New gallery a lifeline for artists in troubled times
Amid drastic culture cuts, RUTH MILLINGTON discovers hope for the future
CAN artists have a successful career in Birmingham? Following news of drastic council cuts to the cultural sector, it’s certainly a worrying and uncertain time for the city’s creatives.
However, there is some hope on the horizon, as two female artists are launching a new commercial gallery in the Jewellery Quarter. Located on Vyse Street, Stryx Gallery will open its doors on April 13. Behind this exciting new venture are two co-directors, Anna Katarzyna Domejko and Karolina Korupczynska, who both studied art at Birmingham City University, and therefore understand the needs of local artists well.
They also have a history of supporting other creatives in the city. It was after graduating in 2012 that Karolina, with seven other alumni from Margaret Street, founded Stryx Minerva Works in Digbeth. Anna joined Stryx in its early days, when it was a self-funded gallery with studios and exhibition space for emerging and mid-career artists in the city.
The gallery has since evolved to become a diverse non-profit organisation with Arts Council England funding, with a second venue, Stryx JQ in the Jewellery Quarter, opening in 2023.
Now a driving force in shaping the future of contemporary art in the region, Anna and Karolina are keen that Stryx maintains its ethos while taking a crucial next step in representing Birmingham’s creative talent further.
The idea for the gallery’s new commercial arm has grown out of development programmes, including mentoring schemes and residencies, which have had a hugely positive impact on participating artists. It will also build on the success of an online shop which was launched in 2020 to sell original artworks and collectable editions from their portfolio of award-winning artists.
With an understanding of artists’ needs and how to ensure their progression, the co-directors’ vision for Stryx Gallery is that it will enable local talent to not only start, but sustain successful creative careers in Birmingham.
They commented: “We want it to be a space where artists can grow. We usually start working with artists through one of our residency or artist development programmes, for which they are paid appropriately, and this is important to us. We then typically support them further through our studio provision, online shop and Home Grown programme that is focused on developing artists’ professional practice for commercial success. They also want to create a welcoming gallery for collectors, including those new to buying art. “Because we are both artists and migrants ourselves, and know the feeling of not belonging, we want the space to be open and welcoming, where people can chat to us and the artists”.
Stryx Gallery will provide an opportunity for people to buy and invest in a carefully curated selection of affordable art from emerging and mid-career artists.
Items will include originals, prints, photography and collectibles, with prices ranging from £30 to £1,000. The co-directors say: “We intend that works for sale will be a good investment in the next five to ten years”.
With a history of supporting their artists’ career progression, Stryx already has several success stories, including that of studio holder Alex Billingham who has developed several projects at Stryx, leading to several successful residencies and shows across the country, including a major exhibition currently being staged at The New Art Gallery Walsall. Another artist being represented by the gallery in the first instance is Lucy Andrews, who says: “At a time when arts organisations in Birmingham are losing all of their funding, Stryx helps support creative communities.
‘‘It provides a unique opportunity to reflect local residents and cultural heritages. Buying from local talent helps to keep Birmingham a vibrant and diverse place of art and culture, promoting the growth of the arts scene, and gives artists the resources they need to continue creating.”
For Wolverhampton-based artist B4g_lord, the gallery has been a creative lifeline.
“Stryx has kept me going over the past couple of years since Covid really. Having an organisation like Stryx supporting and advocating for you is amazing. They’ve supported me by allowing me to use their space to host my own show, brought me in to run workshops and offered me the opportunity to take part in residency programmes.”
Also on their books are Abdulrazaq Awofeso, Gabriella Broadley, Molly Cleaver, Jemima Graham, Paul Newman, Lexi Strauss and Boglarka Toth, who will take part in an opening group exhibition. Featuring
paintings, prints and photography, the show will celebrate some of the best talent from across the West Midlands. Following this, a dynamic programme will allow a different artist to exhibit in the space every six months or so. Exhibitions will be accompanied by an active public programme, to include a free panel discussion on ‘How to start an art collection’, taking place on the evening of Thursday April 25.
Connecting artists and collectors, Stryx Gallery will bring to life a vision to make art affordable for everyone, while supporting local, emerging and award-winning talent, and ensuring that Birmingham’s artists can make successful careers in the Second City.