Haunch of Venison
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Art gallery |
| Founded | 2002 |
| Fate | Discontinued artist representation and merged with Christie's Private Sales in 2013 |
| Headquarters | London , United Kingdom |
Area served | International (London, New York, Berlin) |
Key people | Emilio Steinberger (Senior International Director) |
| Products | Contemporary art exhibitions and artist representation |
| Parent | Christie's International plc (since 2007) |
Haunch of Venison was a modern art gallery operating between 2002 and 2013, presenting prominent contemporary artists through its international venues located in London and New York.
History
Established in 2002 and named after its initial site in Haunch of Venison Yard, London, the gallery became part of Christie’s International plc. in 2007 while maintaining independent management under Senior International Director Emilio Steinberger.
The gallery's roster included artists such as Rina Banerjee, Justin Mortimer, Thomas Heatherwick, Jitish Kallat, Jamie Shovlin, Joana Vasconcelos, along with Turner Prize nominees Richard Long, Simon Patterson, Katie Paterson, and Nathan Coley.
Between March 2009 and November 2011, the London venue was temporarily relocated to 6 Burlington Gardens, the former home of the British Museum’s Museum of Mankind. The move was inaugurated with Mythologies, a group exhibition that transformed the gallery into an extensive cabinet of curiosities. Following renovations led by architect Annabelle Selldorf, the gallery returned to its original Haunch of Venison Yard location in September 2011.
In March 2012, Haunch of Venison broadened its presence by opening a second London space on Eastcastle Street in Fitzrovia, a district recognized for its artistic communities and contemporary art venues. The new site debuted with an exhibition featuring Scottish artist Katie Paterson.
On 28 March 2013, Haunch of Venison discontinued artist representation and consolidated its gallery operations with Christie’s Private Sales division to focus exclusively on the secondary art market.
New York and Berlin
Haunch of Venison launched its New York branch in September 2008. The inaugural show, "Abstract Expressionism - A World Elsewhere," curated by David Anfam, showcased works by artists including Franz Kline, Willem de Kooning, Lee Krasner, Barnett Newman, Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, Aaron Siskind, David Smith, and Clyfford Still. In 2011, the gallery presented a comprehensive exhibition of paintings by Peter Saul. Initially located within the Rockefeller Center, the New York gallery moved in 2011 to a redesigned venue in Chelsea crafted by Annabelle Selldorf.
The Berlin location opened in September 2007 near the contemporary art institution Hamburger Bahnhof within a repurposed industrial building ideal for large-scale exhibitions and innovative projects. Its debut event included a performance by the fictional band "Lustfaust," created by artist Jamie Shovlin. The Berlin gallery closed its doors in December 2010, concluding with a solo exhibition by Yoko Ono.