LVH Art presents a curated list of galleries to watch, spanning from Portugal to Mexico City to Paris. Some have established physical spaces, while others operate pop-up venues, but all share a common thread: they are led by incredibly talented individuals and represent an exciting roster of artists. Though each gallery has its own focus, they all excel at what they do, offering fresh perspectives and innovative approaches to contemporary art.
Galerie Mascota, Mexico City
Galería Mascota, located at Valladolid #33 in Colonia Roma Norte, Mexico City, was founded by Karla Garza and Javier Estevez in 2016. Galerie Mascota not only shows in CDMX, but also has pop up shows in Aspen. They focus on bringing emerging foreign artists to CDMX, providing a dynamic platform for cross-cultural exchange and exposure to the city's vibrant art scene.
Currently on display is The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, a solo exhibition by Machteld Rullens, marking her first in Latin America. Inspired by the 1966 western film, Rullens explores the dualities of Mexico City through materials like discarded cardboard, transforming them into wall objects that reflect daily life. The exhibition runs until January 20th.
Past artists featured at Galerie Mascota include Emily Kraus and Yves Scherer.
Amanita, New York City
Amanita Gallery originated in Florence in 2021 and was co-founded by Caio Twombly and Tommaso Rositani Suckert and has since expanded the team to include Jacob Hyman and Garrett Goldsmith. The New York gallery is housed in a former CBGB space, the iconic music club that operated in the East Village from 1973 to 2006. This historic setting adds a distinctive layer of character to its contemporary art exhibitions.
The gallery’s current exhibition in New York is a solo show by Francesco Cima, Vedrai, vedrai, running from November 7th to January 12th. In this exhibition, Cima portrays otherworldly landscapes with delicate brushstrokes.
Amanita hosts exhibitions not only in New York City but also organises dynamic pop-up shows in locations such as Los Angeles, St. Moritz, Florence, and annually at Fondazione Iris, Cy Twombly’s former studio and residence in Bassano, Italy. Recently, Amanita presented Manna Rain, a solo exhibition by Rita Ackermann at Fondazione Iris, in collaboration with Hauser & Wirth. The show featured Ackermann’s new works—all of which reflect her ongoing engagement with Twombly’s artistic legacy.
ADZ, Lisbon
ADZ Gallery is a contemporary art space in Lisbon, Portugal, founded in 2021 by Danny Lamb, a former painter and gallery professional. The gallery is dedicated to a thoughtful, deliberate approach to exhibiting art, fostering a close-knit community of artists and collectors. Danny has spoken about his desire to counter the fast-paced nature of the gallery world, saying, "There's a definite understanding of the pain and process of the craft. I also try to adhere to the slowness of making and viewing art, and I aim to carry this ethos through in how I curate exhibitions and programming."
When Danny Lamb first opened his gallery in Portugal, he questioned whether he had arrived at the tail-end of the burgeoning art scene. However, after a few exhibitions, he realised he was, in fact, arriving at a pivotal moment. Portugal’s art scene continues to grow, with more artists relocating to the country—Ai Weiwei, for example, has recently set up a studio and residency there. ADZ Gallery is both capturing and contributing to the vibrant energy of Portugal’s flourishing artistic community.
The gallery is currently showcasing Spoorless Analogues, a solo exhibition by artist Tomas Leth, running from October 24 to November 23, 2024. In this body of work, Leth blends delicacy with earthy textures, fusing surface and psychology in ways that invite deeper contemplation.
Tramps
Tramps is a contemporary art gallery founded by Parinaz Mogadassi. Initially established in London, the gallery later expanded to New York City, gaining recognition for its pop-up shows and unconventional approach to exhibition spaces. Notably, Tramps has transformed a series of glass-walled shops on the second floor of a Chinatown mall in Manhattan and, more recently, an unfinished underground space in Paris into unique art venues. The gallery is also known for its collaborative approach, often partnering with other galleries.
