Victoria Miro, the influential London art dealer, reflects on her 40-year career as her eponymous gallery celebrates its anniversary. In a rare interview, she discusses her humble beginnings—displaying art in her husband's office window and hosting pop-ups—and her rise to prominence representing acclaimed artists such as Chris Ofili, Isaac Julien, Do Ho Suh, and Chantal Joffe. The gallery's birthday exhibition, "Victoria Miro: 40 Years," features works by its roster, including pieces by Kudzanai-Violet Hwami, Stan Douglas, and Grayson Perry.
Miro's story matters because it offers insight into the career of a quietly influential gallerist who has shaped contemporary British art for four decades. Her ability to nurture major talents—from Turner Prize winners to Venice Biennale representatives—underscores the role of gallerists in the art ecosystem. The interview also humanizes a figure often seen as mysterious, revealing her early struggles at the Slade and her enduring passion for exhibition-making, which has made Victoria Miro a key institution in London's art scene.