INDEPENDENT OF THE MONTH
INDI E OF THE MONTH B yard Art THIS WELCOMING, CONTEMPORARY GALLERY OFFERS A DIVERSE RANGE OF ARTWORKS – AND THEIR ADMIRERS – A PLACE TO CALL HOME
WORDS BY FRANCES MCNAUGHTON
gallery manager at Byard Art. “One of the highlights in the gallery is our sparkling array of innovative contemporary jewellery, which we have displayed over three floor-to-ceiling glass cabinets.” Whether you’re looking for a delicate handcrafted necklace or a striking centrepiece for your living room wall, the gallery’s extensive collection is always being updated and added to, so you can be sure to find something new to browse each time you visit. Byard Art hosts up to ten exhibitions a year, ranging from solo shows to mixed and themed exhibitions. Slowly but surely, it has established an international reputation for itself. The gallery is frequently chosen to participate in major art fairs all over the world, with its diverse and often unusual collections garnering fans across the globe. “We’re really excited to be one of 50 hand-selected galleries to take part in the first-ever global online Affordable Art Fair,” Jess enthuses. Running until 29 November, the fair will see Byard Art showcase works from ten of its gallery artists in ten key marketplaces across four continents. Many of the gallery’s artists have become wildly popular with clients as far afield as New York and Hong Kong, and its collections continue to attract art enthusiasts both home and away. Like many independent businesses in the city this year, Byard Art was faced with the challenge of turning a dramatic
ince 1998, Cambridge has been home to Byard Art, a bright and inviting art gallery with an ever- changing exhibition programme. Displaying an array of works from almost 200 contemporary artists, the gallery has become a cornerstone of the city’s arts scene, offering a distinctly personal experience for visitors and collectors alike. First opened in 1993 in Nottingham’s Byard Lane, the gallery was originally situated on the top floor of a Victorian lace factory, where it began specialising in visual and applied arts. Five years later, the business relocated to a gallery space on St Mary’s Passage in central Cambridge, which provided a permanent showcase of original artwork by gallery artists, and allowed for expansion in the corporate and public sectors. In 2009, after more than two decades of commercial success, Byard Art moved into its current home on King’s Parade and now boasts more than 1000 square feet of exhibition space. This has enabled the gallery to host a rolling exhibition programme alongside its permanent collection of gallery artists. Displayed over two floors of calm, spacious gallery, Byard Art’s dynamic exhibition programme showcases original paintings, sculptures, ceramics and craftwork, as well as mixed media artwork and limited-edition prints. “It’s not just the pictures on the walls that are worth looking at,” says Jess White,
drop in footfall into an opportunity for innovation. “Over the past six months, with less visitors to the city, we have worked hard behind the scenes, thinking of ways to bring art collections to people in the safety of their own homes,” says Jess. To ensure that nobody missed out on the fabulous works on display in the gallery, the team invested in an innovative new app called Art Visualiser, which utilises cutting-edge augmented reality technology so you can see how your favourite works would look hanging on your wall. “The app allows clients to see artwork in their own homes,” Jess explains. “It’s all true to scale and the artworks can be tried in any room.” The gallery also offers a bespoke framing service, fronted by long- established framer Andy Miller, so you can get your artworks professionally framed. “Our knowledgeable staff are
“One of the highlights is our sparkling array of contemporary jewellery”
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