Tramps showcases a diverse roster of artists, spanning both emerging talents and established figures. Notable artists associated with the gallery include Kai Althoff, Tim Breuer, and Florian Krewer.
Currently, Tramps does not have an ongoing exhibition. Its most recent show was a solo exhibition by Tim Breuer during Paris Art Basel, which has now closed.
Gratin, New York City
Gratin was founded in 2018 by Talal Abillama and is based in New York City. From the outset, Gratin has focused on introducing New York audiences to young international artists, with the exception of Lorenzo Amos, the only US-born artist in their roster. Known for his ability to bring success to relatively unknown talents, Abillama has built a dynamic program that hosts 6 to 8 exhibitions annually.
Currently on view at Gratin is Lorenzo Amos’s first solo show, No Regrets Because You’re My Sunshine. In this exhibition, Amos captures intimate, fleeting scenes with a raw, evocative style. For more on Amos’s practice, be sure to check out our artist interview feature this month.
Sunday Painter, London
Founded in 2009 by Harry Beer and Will Jarvis, The Sunday Painter began as an artist-run project space to showcase the work of their friends and peers. The idea was conceived while the founders were art students at Chelsea College of Arts and Camberwell College of Arts, and the gallery’s first space was a disused function room in a local pub in Peckham. In 2013, The Sunday Painter moved to a permanent location and transitioned to a commercial gallery model, with Tom Cole joining as a partner. Since then, the gallery has focused on representing and exhibiting the work of emerging and mid-career artists from both the UK and abroad. Artists exhibited by The Sunday Painter include Emily Kraus, Harminder Judge, and Tomas Harker.
The gallery is currently presenting Rapid Movement over Landscape by Sophie Ruigrok, on view until December 21st. This exhibition explores themes of subjectivity, focusing on Ruigrok’s fascination with out-of-body experiences, encounters with the extraordinary, and the lasting impact these moments have on perception and identity.
Emalin, London
Emalin is a contemporary art gallery based in London, founded and run by Leopold Thun and Angelina Volk. Since opening in 2016, the gallery has cultivated a roster of sixteen international artists, with a strong emphasis on multidisciplinary and critically engaged practices. Most of the artists represented by Emalin had their first UK solo exhibitions at the gallery, many of whom have since gone on to show at major biennials and international institutions. In addition to its exhibition program, Emalin regularly produces print publications, organises annual offsite projects, and hosts public programs involving artists, curators, and musicians. In 2024, Emalin expanded with the opening of its second location in London, restoring the 18th-century Clerk’s House as a historical space dedicated to site-responsive exhibitions.
The gallery is currently showcasing Jasper Marsalis at Holywell Lane until November 30th. Marsalis blends painting, drawing, sculpture, and live video feeds on LED screens, creating connections that define his practice. From November 29 to February 8, 2025, Özgür Kar will be featured at The Clerk’s House for his second solo exhibition with the gallery. Kar’s work creates theatrical, multi-part soundscapes, using repetition and collaboration with voice actors and musicians to explore existential themes with a mix of dark humour and macabre elements.
a.SQUIRE, London
A. SQUIRE is a contemporary art gallery located at 3 Princeton Street, London, founded in 2023 by Archie Squire. The gallery is committed to supporting and promoting critical work by an international roster of artists, offering historically informed and prescient perspectives on contemporary life. Featured artists include Ryan Huggins and Evangeline Turner. Reflecting on the artists he selects, Archie has said, “In all the shows I’ve curated so far, it feels like the artists are challenging the very notion of the medium they’re working in. For example, with Nina Porter’s photographs, many visitors questioned why I kept referring to cameras, as her pinhole cameras don’t immediately register as traditional photographic devices.”
In addition to showcasing living artists, A. SQUIRE also exhibits works by artists from the past. For example, the upcoming show Trees in the Snow (1946) will feature visionary paintings by Forrest Bess. On view from November 16th to January 11th, this exhibition highlights some of Bess’s earliest surviving works, revealing the abstract glyphs for which he is known and marking a pivotal moment in his exploration of the unconscious mind.
