At home with….Ocki Magill
7 July 2021
Ocki Magill bought a shop in Camberwell in 2016 as her home and since 2017 it has become a gallery space. Blue Shop Cottage is a central hub for arts, community and culture supporting emerging artists, selling original artwork by artists worldwide to collectors worldwide. Ocki curates exciting art exhibitions throughout the year specialising in emerging artists and thrives on supporting the artists with their creative vision enabling them to put on the best show possible. The mantra at Blue Shop Cottage is Help Artists Grow.
Last year brought about many changes as a result of the pandemic, what were the consequences for you?
We had to adapt super quickly when our physical shows were all put on hold, but it was the challenge that forced us to be creative with the business. We started chatting to different artists/makers/curators each and every day of lockdown and I found this was a fantastic way to stay in touch with artists, keep people at home amused and it kept me and a few people inspired along the way. These conversations have led to large acquisitions of work by Soho House, solo shows of previously undiscovered artists and so much more. We launched our Works On Paper shows which were a huge success shipping artwork from artists to buyers globally at an affordable price. We are moving into more exciting ideas now as a gallery, for example I want to deliver more to artists to help them grow, through learning and incredible opportunities.
Were you surprised about any art market changes over the last year?
It was thrilling to see the art market open up. Palpably in the space of 12 months people were learning that art can be accessible to everyone - that you can buy an original drawing for £200 and that emerging art is a great way to fill your life and home with beautiful original artwork that supports young artists - this is essentially what we are all about at Blue Shop Cottage so to see this happen nationwide was really exciting. There are so many exciting artist-run galleries who alongside us are changing the 'artworld' as we know it. Ellie Pennick of Guts Gallery and Delphian Gallery as well as exciting young art historians like Katy Hessel - a new voice, a new approach is emerging.
When museums and galleries were closed or travel to them prohibited how did you stay current with what was going on?
The inevitable rolling scroll of Instagram is one thing - and a dangerous one as we all know. I much prefer to chat to people, the daily artist interviews have fed my brain all lockdown - that and planting endless seeds and shoots. Virtual studio visits, Zoom calls to artists in LA, asking people round to sit on the benches here at Blue Shop is much more how I like to stay in touch with people. I went to see our friend and Blue Shop collector Adebayo Bolaji's show at Beers Gallery with Blue Shop artist Ines Fernandez de Cordova the other day and it felt very, very good.
Many people who are new to buying art are looking for inspiration and guidance from those that have been buying art for a while, especially when it comes to buying their first work of art. Do you remember your first art purchase?
My first large piece I bought was a large canvas by Sophie Vallance Cantor through Guts Gallery and it states on the painting 'MAKE GOOD WORK, EAT GOOD FOOD, CRY. I buy artworks that resonate with me emotionally, as a general rule of thumb, they normally remind me of a feeling or a person I love or a time that was good and full of good memories.
Is there one stand out tip that you can give to those who are starting a new collection or considering buying their first work of art?
Follow your heart and buy what you love.
You will know the feeling when it arises.
Trust that and go for it.
Support living artists and, where you can, help young people with their confidence and their endeavours.
Is there one work that you either own or would like to own that stands out above all others for you? What is it and why?
All the works I have by Blue Shop artists that I've worked with and have since become friends and therefore part of the family mean the world to me.
To work with these brilliant, amusing, inspiring young people and then to have their work in your home as a reminder of who I am and what I'm here to do is my greatest driver. From sculptures by Dominic McHenry and Augustus Stickland - whittled and burnt here at Blue Shop to paintings by Catherine Repko, Florence Hutchings and Nettle Grellier to works on paper by Mary Herbert, Ines Fernandez de Cordova, Plum Cloutman - the gallery is an extension of my love for art and people.
What do you feel is the role of art advisors and how do you think they can help collectors?
The role I take on is to look after artists and to support them in their growth in any way I can.
I believe that by helping young and emerging artists we help create a richer tapestry of culture here in London. Everything we love from fashion, to colour, to style and feeling, poetry and literature starts with artists. I think maybe it's become more about money, fame and notoriety which is not something I involve myself in so much.
What is the one thing you look forward to in the art world this year?
We've had six killer shows since we were able to reopen on 12 April 2021 and we are now taking a little break to decompress and get those ideas all fired up again. In the meantime, we have launched our first residency for eight emerging artists this September in the southwest of France. I will be launching peer-to-peer learning workshops for artists led by artists and in September 2021 our Autumn/Winter calendar kicks off again with some incredible artists. Blue Shop has only just begun. Get Ready.
www.blueshopcottage.com