Restaurateur Mark Hix has curated an exhibition of works from artists including Banksy and Andy Warhol ahead of their auction at Sotheby’s.
The pre-auction exhibition for the fith “Contemporary Curated” sale has opened at Sotheby’s in New Bond Street ahead of the auction on April 11.
Hix, a chef and food writer who runs Hix Oyster and Chop House in Farringdon, is a passionate art collector and supporter of young artists.
He has brought together his 20 favourite works from 190 that will go under the hammer.
The works by 170 artists being auctioned include celebrated global artists such as Niki de Saint-Phalle, a French-American sculptor and painter, and lesser-known artists and recent graduates of art colleges.
Guide prices range from £200 to £100,000.
The artists that he chose to highlight in his exhibition include lesser-known artists.
Hix believes it is important to provide opportunities for young artists to get into the art world and also give a chance to the new generation of collectors to start their collections with more accessibly-priced pieces.
In 2013 he established the Hix Award with a prize of £10,000 for young artists and current art students, and a piece by 2016 winner Joshua Raz is on sale in the auction, and is in the selection he has curated.
Hix, who runs art gallery and restaurant Pharmacy 2 in Vauxhall with friend Damien Hirst, revealed just two of the artists who created the works, he didn’t know.
“I think it’s important where possible to have that relationship with the creator”, he said.
The auction is expected to reach sales of £2million in total.
