We Go Way Back: Thaddaeus Ropac
In an ongoing series of interviews with galleries that have been at Frieze London since day one in 2003, the founder of Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac explains why ‘We are not worried about London staying strong’
In an ongoing series of interviews with galleries that have been at Frieze London since day one in 2003, the founder of Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac explains why ‘We are not worried about London staying strong’
Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac was founded in Salzburg in 1981, and has since expanded to spaces in Paris, London and Seoul. Having informative early encounters with the likes of Joseph Beuys and Jean-Michel Basquiat, Ropac brought American and international names to Austria, alongside giants of the German-speaking scene such as Georg Baselitz, Valie Export, Harun Farocki and Anselm Kiefer. Today the gallery represents 70 artists and estates, spanning Lee Bul, Rosemarie Castoro, Gilbert & George, Antony Gormley, Robert Longo, Ron Mueck and Sturtevant, with recent signings including Alvaro Barrington, Rachel Jones and Mandy El-Sayegh. Its London space is Ely House, an eighteenth-century townhouse in Mayfair, which opened with an exhibition by London-based artist Oliver Beer in 2017. Ropac explains the philosophy of the gallery and its participation in Frieze London since 2003.
Could you outline the history of Thaddaeus Ropac gallery in London?
Thaddaeus Ropac: After working on the Continent for decades it felt like a natural next step. London has such an incredibly vibrant art scene and we felt we could add something by showing some of our artists who had been underrepresented in London.
What do you feel is the most important aspect of your approach to the artists you show?
I think for us the most important thing is the trust of our artists. In everything we do, the relationships with our artists are our priority.
Who have been some of the formative artists and shows for the gallery?
We wanted to build a programme around artists who had not been part of the art scene for some time. This includes major artists like Joseph Beuys, Rosemarie Castoro, Robert Rauschenberg, James Rosenquist and Emilio Vedova. But of course, we also wanted to introduce new artists such as Rachel Jones, Mandy El-Sayegh, Martha Jungwirth and many more.
Can you describe London’s art landscape as you see it?
The city of course suffers because of Brexit but we are not worried about London staying strong. It is one of the most exciting art scenes in Europe. It has a critical mass of artists who live there, work there and use London as their pool of inspiration.
What impact has Frieze London had on Thaddaeus Ropac and on the city’s wider art scene?
The original idea of Frieze was to show art close to its origin, showing new works coming straight from the studio. Compared to other important art fairs, Frieze has never lost this grip on the contemporary art scene.
Which moments from Frieze especially stand out for you or were significant for Thaddaeus Ropac?
I thought it was truly unique when Frieze started moving into The Regent’s Park and invited artists to create sculptures for specific places. Artists are invited to engage with the landscape and the results are outstanding.
What art trends or young artists are you finding exciting right now?
In the last six years, a group of young artists joined our programme, and it is fascinating to see how they each individually define their own direction. This includes, among others, Oliver Beer, Rachel Jones, Mandy El-Sayegh, Megan Rooney and Zadie Xa.
What does the future hold for Thaddaeus Ropac?
Besides ensuring a level of quality in the way we work across all galleries we want to stay connected to the art of our day. That’s how we hope to move strongly into the future.
Thaddaeus Ropac, Ely House, 37 Dover St, London, W1S 4NJ.
FRIEZE LONDON
Thaddaeus Ropac is part of Frieze London, which returns to The Regent’s Park from 11–15 October, 2023. Read the full list of galleries and curators taking part in Frieze London and Frieze Masters 2023.
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