Banksy Donuts, 2009
Art is, above all else, emotional. Whether it’s an impressionist masterpiece, a slice of surreality courtesy of Dali or a contemporary work by an up-and-coming artist, it’s the emotions behind them that give them meaning. They’re the same feelings that led, in 2015, to Chris Kendall setting up Bristol-based Hidden Gallery.
Chris didn’t select his initial sale of works because they were ripe investments or even because they matched a particular taste; he bought them originally because of the stories behind them. He sought out works through which he felt a direct connection to the artists that were revolutionary in their field.
Hidden Gallery, Bristol
Evidently it was a sentiment that resonated as half the works sold before the gallery in Bristol’s Clifton Arcade even opened. The rest were gone within a few days. Within a year Hidden had three spaces in Bristol; in 2019 they opened in Brighton and this year they’re heading to Camden Town, a world away from the usual, upscale haunts of Bond Street and Mayfair. While the gallery may be called Hidden, you certainly don’t need to worry about missing it. As Chris succinctly puts it: “I’ve become focused on work with strong imagery and a graphic use of colour and line. There is an element of showmanship to the work that we stock – we’re always looking for pieces that make a statement and catch the eye.”
From left to right: Henri Matisse Nice Travail Et Joie, 1947 / Marc Chagall – Lutte De Jacob Avec L’ange, 1977
Those pieces include the likes of Henri Matisse, Tracey Emin, Joan Miro and Marc Chagall. From Picasso to Banksy, as long as it’s colourful and eye-catching, then you can likely find it at Hidden. Of course, while Chris may pick the pieces from an emotional standpoint and love of striking art, that’s not why everyone buys art. Which is why it’s worth pointing out that a good amount of Hidden’s offerings are serious investment opportunities, especially as, in the Covid era, demand for works on paper has skyrocketed by upwards of 390%. It’s worth getting in on.
The gallery offers over 1,500 pieces online, which makes buying investment art easier than ever before – time is money, after all – and interest-free payments make it surprisingly affordable to own a signed, quality print and start building a serious collection. If that all sounds a bit clinical though, feel free to stick to the golden rule: buy what you love. At Hidden Gallery, be it online or in one of their galleries, there’s a lot to love.
Find out more and browse the full collection at Hidden Gallery.
