The Art Newspaper

London's Arts Club gets a makeover

The 148-year-old private club re-opens with a contemporary look and a new permanent collection to match

By The Art Newspaper. Web only
Published online: 21 September 2011

A series of film still collages on display in the new Arts Club

The British capital's 148-year-old Arts Club reopened last week with a contemporary look and a new permanent collection to match, including pieces by Tomás Saraceno, John Baldessari and Matthew Darbyshire.

The club's new owners, property investor Gary Landesberg and restaurateur Arjun Waney, hired designer David D'Almada of the firm Sagrada to take on the six-month redesign.

“There's a really different feel to the place,” says an Arts Club spokeswoman. “The push for contemporary was partly the result of having a new owner but also because of a push to refresh and revitalise.”

Included in the club's overhaul is the appointment of producer Mark Ronson as the new director of music, La Petite Maison's chef Raphael Duntoye as the head of food and former Dorchester hotel pastry chef Claude Lamarche as head of the bakery.

Riah Pryor