The London dealer John Martin has partnered with Everard Read gallery from South Africa to launch Circa London in the Chelsea space Martin acquired last year. The new gallery is due to open fully in mid-March after renovations are complete, but the front part of the building opened earlier this week with a rotating display of contemporary works from South Africa and Europe.

“It’s a little taster of what’s to come,” says Martin, adding that the “thrust” of the programme will initially focus on South African artists, including Deborah Bell, Ricky Dyaloyi, Lyndi Sales and Nelson Makamo. A pop-up version of Circa London exhibited works by these artists at 1:54 contemporary African art fair in October. However, the idea is to keep the programme “fairly flexible”, Martin says, and the gallery will also show works from his stable of artists.

Read the full story here: http://artthrob.co.za/2015/11/15/circa-gallery-london-opens/