Close gallery, founded in 2009 by curator and art advisor Freeny Yianni in the grounds of her 17th-century home near Hatch Beauchamp, Somerset, is expanding its operations. Yianni, who previously worked at Lisson Gallery and helped Grenville Davey win the Turner Prize, recently hired sales director Richard Scarry, formerly of Coates and Scarry in Bristol. The gallery's current exhibition features previously unseen works by British abstract artist Jane Harris (1956–2022), shown both in Somerset and at a new London project space in Marylebone. Upcoming plans include presenting a monumental sculpture by Simon Hitchens at Frieze Sculpture in Regent's Park.
This story matters because it highlights an alternative model for art galleries in the UK, moving away from the commercial rat race toward a slower, community-engaged approach. Close gallery positions itself as a 'bohemian destination' focused on deep engagement with art, contrasting with the larger, more commercial Hauser & Wirth complex in eastern Somerset. The expansion, including a London space and participation in Frieze Sculpture, signals that smaller, independent galleries can thrive by prioritizing artist talks, community interaction, and a more deliberate pace of art sales.