Campoli Presti was established by Emanuela Campoli and Gil Presti in London. From the outset it has sought to introduce artists who were previously unknown in Europe and Britain, and are critically engaged in the history, material, and practices of their art. The gallery acts as a bridge between the British and continental European art scenes, between cutting-edge contemporary art and its historical precursors, and between creative practices that are considered to be either art or ‘non-art’. Alongside exhibitions and dialogue with collaborating art institutions to bolster awareness of these artists, the gallery shows the work of historical figures who have directly influenced their artists.
Read MoreReflecting this approach, the gallery opened in its first London location in 2003, its first solo exhibition being by Cheyney Thompson as well as a solo show with works by Martin Barré in 2005, a leading figure in post war French abstraction. Followed by shows by artists such as Sean Paul, Blake Rayne, Reena Spaulings and Liz Deschenes, with whom the gallerists had already developed a relationship.
After several exhibitions at Galerie Ghislaine Hussenot in Paris, among them S&M—a joint show with works by American artists Eileen Quinlan and Cheyney Thompson—in 2005, in 2007 the gallery opened a permanent Parisienne gallery in the historic Hôtel de Lagrange (built in 1731), on Rue De Braque. New York artist Daniel Lefcourt’s solo exhibition, Interim Agreement (2007)—the inaugural show for the new French space—marked the official beginning of the gallery’s trans-national practice, which sees concurrent shows in England and France with thematic and narrative connections.
In 2011 the gallery moved to a new London space on Cambridge Heath Road and became Campoli Presti. Subsequently expanding its Paris gallery, in 2018 and 2019 the gallery opened additional spaces in the Hôtel de Lagrange.
In addition to the exhibition programme run between its two permanent locations, the gallery has engaged in several projects with its artists in the Indipendenza Studio in Rome as well as Villa Geggiano in Siena.
Campoli Presti has introduced and cultivated the awareness of a number of artists previously unknown in Europe and Britain. The gallery can claim a diverse roster of established and lesser-known artists working in various combinations of mediums that include photography, print, painting, sculpture, and performance. As well as holding exhibitions of influential historical figures such as Barré, photographer Louise Lawler, and Marcel Broodthaers alone or in dialogue with contemporary artists' practices, the gallery represents a number of artists of an older generation. They include Christian Bonnefoi, Rochelle Feinstein, John Miller, Olivier Mosset, Katherine Bradford, the Estate of Sarah Charlesworth and Amy Sillman.
Campoli Presti also continues to work with and develop the careers of younger artists such as Nick Mauss, Daniel Lefcourt, Reena Spaulings, Valentina Liernur, and Nora Schultz. Constantly developing and moving in new directions, the gallery has also begun to represent artists working across broader disciplines, such as the late Italian artist, designer, and fashion designer Cinzia Ruggeri.
Introducing and supporting an international roster of artists in Europe and overseas, the gallery participates in major international art fairs in Europe and America, such as Art Basel in Miami Beach and Basel; Artissima, Turin; Independent, New York; FIAC, Paris; and miart, Milan. The gallery’s artists also work on projects for public places and institutions, such as John Miller’s disorienting mirror maze installation, Lost (2016), for the Atrium Gallery at the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami and Nick Mauss’ permanent ceramic installation at MIT List Visual Arts Center.
Related Press John Miller's lost maze disorientates visitors with mirrored panels 9 April 2016, Dezeen If mazes weren't confusing enough already, American artist John Miller has built one from mirrors to further bewilder lost visitors, at Miami's Institute of Contemporary Art. The labyrinthine installation, aptly titled Lost, has been constructed in the Atrium Gallery at ICA Miami as part of a solo exhibition of Miller's...
Related Press John Miller's "I Stand, I Fall" at ICA Leaves No Philosophical or Visual Stone Unturned 24 February 2016, Miami New Times Artist John Miller is a slender man with long hair and stylish thick-framed glasses. He is very thorough and detailed as he explains the artwork he's created over the past 35 years on display as 'I Stand, I Fall' at ICA Miami.
