Gallery: Maison Bertaux, London W1 www.maisonbertaux.com
Director: Tania Wade
Key artist: Noel Fielding
Maison Bertaux has been selling patisserie to arty types in Soho since 1871. Now, the bijou bakery has opened a quirky new gallery space upstairs. In December, the café's proprietor, Tania Wade, staged the first exhibition by The Mighty Boosh's Noel Fielding. They sold like hot cakes, from £50 signed posters to the most expensive works at £7,000. "The whole upstairs tearoom was an installation. He wrote all over the walls. I gave him the freedom to do whatever he wanted and it was marvellous," Wade says. "He calls me his hooligan art dealer."
The experience has given Wade a taste for dealing, and she promises more high-profile shows. "I'm not really in the art world. A place like Maison Bertaux has got to keep going. People can sit and have their cake and enjoy the gallery and not feel it's poncey. It's a good idea, isn't it?"
Tania Wade: Harry Hill Hooligan
http://thisweeklondon.com/article/tania-wade-harry-hill-hooligan/
VISUAL ART INTERVIEW: ‘Hooligan Art Dealer’ Tania Wade’s gallery at Maison Bertaux in Soho is currently hosting an exhibition of the work of that well-known TV and stage funny man Harry Hill, and it all looks rather good, as well as very in keeping with the persona of the man himself. We spoke to Tania about her gallery, her celebrity clients, and why exactly she’s a hooligan.
TW: You are known as the ‘hooligan art dealer’ – why is this?
Tania: Noel Fielding gave me the title – he thinks I’m a little bit eccentric.
TW: What sets you apart from other art dealers?
Tania: There’s no one on the board – there is no board – it’s just me and the artists so there are no rules!
TW: One gets the sense that your gallery attracts a celebrity element, is that the case?
Tania: A lot of the artists I work with have other careers, like Harry Hill, Noel Fielding and Sigur Ros. I want them to have the opportunity to show a side of them that people don’t often get to see. Their fans come from all over the world to see their art, which is a terrific thing; they get to feel close to the mind of their favourite celebrity.
TW: What made you decide to exhibit Harry Hill’s artworks? Are they for sale?
Tania: Harry approached me as he knows I’m Noel Fielding’s art dealer, but he has got a little attached to his art so he doesn’t want to sell, which is sad.
TW: What are Harry Hill’s paintings like? What themes do they address?
Tania: They’re true, fact paintings with a cheeky Harry twist. There’s one of Cheryl Cole, all glamorous British sweetheart, then her in America, her face all splodged as no one knows her there. They are like his TV Burp in painting form – deconstructing the celebrity world with a humorous edge. He’s a cheeky genius!
TW: Do you think people are able to take his work seriously, given his, er, sideline as a comedian?
Tania: Most definitely; a smile comes over peoples’ faces as they view his work because they know it’s Harry’s humour, and the unusual way he sees things. I feel the technical skill will speak for itself. People often assume because you are a great comedian you cannot have equal, great talent as an artist as well, which is wrong and I want to show this off! It’s what makes them superstars!
TW: Which other artists are you excited about at the moment?
Tania: Jeremy Deller. I think he is marvellous. He brings the hidden world and all its obscurities to you. That’s a big job! He’s tiny and beautiful.
TW: Who is your favourite artist of all time?
Tania: It’s got to be my main artist: Noel Fielding. Not everyone knows he’s a trained artist. People collect his art all over the world, and I love selling it!
TW: Do you have a favourite London gallery?
Tania: I love going to the Royal Academy, it’s such a treat. A proper day out!
Harry Hill’s works will be on show until the end of March, but the gallery is open all year round, see Tania’s website for more information.
LINKS: www.hooliganartdealer.com | www.maisonbertaux.com | twitter.com/TaniaWade
Rising star
THE OBSERVER Sunday August 19 2007
Tania Wade, gallerist
Interview by Alexandra Heminsley
A Soho cake shop isn't an obvious gallery location, but Tania Wade thought differently. After all, it is Maison Bertaux, every Central Saint Martins art student's cafe of choice. 'They'd been using the room upstairs for years, so I decided it was time to do it properly,' she explains.
And she certainly has: her first show, Woodenship, by newcomer Matthew Buckham, sold out entirely - though you can see his show of rock-star portraits until mid-October.
The secret of the show's buzz was an accident: 'I lost my mobile two days before the opening, so no one could get hold of me. Everyone in the art world thought I was so fabulous turning my phone off for 48 hours, but I actually didn't mean to.'
It hasn't all been plain sailing though, she's been unlucky in love recently. But she does have good friends to help her through, including designer Alexander McQueen. 'I'd had a horrible break-up so he sent me everything a girl who's single needs not to be single!'
Next at the gallery are shows by Richard Dyer and then The Mighty Boosh's Noel Fielding. To what does Tania attribute her recent success? 'I'm not even in the bloody art world, but I do know what I'm doing - it's buzz and it's common sense.'
