Objet d'art

London is increasingly seen as the epicenter of the art trade. There are so many new art galleries opening almost by the week. In the near future we have the Tate Modern extending itself beyond its current boarders. In addition there is a planned extension to the Southbank's Festival Wing. Only the other day the brand new part of the Serpentine Gallery designed by the illustrious Zaha Hadid was opened. There are new facilities at the prestigious Royal Academy in the old Keeper's House, and their premises in Burlington Gardens is having a major face lift. The Royal Academician and architect  David Chipperfield is overseeing the whole thing. I should as they say declare an interest - I work as a volunteer at the RA and my daughter has a wonderful successful art gallery in Fitzrovia that opened last year. So there is a real buss in town at the moment in the art world. Why London? There are many reasons: the level of creativity coming out of the plethora of art schools, an open art market, a clutch of highly prestigious international commercial art galleries, good laws that protect both the buyer and seller, a collection of fine auction houses, good state funded art galleries, academic schools of excellence like The Courtauld Institute, the Royal Academy, the cultural life generally, good international shops, rich buyers etc. Long may this appetite for art and London continue.