Lorcan O'Neill Gallery Opens Temporary London Space Amid Pandemic

The Lorcan O'Neill Gallery, originally founded in Rome's Trastevere in 2002 and relocated to a historic palazzo in central Rome in 2013, has opened a temporary space in London's Mayfair district, running until October 24, 2020. The gallery's decision to establish a physical presence in London during the COVID-19 pandemic is a counter-strategy to the proliferation of virtual tours and online art fairs, emphasizing the importance of in-person events and maintaining connections between artists' home countries. The inaugural exhibition, 'Fate&Luck,' is a group show featuring Italian and British artists Tracey Emin, Richard Long, Gianni Politi, Rachel Whiteread, and Domenico Bianchi, exploring the theme of life as a game of fate. A second exhibition, 'Giorgio Griffa: 1968,' opens October 13, focusing on the pivotal year 1968 when the artist abandoned traditional stretched canvas to paint on raw canvases placed on the floor. Gallery partner Laura Chiari stated that the London space, alongside the gallery's online presence at Frieze London in October, will provide a more complete experience for artists and clients. The gallery represents several British artists, and dealer Lorcan O'Neill noted that the opportunity to meet them in person and reconnect motivated the project.