Did you know that part of the Enter Gallery offering is helping businesses and individuals to find the best art for their space? With so much beautiful art out there, it can be daunting to begin the search for the perfect artworks to compliment an aesthetic – and that’s where our Art Advisors come in.

Given February is LGBTQ+ History Month, we thought we’d reveal a little more about this service by telling you about a wonderful project Enter Gallery has been involved in over the last couple of months – helping Tonic@Bankhouse, the UK's first LGBT+ affirming retirement community, to find artworks that capture the spirit of the community.   

 

Introducing Tonic@Bankhouse

Tonic@Bankhouse is a development of 19 one and two bedroom properties in London. The community is designed to welcome those that are ‘genuinely affirming of the lives, histories, needs and desires of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, intersex people and all other identities in our community. The term does not imply exclusion of those who do not identify as LGBT+, but actively values those who respect and celebrate LGBT+ people.'

The building was designed by world-renowned architect, Norman Foster, and is perfectly-located on the River Thames at Albert Embankment. Residents of the retirement community enjoy an on-site restaurant, a community lounge overlooking the river, a floating garden and a roof terrace with an incredible view of central London.

 

Choosing the art

To select the right pieces to adorn the community’s walls, Tonic@Bankhouse worked closely with Enter Gallery’s art buyer, Helen. The brief was to find art that communicates the pain, beauty and relevance of the battle for equality, and honours the contributions of LGBTQ+ artists and activists and their accomplishments in bringing attention to LGBTQ+ challenges.

Here is a selection of the colourful pieces that Tonic@Bankhouse chose for their walls:  

 

Maria Rivans: Dorothy

In Dorothy, Brighton-based artist, Maria Rivans, pays homage to Judy Garland – arguably the biggest gay icon of all time. Many LGBTQ+ folk identified with the Wizard of Oz star’s often troubled but always passionate pursuit of happiness and true love. 

Oli Fowler: Love to Love

Not only will Love by Oli Fowler whisk residents back to the dance floors of their youth with its immortalisation of the Donna Summer disco classic, but it evokes everything Tonic@Bankhouse stands for – namely, unconditional love of love, in all its forms.  

 

Dirty Hans: Graffiti in the Rain and Rainbow Gallery

Tonic@Bankhouse selected two pieces from master of high-impact contemporary art, Dirty Hans – an artist known for borrowing images from popular culture to create artworks that evoke a sense of time and place. Graffiti in the Rain is a fun celebration of love, pride and rebellion, with a dash of Hollywood Glamour.  

 

Rainbow Gallery by Dirty Hans was created following a direct request from one of Enter Gallery’s patrons. The piece, from Hans’ Love Gallery series, features an art gallery packed full of works of art and movie stills rejoicing in queer romance.

 

Victoria Topping: Flower Power and Cosmic Vibration 

This piece is from Victoria Topping, an artist and illustrator who describes her art as ‘music for the eyes.’ In Flower Power, Topping combines motifs from popular culture with flowers to create her psychedelic arrangement.

In Cosmic Vibration, Topping represents the power and beauty of an open and accepting mind. 

 

Ruth Mulvie: Domino and Movie Night

Every artwork British artist, Ruth Mulvie, creates is crafted in homage to human pleasure. Her nostalgic pieces, which are inspired by vintage photography and architecture, sing with sunshine and warmth. Both Domino and Movie Night, whisk the observer way to places that feel at once both familiar and imagined.

Mulvie explains: ‘The work is inspired by my love of water and places of pleasure - sometimes real and sometimes imagined. I try to create places I would like to go or that remind me of places I may have been in dreams or have visited in my childhood.’

 

If you are in the process of decorating a space and would like some guidance on what art to choose, you need only ask. Give us a call at the gallery on +44 (0)1273 724829, or email us hello@entergallery.com.