Susan Boutwell and James Draper of Boutwell Draper Gallery reflect on 10 years in business and the passion and commitment behind their success.
December 2nd, 2010
December 2010 sees the tenth anniversary of Redfern’s Boutwell Draper Gallery, a space that has been home to a diverse selection of painters, photographers, sculptors, digital and installation artists since its establishment in 2001 by husband and wife team James Draper and Susan Boutwell.
The gallery has seen many artists, both upcoming and established, local and international, exhibit under Boutwell and Draper’s careful curatorship.
International artists like the renowned English sculptor and photographer Andy Goldsworthy, Germany’s great contemporary stone sculptor Ulrich Ruckriem and Scotland’s famous poet, sculptor and gardener Ian Hamilton Finlay, all held their first Australian solo exhibitions at Boutwell Draper.
The one common requirement for artists is that their work be innovative and of the highest quality. “I like to think that what they make adds to the history of art” says Draper.
Certainly, much of Boutwell Draper Gallery’s success comes from the owners’ strong relationships with their artists, and their keen ability to seek out compelling, exciting new art.
“It’s about intellectual challenge and great visual imagery,” says Draper. “Showing and curating the best.”
Group exhibitions form an integral part of Boutwell Draper Gallery’s annual program. Key past events have included Trailblazers, which focused on Australian and international urban art, and Art with Paper, for which a diverse range of artists showed work that had paper as its basis.
Next for Boutwell Draper Gallery is the third annual Art + Architecture group show, to take place in February next year.
An exhibition bringing together a diverse group of new and established Sydney architects along with a selection of work by the gallery artists, it allows Boutwell and Draper to pursue a lifelong passion for architecture, as well as giving the architecture community regular access to a broader audience.
Passion for art and a love of diversity is the key to Boutwell Draper Gallery’s success. “We could just focus on paintings… but that would not be enough,” says Draper.
“Our passion has kept us going,” adds Boutwell. “Collectors and a lot of people in the arts acknowledge that we do it because we love art, architecture and design.”
Boutwell Draper Gallery
boutwelldrapergallery.com.au
A searchable and comprehensive guide for specifying leading products and their suppliers
Keep up to date with the latest and greatest from our industry BFF's!
Create a configuration to suit your needs with this curved collection.
In the pursuit of an uplifting synergy between the inner world and the surrounding environment, internationally acclaimed Interior Architect and Designer Lorena Gaxiola transform the vibration of the auspicious number ‘8’ into mesmerising artistry alongside the Feltex design team, brought to you by GH Commercial.
Savage Design’s approach to understanding the relationship between design concepts and user experience, particularly with metalwork, transcends traditional boundaries, blending timeless craftsmanship with digital innovation to create enduring elegance in objects, furnishings, and door furniture.
Channelling the enchanting ambience of the Caffè Greco in Rome, Budapest’s historic Gerbeaud, and Grossi Florentino in Melbourne, Ross Didier’s new collection evokes the designer’s affinity for café experience, while delivering refined seating for contemporary hospitality interiors.
Patricia Urquiola gets modern with Ettore Sottsass’ 1980s rigor in the design of her latest project, The Room Mate Hotel Giulia in Milan.
Emerging architect Tina Tziallas, of Tina Tziallas Architecture Studio has created something out of the box.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
Gray Puksand’s construction-focused facility at TAFE NSW responds to the critical need for a resilient Australian construction industry.
Suitable for applications ranging from schools and retail outlets to computer rooms and X-ray suites, Palettone comes in two varieties and a choice of more than fifty colours.
Paying homage to that wonderful tool of life, the book, SJK Architects’ design for the new headquarters of Penguin Random House is both a temple to the library and a captivating place to work.
Welcome to the year of the Design Effect. This year’s theme aims to showcase the profound ripple effects that exceptional design can have on people, place and planet. Join in shaping this narrative by contributing your perspective before May 3, 2024, and become a part of the Design Effect movement.