Nikki Walsh | Rising Stars | Select Magazine | 2005
Just who will be the big names in tomorrow’s art world?
Predicting who will make it in the art world isn’t easy. When we approached Nuala Fenton of the Fenton gallery, Kevin Kavanagh of the Kevin Kavanagh gallery, auctioneer and valuer Ian Whyte and portraitist James Hanley RHA for the inside track on who to watch, they were spoilt for choice. “There are so many good artists out there,” says Nuala Fenton.
They had their reservations too. “It’s not just a question of talent,” says Ian. “There are trends in the art market just as there are in other areas. Some subject matters will be more popular than others and some painters will be more fashionable than others.” Luck also plays its part. “Some artists get snapped up by a gallery straight away, while others have to work really hard to get noticed,” says Nuala. “Artists can wait a long, long time for success,” says Jan. “It’s not uncommon for them to reach their 50s or 60s before their work takes off.”
It’s a fickle business, according to Ian, “An artist can be popular for years, then they can vanish, or come back into vogue in their 80s.” So what makes an artist stand out from the crowd? “I look for some kind of energy in the work”, says Nuala. “The work has to be confident and convincing and there must be something to mull over for a while – it has to be engaging.”
James Hanley believes true artistry is in the blood. “Natural painters are instinctive. They don’t have to stick to the rules and they aren’t afraid to make mistakes – they just let the magic happen.”
So who are the big names of the future?
Nuala Fenton on Tom Climent
Nuala Fenton founded the Fenton Gallery in Cork five years ago, after a lengthy career in the arts including a 12-year stint at the Crawford Municipal Art Gallery in Cork.
When abstract painter Tom Climent graduated from the Crawford School of Art, his degree show caused quite a stir in Cork. Now well known in the city, he has yet to establish himself in other parts of the country. “He is an innately good painter and a fantastic colourist,” says Nuala. “His work is developing all the time, which makes him all the more interesting to follow. You can really see the progression. There used to be a figurative element to it but now he has moved away from any narrative -he doesn’t rely on any being or dialogue.”
He’s not afraid to play with scale either. Originally a studio painter of large works, he shifted to a dramatically smaller scale when he began painting outdoors from the roof of his apartment. His works are pure drama, but they are also emotionally suggestive. “There is a real sense of energy and drama about his work, but there is also something very emotional about it and it’s very subtle.”
Now in his late 30s, he divides his time between Ireland and Spain. His work starts at €1,500, while larger pieces sell for as much as €8,000.
“Tom Climent is an example of an artist who is consistent,” says Nuala. “He doesn’t take big price hikes and his level of productivity remains steady – he has a show about every two years.” Tom Climent recently exhibited at the Fenton Gallery in a group show with Sarah Walker. The Fenton Gallery stocks some of his work.