Damien Hirst’s newly built Newport Street Gallery in Lambeth, South London will open on October 8 with a major exhibition of works by the late British abstract painter John Hoyland, realizing Hirst’s long-held ambition to establish a permanent space to share his diverse art collection of over 3,000 works with the public.The John Hoyland exhibition, titled “Power Stations,” features works drawn entirely from Hirst’s own collection of Hoyland’s paintings spanning a formative period in the artist’s career from the years 1964 to 1982. The exhibition will occupy all six of the Newport Street gallery spaces and entry will be free of charge.Hoyland’s widow Beverley Heath-Hoyland said: “John was absolutely over the moon that Damien was passionate about his work, and I’m just so pleased he knew before he died of Damien’s plans to use his work for his inaugural show. It’s a wonderful gesture and I only wish John was with us to see it finally come to fruition.“Damien chose the earlier works as those are the ones he grew up with and was inspired by at art college. John, like Damien, couldn’t understand why in Britain we tend to celebrate non-figurative painters from other parts of the world – Rothko et al – but not our own. Why should that be? I think this show is a great riposte on Damien's part to that viewpoint.”Damien Hirst interviewed by Tim Marlow. Hirst discusses Newport Street Gallery and its inaugural exhibition of John Hoyland. from Newport Street Gallery on Vimeo.
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