Will Ramsay, founder of Will's Art Warehouse and the world-renowned Affordable Art Fair, talks bagpipes, rastas and the artist he thinks you should be snapping up now. 2-1 tickets to the Affordable Art Fair (11-14 March 2010)
available here.
What was the motivation behind Will’s Art Warehouse?
To be the Majestic Wine Warehouse of the art world! Art and wine are both things that people can feel embarrassed about; the wine world hugely expanded by being unintimidating, and I wanted to do the same for art.
Army to art world isn’t the most conventional of routes. How did that happen?
The Army is stereotyped! I signed the dotted line aged 16 before my passion for art and business developed.
Which is your first love: art or business?
Entrepreneurship! That takes up most of my time and it’s important to enjoy work. I have a passion for art and that is the cream beyond the mundane.
Why did you decide to launch The Affordable Art Fair?
To bring other galleries into this ‘accessible’ marketing drive which evolved with Will’s Art Warehouse.
How has the affordable art market been affected by the recession?
Very little! Last October’s fair was the best attended ever, and the third best ever for sales, out of 17 London fairs in the last 10 years, with £4million of art bought.
What are you predictions for the contemporary art market in general this year?
Further pick up as confidence returns.
What do you say to people who say they ‘hate’ contemporary art?
To quote Shakespeare: “Whatever you think, there is a world elsewhere”. Don’t close your eyes to what you don’t think you understand. You need to open your eyes to the possibilities of art. Look longer. Art should move you.
Which artists’ work would we find hanging in your home and why?
Mainly young artists. Humour does it for me. And lots of photography. And some huge sculptures: one a 11ft high rasta.
What’s the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
By someone I shared a cabin with on a Hull to Rotterdam ferry: “The only way to make real money in this world is to use your head to pay other people to use their hands”
Who do you admire and why?
Anyone with dreams that they try to fulfil.
Tell us something about yourself that we might not otherwise know.
I play the bagpipes.
Which contemporary artist(s) should we be snapping up now and why?
Louise Bourgeois. She is the godmother of contemporary art as the oldest major global artist still alive. She will be 99 this year.
What exhibition have you been to see recently?
The permanent collection at the National Gallery of Scotland – I love revisiting it. It comes close to the Frick (in New York) for concise quality.
If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be and why?
At the top of a hill in the Highlands of Scotland. The views. The air. The timelessness.
What is the most you have ever spent on a work of art, and was it worth it?
£5,000. I think so!
Where do you see yourself (and the AAF) in ten years?
In the last ten years we have launched AAFs in London, Bristol, New York, Sydney, Melbourne, Singapore, Milan, Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris. In ten years, maybe in ten more cities?
What's your favourite website and why?
BBC iPlayer, because wherever I am in the world I can catch up with the UK news.
Visit:
www.affordableartfair.co.uk
Emily Jenkinson
9 February 2010
