The Residency at Christie’s was a celebration of the pioneering artist residency programme that supports and sponsors underrepresented artists as a catalyst for change. The exhibition took place within the Christie’s London headquarters October 26th - November 3rd, 2024 and included a series of programming and events to celebrate the power of community.
Presenting work by seven international artists and inspired by their time in residence at Villa Lena in Tuscany, the exhibition showcased how enriching residencies can be for artists in the development of their practice, providing time away from their usual routine at other creative spaces. This exhibition celebrated the diversity of the artists and their wide-ranging practices.
Featured artists were: Remi Ajani, Alejandra Aristizabal, Irini Bachlitzanaki, Bobbye Fermie, Béatrice Lebreton, Soumya Netrabile, and Precious Opara. In keeping with the strong sentiment of community, a work by The Residency Advisory Board member Emma Prempeh was showcased.
Artist Catalogue
Irini Bachlitzanaki (left) and Alejandra Aristizábal (right)
Soumya Netrabile (left) and Precious Opara (right)
Bobbye Fermie
Remi Ajani
Béatrice Lebreton (left), Florals sponsored by Villa Lena: Arrangements by Silka Rittson Thomas and vases by Giuseppe Parrinello Ceramics
As part of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘺 𝘢𝘵 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘦’𝘴 a series of events accompanied the exhibition, exploring the artists’ practice and the power of patronage in the 21st century.
During the opening reception, The Residency founders Georgia Powell and Liza Shapiro took part in a panel discussion exploring ‘New Models of Patronage and the Importance of Building Community’. The talk included artist Precious Opara, journalist and patron Christina Makris, and was moderated by writer Hettie Judah.
We were also thrilled to partner with the Association of Women in the Arts for an event and panel discussion moderated by Katy Wickremesinghe, patron and founder of The Wick. Georgia Powell, co-founder of The Residency, Sarah Elson, founder of Launch Pad and Lena Evstafieva, founder of Villa Lena, discussed the importance of giving artists time away from their usual routines, as well as how and why their approaches differ.