· Gallery at Maison Bertaux, 27 Greek Street, London W1 www.maisonbertaux.com
Who's in and who's out?
Simon Davis, Evening Standard
11.02.08
The energy of London is nowhere more reflected than in the shifting balance of power among its thoughtmakers, trendsetters and leaders. Every week, Simon Davis looks at who's in and who's out
THE 1000 LONDON'S MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE 2008
AT THE TOP IN FILM DANIEL DAY- LEWIS, ACTOR Winner of the best actor Bafta and widely tipped for the Oscar for playing oil prospector Daniel Plainview in There Will Be Blood.
Several critics believe it to be one of the greatest performances by an actor. Day Lewis doesn't appear in many films — he turns hundreds down. Presently, he's the most influential actor working today.
ART
TANIA WADE, 39
"GALLERISTA"
UNSTOPPABLE
The energy of London is nowhere more reflected than in the shifting balance of power among its thoughtmakers, trendsetters and leaders. Every week, Simon Davis looks at who's in and who's out UNSTOPPABLE ART TANIA WADE, "GALLERISTA" Her first solo show features the work of Noel Fielding, the comedian and wit around town. The show, above Soho patisserie Maison Bertaux, has been phenomenally successful and guests get to look at the works while eating cakes.
LONDON’S TOP MOVERS AND SHAKERS
COURVOISIER TOP 500
TANIA WADE
The vivacious Tania Wade launched her super-chic bijoux gallery in the heart of Soho last year - above London’s smartest French patisserie, with cult comedian Noel Fielding’s first art show. (Maison Bertaux in Greek Street is conveniently located within shouting distance of the Ivy, Groucho, Black’s etc, for uber-fashionable commercial footfall.)
Her venture made sense – la Maison has long been the haunt of choice for students from nearby Central St Martin’s School of fashion and design (worlds in which while Tania herself was deeply immersed before becoming an art dealer). 'They'd been using the room upstairs for years, so I decided it was time to do it properly,' as she explained to the Observer.
But what has really set her apart from the regular art crowd is her distinctly un-stuffy way of hosting and promoting her shows and her artists – far removed from the usual formal strictures of Cork Street. As she told the Obs when quizzed about her success: 'I'm not really even in the bloody art world, but I do know what I'm doing – it's about buzz and it's about common sense.'
Noel Fielding certainly appreciates her approach, saying: ‘Tania is a totally rock and roll art dealer, who illuminates any room or situation. She’s a one-off, an authentic eccentric and completely crazy in the best possible way. I love her – I call her my hooligan art dealer.’
Whatever her secret, Tania’s endeavours have drawn admiring comment from the major press. She’s appeared on the BBC’s Culture Show, was the subject of a Guardian Guide piece, and part of a lengthy Independent feature called: ‘Rebirth of the British art scene: Ten gallery owners who are changing – and challenging – the British art scene’.
The Evening Standard called her ‘unstoppable’ in its ‘Who’s in and Who’s out for 2008?’ feature, the Obs described her as the ‘rising star of the London art world’, while the fashion pages of The Times caught up with Tania recently to discuss her long-standing friendships with Alexander McQueen and Vivienne Westwood (so helpful in such a stylish milieu).
One could suggest that Ms Wade has not done badly in her first year as a Courvoisier 500, in spite of (or perhaps because of?) being a ‘hooligan art dealer’.
Since she devised her sell-out show with Noel Fielding (launching a hugely successful art career, his prices doubling in value within weeks), she’s certainly been busy. Subsequent exhibitions have showcased the work of legendary rock’n’roll snapper Nobby Clark – a friend, who has captured and exhibited rock stars and actors for years, showing portraits of Al Pacino, Antony Hopkins and the Rolling Stones across the world.
She also made space for the work of Keith Martin, one-time Vogue supermodel, photographer and modelista mate to many (including Stella Tennant and Agness Deyn).
The gallery, meanwhile, has been buzzing with the brightest young things in town – Soho regulars and mates of her artists all dropping by (stars of the art, film and music worlds such as the Kasabian boys, Razorlight’s Johnny Borrell, Pete Doherty, Steven Berkoff and Ralph Fiennes).
It’s clear that Tania’s personal brand of insouciant art cool has been a hit, and she plans to continue showing the work of talented people better known for other disciplines than their expertise at the palette. Various collaborations with exciting stars are in hand for the coming months (though the exact itinerary remains a closely guarded secret).
Meanwhile, Tania continues as exclusive art dealer to comic imp and wit-about-town Noel Fielding, and another, even bigger show is planned for next year. She’s also arranged several significant commissions for him, including a large canvas for the prestigious (private member) Ivy Club, which will be shown alongside work by Fielding’s idols Andy Warhol and David Bailey. Online sales of Fielding’s work continue at www.hooliganartdealer.com
