Ashley Saville, a London gallerist, chronicles the week leading up to the opening of her eponymous gallery on Fleet Street. She shuttles supplies, oversees renovations, and prepares for the inaugural solo exhibition of artist Jason Shulman, whose work includes long-exposure photographs titled "Cum Shots." Saville meets with artist Sienna Murdoch, sends hundreds of promotional emails, and navigates the practical and emotional challenges of launching a new space.
This diary-style account offers an intimate, behind-the-scenes look at the realities of opening a commercial gallery in London, from securing loans and managing contractors to courting critics and collectors. It highlights the personal dedication and vulnerability required to champion experimental contemporary art, while also revealing the often-unseen labor that sustains the art world's public-facing events.