Fashion Designer Paul Smith is opening a new exhibition Space in Albemarle Street in time for Frieze Week. Since the company’s inception in the early 1970s, Paul Smith’s shops have taken a pioneering approach to their use of space, blurring the line between a traditional retail location and an arts venue by displaying pieces from Sir Paul’s personal collection alongside the brand’s offering of sophisticated tailoring, casualwear and accessories. An inveterate collector and natural curator, Sir Paul is forever on the lookout for artwork, antiques, furniture and other curiosities which speak to him, and he is eager to share his unique taste with his customers, incorporating items from his extensive archive into the design and layout of each Paul Smith shop.
The Paul Smith Space, found downstairs at No. 9 Albemarle Street, will be an area to present artwork which resonates with the company’s ethos of creativity, individuality, and curiosity. A full programme of exhibitions will see the Paul Smith Space change periodically throughout the year, each time introducing an exciting new array of work.
Curated by Catherine Loewe and in collaboration with digital producer Vortic as part of its Vortic Curated series, the inaugural Paul Smith Space exhibition Fabric of Life focuses on the power of fabric to reveal deep psychological narratives and explore a wide range of themes that carry personal, social, political and cultural histories.
Artists in Fabric of Life continue to blur the boundaries between craft and fine art to explore social and political issues, in turn revealing the symbolic power of textiles and their potential for individual and cultural transformation.
Additionally, a hand-picked selection of iconic Paul Smith furniture and textile designs will be available to view in VR for the first time, exclusively on the Vortic platform. The exhibition will be on view at Paul Smith Space, No.9 Albemarle Street until 18 November 2024. The Virtual Reality exhibition can be experienced at Paul Smith Space with on-site VR headsets and continues on Vortic until 3 January 2025.
Top Photo: P C Robinson © Artlyst 2024