Grove Gallery, London’s leading contemporary art destination, has launched its first international outpost in Villars, the exclusive Swiss resort.
From high in the Swiss Alps, with views to Lake Geneva and the Mont Blanc massif, Grove Gallery has launched its first international gallery and has already seen a sharp increase in art buyers and acquisitions.
The charming resort village of Villars-sur-Ollon, in the Vaud canton, hosts a vibrant new art space for the maverick London gallery, renowned for consistently giving a voice to challenger artists whose work sits outside the dominant contemporary canon.
The launch follows the third anniversary of Grove Gallery in London’s Fitzrovia, and builds on the success of founder James Ryan’s vision to promote and give a platform to underrepresented artists and art that champions social causes.
“As we continue to strengthen our relationships with collectors around the world,” says James, “our new gallery in Villars provides a fantastic international platform for engagement with our artists and their work.”
With a long history of esteemed private collections and foundations, Switzerland continues to attract patronage from established art-lovers, as well as a new generation of families and individuals, both local and international.
“Our presence in Villars means we can present the work and untold narratives of our extraordinary roster of artists to a discerning global audience – all against this stunning alpine backdrop, which has long captivated both artists and collectors,” James explains.
Alongside other top Swiss resorts such as Gstaad and St Moritz, Villars is known for world-class ski slopes and cross-country trails in winter; hiking, golf and mountain biking in summer; and a host of cultural activities and a range of excellent hotels and restaurants. Villars is also home to three top international schools.
The aim of the team at Grove Villars is to bring the local community together through a dynamic programme of inspiring curated exhibitions and unique events, on and off the slopes.
“We are collaborating with the newly renovated Villars Palace, an exquisite five-star luxury hotel, to create a series of immersive art experiences including regular ‘Yoga & Art’ sessions,” says James.
To encourage young people to get involved with art, the gallery team has enjoyed working with two of Villars’ boarding schools. “Bringing the schools’ art curricula to life through visiting artists and live, art demonstrations.”
Throughout the ski season, the team at Grove offer a warm welcome for the many visitors to the resort, and look forward to introducing them to new art experiences during their stay.
