Sid Motion Gallery, London
Tune in to our ongoing series featuring some of the most exciting gallerists from across the globe.
Here, we sit down to ask them how they run successful galleries so you can learn how you can too.
Sid Motion is the native North Londoner behind one of London’s most exciting and emerging galleries. Motion grew up in a creative household with a natural eye for burgeoning talent. Motion is a risk taker inspired by the goal to bring a voice everyone, all while coining herself as, “The Artist Whisperer”.
Having worked in established galleries prior to opening my own space, I was lucky to have such great experiences in London galleries. I opened my own however as I was interested in an ethos of accessibility. Since being at art school many friends and acquaintances were making brilliant work and it felt at the time there were no spaces in London that might be interested to show work at such an emerging level. I strived to create a platform where it might be possible to show an artist for the first time, and in turn, price work and bring an artist to the Art Market for the first time too. I want visitors to feel the exhibitions are approachable, and that the gallery is a space where they can meet and have a discourse around the exhibitions.
When I opened London had a great scene of smaller galleries who were programming exciting exhibitions. While many of those have closed now, there is a plethora of new spaces which continue to champion showing new work in the city.
Yes, the location is very significant to the ethos of the gallery. I moved to a studio block to join a community of practising artists. I set the gallery up with ideas of community and accessibility at its core, so I was interested in situating myself in the heart of a practising artistic environment and, by way of proximity, interested in narrowing the gap between commercial galleries and practising artists.
I would like space to be friendly, welcoming and approachable. I want there to be a vast range of work and mediums on show – and a range of prices; starting at an accessible level to encourage new collectors.
Since opening I have worked with nearly 100 artists, but still choose to represent a small number. Vincent Hawkins, who I represent, was in my first ever exhibition in Kings Cross, and someone I still work with today. Vincent will have a solo show at the gallery in November. Morgan Wills, another represented artist, was the second ever exhibition I hosted independently, when he was just 24. He and I have gone on to do lots together – his recent exhibition was his 5th solo project with the gallery. As you see, I still work with many of the same artists I worked with at the very beginning, and together we continue to build the networks around their practice. My represented artists are starting to be shown internationally, and are now being bought or considered for institutional and national collections and prizes, which is an exciting next step.
There are a myriad of reasons to commit to showing an artist’s work, but I think the common thread with them all is an integrity to their own practice. I represent 4 artists to date (Vincent Hawkins, Dafna Talmor, Max Wade and Morgan Wills), but have worked with nearly 100 in the gallery programme in total. I am having some exciting conversations and in the year ahead I hope to announce more artists on the gallery roster.
I am very lucky to have a great relationship with my artists, which I value dearly. I am committed to them and in turn they have shown great commitment back to me. I am in constant communication with them all, and they are all great friends of mine.
As I ran the gallery for so many years on my own I’m lucky that my relationships with my clients are very personal ones. I know their tastes and am therefore able to advise and offer works that they might be particularly interested in.
While there are certain exhibitions I am particularly proud of, the relationships with my artists would have to be the most stand-out element in my role. I am lucky to work with the people I do, and they are at the core of what I am trying to build.
I would say that building new audiences, especially internationally, has been a challenge since the beginning. There are so many brilliant galleries and to stand out as a programme with integrity showing interesting emerging artists has been achieved by consistency and commitment to those individuals.
I didn’t have a mentor as such but I have learnt a lot from the brilliant people I was lucky enough to work with when in other galleries. When I worked at David Zwirner, I learnt a huge amount from Angela Choon who always has the gallery artists at the core of her focus, which is very inspiring.
I studied at Chelsea School of Art and Design and London College of Communications. I think having this education helps with an understanding of production and how works are made – which is helpful when speaking with artists. I held positions in artists liaison teams, sales and programming at Max Wigram Gallery, David Zwirner and Photo London before opening my own gallery.
Show the work you love and feel passionate about.
Fun, fulfilling and exciting.
