Art With a View
Linton & Kay’s new Cottesloe gallery offers a coastal retreat for their creatives and art lovers, young and old.
In partnership with LINTON & KAY GALLERIES • Photography JODY D’ARCY • Story ELIZABETH CLARKE
Fine art specialists Gary Kay and Linton Partington have completed arguably their most important endeavour to date, a spectacular ocean-front gallery space at Cottesloe Beach. The latest Linton & Kay Gallery, conceived as a luminous and accessible space with the ocean as its backdrop, feels warm yet clean-lined, crisp and contemporary.
Celebrating 25 years in the business, Gary and Linton believe the space will be as important as their landmark Subiaco flagship gallery. "The opportunity arose to open a space at Cottesloe, and we believe its location and aesthetic will make it a true art destination and an accessible community gallery that welcomes international collectors," says Gary. "Also, it is the only art space with an ocean view!"
The partners’ latest acquisition champions contemporary Australian artists while delivering a distinct personality and offering compared to their other exhibition spaces.
"Cottesloe is very upmarket due to its prestigious location and attachment to [George] Kailis’s new restaurant, Gibney, next door," says Linton. "Our Subiaco flagship space is very high-profile, our gallery down south at Cherubino winery is serene and tranquil, and our headquarters in The Pickle District in West Perth is a little grungier and in an area with its finger on the cultural pulse. It is undergoing a huge transformation as the state's art hub."
The pair combined forces in 2003 after Gary joined Linton's art business after 15 years of high-profile media and radio work. "Linton's business partner was relocating to Singapore and the opportunity was there for me to buy in," Gary says. "Together, we changed the gallery model considerably, holding solo exhibitions and transforming to an exhibiting gallery rather than a shop selling art."
Perth's art scene at the time was vibrant, and the pair acquired a second gallery in Subiaco in 2005. They later opened a large gallery on St Georges Terrace and another in the Swan Valley. "They were all fantastic and eventually ran their course," Gary says. "When the opportunity popped up to open in Cottesloe, we couldn't resist."
Linton & Kay's stable of world-class artists will be able to showcase their works across all four spaces to a broad audience. "We will hold the occasional solo exhibition at Cottesloe but will mainly feature half a dozen artists at a time to provide them with a substantial platform," says Gary. "This approach benefits the artists and offers our visitors a diverse and engaging experience, fostering a real sense of community within all four galleries."
For general manager Miranda Brown, "the magic" of the business is the experience offered to every person who walks through the door. "Our galleries are open, comfortable and friendly," she says. "We build our business on relationships and educating our customers, ensuring they get the most from every exhibition. We want them to have a genuine experience and learn about art, which is the essence of our Cottesloe space – a diverse showcase of different art forms and artists."
Demystifying the gallery experience has been an objective of the partners since their first trip to the eastern states together in 2004. "We were surprised how galleries operated then with their desks situated at the back of the room and no one to greet you," recalls Gary. "We were determined our approach would be more intimate, so our desk is at the front entrance and we greet everyone at the door. We have always been open to collaboration with other galleries and have formed fantastic relationships with those in the eastern states, elevating our offerings here while providing our artists invaluable national exposure."
The new gallery space curates contemporary Australian paintings and decorative arts. It also includes a dedicated exhibition space for the duo’s collection of prints and working drawings by American children's author and cartoonist Theodor Seuss Geisel (aka Dr. Seuss).
"We have been the West Australian agent for ‘The Art of Dr. Seuss’ since 2007 and have acquired a strong following here in WA," says Linton. “It is a business within a business, and we felt he deserved his own space. It has received an extraordinary response from young and old since opening just weeks ago."
For art buffs searching for new works, Linton & Kay is expanding its three-dimensional art offering, spanning ceramics, bronzes and glassworks from artists such as Steven Glassborow, Jeff Mincham and Pippin Drysdale.
"People come in and tell us their walls are filled with paintings, and we can offer them three-dimensional artwork that can sit alongside a painting and create a beautiful vignette," says Linton.
Recently, the partners hosted the prestigious Tom Malone Glass Art Prize, Australia's most significant award for Contemporary Glass Art. They are preparing a new exhibition in Cottesloe showcasing the work of "silversmith royalty" Philip Noakes, and another solo show for award-winning landscape photographer Christian Fletcher later in the year.
"It is important for us that there is art for everyone, and here in Cottesloe we are part of a community who eagerly engage," says Linton. "That's the most important aspect for us. This is the people's gallery."
Linton Partington, Gary Kay and Miranda Brown outside the new Linton & Kay Gallery on Marine Parade.
A painting by local artist Kate Elsey shares space with ceramics by Jeffery Mincham AM.
The gallery space revolves around a custom table designed by Andrew Thornton Hick and crafted by Skél Design. Its flowing, curved form is clad with solid oak flutes and features a carving that traces the walk through Cottesloe to the gallery.
Linton & Kay Galleries
Subiaco | West Perth | Cottesloe | Cherubino Wines
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