More Pop-up

Following up on my previous post "pop-up galleries in vacant space" here are a couple more. It's great to see that not all retail space is turning into Outlet Stores during the crisis but that also young and upcoming creative talent gets a chance to rent or borrow vacant space. Curious to see what the city is going to look like come Autumn. Everybody, please send me a line if you see more popping-up in Utrecht (or Amsterdam)

Fashionmania.nl on the Nobelstraat

Probably the most popped-up typography on the windows so far. Splashed on hand-drawn type, red paint directly on the windows. This looks really improvised, also the inside looks relatively improvised and the style is truly Popped. This is an online fashion-shop (not a gallery) testing the waters in the real world of brick and mortar retail. They can stay for a limited amount of time in this former take-away (read my previous post on Stamppot-to-go here)

DepARTmentstore at Springweg
the temporary art- and lifestyle shop DepARTmentstore had closed it's doors by the time I arrived, probably the reason it looked a bit empty, empty shelves say enough. Around christmas they had a space on the Plompetorengracht in the CBKU  (read my post here on Affordable Art) this time around the approach seems more stylized, less  abundant and crazy. What's left to see is furniture, plump in proportion a mix between 50's retro and country-style. The country zest really comes through in the proportion and simplicity of the pieces. It's spiced up with some colour-ful and semi-abstract paintings. This style is not immediately recognizable as pop-up it looks more like a regular gallery, the other pop-ups that I have been visiting have an energy and vibe to them that I'm missing here (perhaps because I was too late....) Looking forward to the next one, please let me know when and where!

Pop-up galleries in Vacant Space

The economic crisis is giving creativity a chance. Just this month in Utrecht there are at least 4 pop-up galleries all occupying space that would normally have been rented out to profitable retail. But right now these spaces are vacant, and meanwhile young and upcoming gallerist can borrow them for free and create contemporary exhibitions. All these gallery-owners are young starters, they have a  permanent presence online and across social media, and then pop into real life when space becomes vacant and available. They all favor a gallery style that is informal, on occasion turn their galleries into a social and convivial space and favor local artists. Approachable art with a low threshold, which is decorative it's easy to imagine how it would embellish your home.

Fred & Guus on the Nachtegaalstraat 29
This is not just a temporary gallery it's a hang-out. The space is full of artistic work of over 25 local upcoming artists, next to the exhibition the gallery also houses events like high-tea, live-art, workshops, theater, bands and readings. By organizing events the gallery makes a connection to people, they create a hang-out, a place where people spend time, to involve people in art and there are many novice collectors amongst the buyers.

Bedford in Jansveld
Open for a month for the second time. Bedford is one of the newest galleries and a personal experiment of the two owners. A nice quirky mix of illustrations and photography, with the necessary dose of shoppable fashion accessories.

these illustrations will be published later this year in a children's book

"oh you simple things" by aleks pietrzykowska
super-cool necklaces in laser-cut plexiglass

Pop-up gallery NL, Domstraat
This gallery is housed on a absolute top-location right beneath the Dom. Clearly a gallery that has it primary existence online, URL in capitals on the facade, cool-dude hanging behind his laptop. The collection inside is a little bit more of a mix, less clear, and again with in a fine balance between art and design; quirky and particular little wanna-haves that would make your living room look special.

lamp by Beemeubels.nl

Poetry bowls by Jacueline Tijssen