British artist Damien Hirst to display over 2,000 pieces from his personal art collection in converted warehouses next year
British artist Damien Hirst's personal art collection will go on display in 2015, in a street-length gallery designed by the architects who revamped London's Tate Britain.
Caruso St John Architects are renovating three listed warehouses and adding two more structures to create the Newport Street Gallery, which will stretch the entire length of the Lambeth street.
The gallery's opening was originally projected for 2014, but a spokesperson for Science Ltd, Hirst's company, told the Guardian that the space won't open until "May or June 2015".
Newport Street is already home to one of Hirst's studios, where his series of spot paintings are produced.
The new gallery will display Hirst's over 2,000-strong art collection, including pieces by Francis Bacon, Jeff Koons and street artist Banksy.
In an interview with the Observer in 2012, Hirst called the project "my Saatchi gallery". He continued, "It's a place to show my collection of contemporary art. It feels bad having it all in crates."
Hirst's plans for the space include six exhibition areas, a shop, a restaurant and office spaces, with a office for Hirst himself.
Caruso St John, which previously renovated London's Tate Britain and the Gagosian Paris, plans to convert the old theatre production warehouses into a series of lofty rooms. The two additional structures will be built in the same proportions as the existing buildings.
Hirst was searching for a collection and exhibitions coordinator to be based at the gallery, but Science Ltd confirmed the position has been filled.
http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2014/jul/24/damien-hirsts-saatchi-gallery-set-to-open-in-spring-2015
