 2015 will be a very exciting year in the gallery’s calendar.