And you are?

To get a sense of the daily cycle of life in London’s gallery heartlands, Plaster pull back the curtain and spotlight the people and jobs that make Cork Street tick, photographed by Kyle Crooks. As part of Plaster magazine’s guest editorship of CATALOGUE, the magazine of Cork Street Galleries…

It takes a lot to run a gallery, much of it unseen. Beyond the curated walls and polished exhibitions lies a world of less seen hustles, passions and skills, from the hanging of canvases to the chaotic comms of client relations and everything in between. But what actually happens behind the scenes? Have you ever wondered who exactly keeps the wheels turning?

THE REDFERN GALLERY

Paul Bower
Technician

Years you’ve worked with The Redfern Gallery:
20 years.

“Being a gallery technician can be physically demanding: handling vast, expensive paintings correctly; the logistics of moving heavy stone sculptures; the early hours of art fairs and the late nights of private views where I often man the bar which, for obvious reasons, can be a challenge in its own right.”

NAHMAD PROJECTS

Billie Temple
Consultant graphic art director

Years you’ve worked with Nahmad Projects:
Eight years.

“The diversity and quality of the art you can see on Cork Street is incredible but, for me, it is the people that make it all happen that are the thing I love most. There’s tonnes of passion and knowledge crammed into one small street in London. Once, a man tried to sell me a lizard in a Manolo Blahnik box.”

GOODMAN GALLERY

Alisdair Kitchen
Film director and editor

Years you’ve worked with Goodman Gallery:
One year as a freelancer, nearly two in-house.

“It’s a beautiful part of town, and feels like a significant place to me personally. I came to filmmaking almost by chance following a career as a classical musician, and one the earliest jobs that led me down this new path happened on Cork Street, so I’ll always look upon it fondly. Just around the corner, I once got chatting to Tilda Swinton about the music of Benjamin Britten while she was Christmas shopping!”

MASSIMODECARLO

Lara Asole
Senior museum liaison

Years you’ve worked with MASSIMODECARLO:
Almost five years.

“Working with institutions is like piecing together a jigsaw puzzle – there are lots of parts to manage, and it takes time to see the full picture, but the end result is always rewarding. Cork Street can really mess with your sense of reality. You’ll spot a familiar-looking face and suddenly question if you met them at a gallery dinner or if they’re actually on TV. And yes, I’m definitely showing off, but I’ve seen Harry Styles at least twice – and I can confidently say I didn’t confuse him with an old friend.”

STEPHEN FRIEDMAN GALLERY

Daniela Lancellotti
Registrar

Years you’ve worked at Stephen Friedman Gallery:
One year and seven months.

“Working on Cork Street feels like stepping into a piece of history. In the early 20th century, numerous galleries opened here, launching many artists into the spotlight. The area is also infused with a special energy due to its proximity to the Royal Academy and Savile Row, where The Beatles held their iconic final performance on a rooftop. I remember last year’s Frieze week, when all the galleries on Cork Street stayed open late. The street buzzed with people chatting and enjoying drinks as they moved from one gallery to the next. It was truly magical. I can only imagine how vibrant Cork Street must have been back in the 30s.”

FLOWERS GALLERY

Vienna Shelley
Gallery assistant

Years you’ve worked at Flowers Gallery:
11 months.

“The best thing about my job is meeting a diverse range of people who have brilliant stories to tell – artists and visitors alike! When all the galleries have their opening nights on the same day, it creates a real buzz and sense of community on Cork Street, which is something you wouldn’t find often in Mayfair.”

HOLTERMANN FINE ART

Archie Bell
Freelance installation technician

Years you’ve worked with Holtermann Fine Art:
Around one year.

“Cork Street is a thin road of wealth and power, and provides an eccentric and mixed group of people. Recently I saw a trike driving down the road and I glimpsed at the driver – with one arm he was steering and on the other, he had two snakes.”

TIWANI CONTEMPORARY

Magali Andonov
Registrar

Years you’ve worked at Tiwani Contemporary:
A year and a half.

“The art industry is a very fast pace industry and we often have to works on 5 projects at the same time (especially around the fall). There is always a problem to deal with for every project so it requires me to be multi taking and problem solver at all times – but I would say this is the most exciting part!”

WADDINGTON CUSTOT

Dominic Chesterman
Conservator and restorer

Years you’ve worked with Waddington Custot:
Seven years.

“I love the history and creativity of Cork Street. Generations of artists have been inspired to do what they do because it exists. I was once restoring a piece in the gallery as the show was opening, I had my magnifiers and gloves on, a member of the public asked if they could try them on and have a go, I guess they thought it was participatory.”

Jazmin Bolanos and Norma Cajas
Cleaners

Years you’ve worked with Waddington Custot:
Five years.

“The most challenging part of our job is clearing around the art pieces so we don’t damage them, especially the sculptures on the floor. We arrive really early in the morning on Cork Street and sometimes see big trucks and people running around while they film a movie.”

THE POLLEN ESTATE

Reece Ireland
Cork Street asset manager

Years you’ve worked with The Pollen Estate:
Five years.

“When I started on the Estate I had little knowledge about contemporary art. It has been great to be introduced to this world and I learn something new every week! All you need to do is walk through the galleries on Cork Street for your love of art to grow and grow. The best thing is seeing the street so alive during Frieze week. If I am honest, having this photograph taken is probably the weirdest thing that’s happened to me here! Saying that, I am really delighted to be part of the feature.”

Find this article in print: CATALOGUE issue 7.0, guest edited by Plaster, and featuring one of 14 collectable artist posters, is out now