Union Pacific, London
Union Pacific is a contemporary art gallery based in London, founded in 2014 by Grace Schofield and Nigel Dunkley. Both Schofield and Dunkley are trained artists—Dunkley studied sculpture at Goldsmiths, while Schofield specialized in video and performance at Chelsea College of Arts. The gallery is dedicated to representing challenging and ambitious works, with a focus on contemporary artists who push boundaries. At Frieze London, Union Pacific’s booth garnered positive attention, especially for their artist Nour Jaouda. Jaouda’s Dust that Never Settles (2024) was acquired by the CAS Collections Fund, and The Light in Between (2024) was purchased by the Arts Council Collection Frieze Fund.
The gallery has two locations: 15 West Central Street and 17 Goulston Street. Artists represented by Union Pacific include Julia Bennett, Katrine Bobek, Antonia Brown, and Will Gabaldón. In the Mountain Strong Wind by Aya Higuchi opens on November 21st at 17 Goulston Street, and runs until December 14st. In this exhibition, Higuchi presents small-scale oil paintings that explore familiar, often overlooked scenes from nature and domestic life.
Sans titre gallery, Paris
Sans titre is a contemporary art gallery located at 13 Rue Michel le Comte in Paris. Founded in 2016 by Eloi Boucher and Marie Madec, the gallery began as a nomadic project space, organizing exhibitions in unconventional locations such as private apartments, industrial sites, and even a shipyard. In 2019, Sans titre secured a permanent home in the Marais district, setting up in a former Restoration-era bar with a façade listed as a Historic Monument.
The gallery represents a diverse range of international artists, focusing on multidisciplinary practices that span painting, sculpture, installation, and performance. Notable artists include Zuzanna Czebatul, Jessy Razafimandimby, and Agnes Scherer.
Currently, Sans titre is presenting Those Yes in Your Eyes, a solo exhibition by Jessy Razafimandimby, on view until December 21. The show delves into the artist’s ongoing exploration of gaze and non-verbal communication, showcasing new works that continue to investigate these themes.
Kearsey & Gold, London
Kearsey Gold opened on 19 Cork Street this past October with solo show “Redux” with Egyptian photographer Dexter Navy and his ongoing pilgrimage of rediscovering his homeland. Founded by two 24 year olds, Adam Gold and Lucas Kearsey, Kearsey Gold focuses on emerging artists, but also curates group exhibitions where they juxtaposed established artists with emerging artists.
Their upcoming group show “Material Syntax” is a group show focused on materiality as a fundamental aspect of artistic expression. Artists’s interpretations of velvet, felt, wool, burlap and more will be investigated. The show will include emerging artists like Kevin Rouillad and Daniel Brusatin as well as artists like Pierre Cardin and Victor Vasarely. The show runs from November 21st to December 22nd.
Various Small Fires, Hollywood,Seoul, and Dallas
Various Small Fires (VSF) is a contemporary gallery founded in 2012 by Esther Kim in Los Angeles. VSF also has a location in Seoul, South Korea that opened in 2019, and most recently this year opened in Dallas, Texas. Dedicated to exhibitions that challenge modes of production and presentation, the gallery represents a range of artists, some include A’driane Nieves and Lezley Saar.
Their current exhibition, “The Unboxing Project” runs from November 2nd to December 21st at their Los Angeles location. This exhibition brings together some of the most well-known and emerging voices in Korean contemporary art and is the American debut for many. Twenty-eight artists between the ages of thirty-three and eighty-nine made work for this project in response to a single prompt by the curators. Before conceiving their individual work for the exhibition, each artist received an identical (11.5 in x 11.5 in) wall mounted pedestal from the curators, each packed in an identical box, also intended to house the entirety of the work. As a prompt, they were encouraged to approach the confines of the plinth as an autonomous exhibition space.
