A creative force to be reckoned with, Andrew Salgado is unmistakeably talented. Once credited as one of the ‘100 Painters of Tomorrow’ by Thames & Hudson in 2014, this London-based artist is undeniably one of our hottest. His vibrant and thought-provoking creations constantly enchant and beguile with his latest body of work, set to be exhibited at UNTITLED, ART Miami Beach, will stun the art crowd even further. A close friend to House of Kip, we took the time to catch up with this very special art extraordinaire.
Andrew, you’re a Canadian based in London. What do you especially love about London?
A few years ago, my partner and I went back to Vancouver for a social visit. I lived there during my undergraduate years, and we were excited to return. I remember telling my partner that although London can feel overwhelming at times, I love that you never truly have your grasp on the city. It’s exhilarating how there is always so much happening. Compared to Vancouver, we very quickly felt we had our finger back on the pulse. London is always moving faster than anyone can keep up with the feeling you may have missed something – whether a show, a restaurant, a concert, an event or even a friend. It’s addictive and that’s why I love it!
Where do you call home in London?
Shoreditch has been home for close to eight years now whilst my studio is in London Fields. I guess you can call me a true ‘east Londoner’ now, through and through.
Tell us about property and how you have crafted your own design influences into the space
I live in a boutique-style building in the heart of Shoreditch and have actually lived in four apartments in the building. I love the location, and especially my current apartment, which enjoys views of the Gherkin and the Shard amidst a quiet residential street. It’s very private to work as an absolute escape from the hustle and bustle of London.
What are your design influences in interiors?
I’m very drawn to stark, severe, and clean lines in interiors and especially when paired with loud and vibrant art. I love Mid-Century Scandinavian furniture whilst perhaps unbeknown to some, I collect anything green. I recently purchased and reupholstered a couple of pieces with beautiful, luxurious green fabrics. I also have a Ming Dynasty green horse, and a growing collection of green artworks. I consider personality, technique, even a bit of humour with a personal touch of the inhabitant and character, as really important.
Your paintings are often hugely alluring and very figurative, when do you get your inspiration?
I think inspiration needs to come from life and often to look to the little things. Too often creators err in their approach that inspiration must come from a deeply profound place. I don’t believe that. My mantra with respect to this is think simple, execute big.
Talk us through what you have been recently working on
My latest body of work is called Paper-Bag Prince and consists of roughly 16 pieces. I spent the entire year developing the works for the UNTITLED, Art Miami Beach and forms my collaboration with the fantastic sculptor Sebastian Neeb to co represent London gallery, Beers London. This has been a huge professional milestone for me with UNTITLED arguably the most-important subsidiary fair over Art Basel Miami. The works are bombastic, a bit silly and definitely tongue in cheek. Paper-Bag Prince will provide commentary on both the fallacy of the art world and the artifice therein. Sebastian and I are taking on the art world’s system and cogs to form a critique of its processes. My next solo show will open in May 2020 at Beers London with the tentative title of In the Springtime we go Dancing. With this work, I want to return to works that are a bit more intimate more seductive.
Colour reigns supreme throughout your work, do you have a favourite colour to work with?
I’m a citrus kind of guy. Green, yellow, orange – I love. To get out of a bind in the studio, ochre and King’s blue are favourites.
What do you believe to be your most-challenging piece of work?
Contemporary Pleasure Island Time Wasters is, from start to finish, the most-complex piece I have ever worked on. The title is a joke taken from Jeopardy’s Before and After category, where one word leads into the next, however results in reading as a sole, long-winded non sequitur. The painting is a self-portrait featuring my partner to evoke a Dutch still life as if melting apart. It’s perhaps my favourite work I have completed in recent years.
What is the common underlying message in your works?
I would say it’s far bigger than humour or critique. What permeates throughout to evolve into a commentary on humanity and highly personal ideals. There is a definite darkness to my work, however I code it with both humour and colour. I’m like a nihilistic satirist and a bit Vonnegut, Goya, Nietsczhe, or Leonard Cohen all at the same time… If I can be bold enough to claim any of that for that myself. But ultimately, I would consider myself more optimistic.
What’s your favourite London art space to while away time?
I love the Tate Britain. The bronze sculpture boy with the bow and arrow is one of my favourite works of all time.
Which painting to do you wish you has painted?
Oh gosh, so many. Too many. I could literally tell you all day.
Describe your perfect London weekend.
The weekend has to start on a Friday. My day would entail working the afternoon – I particularly love painting on Fridays. My partner would pop into the studio before we both head to Broadway Market for a drink and an early dinner at Brat. We would of course drink too much wine and eat the burnt leeks. Then, we would jump around east London in an especially unplanned and spontaneous fashion to dance until the wee hours at Shoreditch House.
Saturday would be spent gallery hopping, followed by dinner somewhere luxurious, like Brasserie Zedel or German Gymnasium, (I love the decadence of the 1930s era), with a couple of fancy cocktails. The night would be shared with a small group of good friends who would have flown in from out of town. Sunday is all about late brunch and the drag party at Duck&Rice Soho, if I’m still standing. Champagne would of course feature at some point, in addition to a sold out show of my latest paintings, with my parents there beaming proudly from afar.
What’s the best way to embrace art in London?
Don’t be overwhelmed. Start in areas or small pockets, and then work outward. Even from Old Street Roundabout, for instance, you have spaces such as Beers London, Stuart Shave, Victoria Miro, parasol UNit, Charlie Smith, Maureen Paley, Arcade, Annka Kullys, all within touching distance. There’s so much.
Andrew Salgado is represented by Beers London, 1 Baldwin Street, London EC1
andrewsalgado.com
beerslondon.com
