Matt’s Gallery Chair

I’ve recently been appointed Chair of the Board of Trustees for Matt's Gallery I’m thinking of this two-year role as a project and will be focusing on a succession plan for the organisation.

https://www.mattsgallery.org
Five things I love about Matt’s Gallery:

1. Director Robin Klassnik (45 years on the job) talks about it as an artwork. The gallery is an artwork.
2. Artists are at the centre of everything the gallery does. Showing at Matt’s Gallery is more like a residency – the relationship that is built up between artist and staff is legendary / incredible.
3. Conversations about the lighting of a single artwork can go on for days.
4. Visitors to the gallery chat with Robin, Tim (Deputy Director), Leïla (Artists & Exhibitions Liaison). It’s a big looping conversation that is built on generosity, curiosity and love.
5. The cacti! They have traveled with Matt’s on its many gallery moves and are now enormous.

Photo: Robin Klassnik and Jes Fernie, March 2025