Reflecting on London's art scene from the mid-1990s to the early 2000s ignites a rush of excitement for me, marked by the opening of Tate Modern, the captivating Louise Bourgeois installation at the Turbine Hall, the birth of Frieze Art Fair, the Saatchi Gallery in County Hall, and the emergence of new galleries like White Cube and Sadie Coles.
The scene buzzed with fresh energy from international galleries such as Gagosian, Hauser & Wirth, coinciding with the opening of my gallery in Soho. I vividly recall Charles Saatchi as my first visitor, purchasing our inaugural exhibition before we even opened, championing emerging artists and paving the way for future generations of collectors. His unwavering support played a crucial role in the rise of the YBA (Young British Artists), a testament to his commitment to emerging talent. From the art boom of 2000 to the tumultuous 2008 recession, marked by Lehman Brothers' bankruptcy and Damien Hirst's staggering £111 million art sale at Sotheby's, I bore witness to the remarkable transformation of the art world, a narrative stretching into 2024.
