Day in the Life of Kristin Hjellegjerde | ELEPHANT · 2017. 10. 27. · 10/27/2017 Day in the Life of Kristin Hjellegjerde | ELEPHANT 5/11 I try to think of what I can do for

10/27/2017 Day in the Life of Kristin Hjellegjerde | ELEPHANT

https://elephant.art/day-in-the-life-of-kristin-hjellegjerde/ 1/11

19 Oct 2017

Day in the Life of Kristin Hjellegjerde

Elephant spends a day in London's SW18 with KristinHjellegjerde, who has run her gallery in the area since 2012.Words by Kristin Hjellegjerde

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This year my habits have been quite erratic as I have been travelling continuously: wedid nine international art fairs and we’ve also put on ten exhibitions at the gallery herein London. But sometimes I do try to create a routine. When I wake up in the morningI am usually immediately in the mood to work (unfortunately, perhaps). I check in tosee if something has happened overnight in another time zone, then I make sure mytwo boys are ready for school, before going to the gym or for a swim to force mymind to take a break and to come up with new solutions; they usually happen whenyou try not to push them.


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I am so lucky that I can walk to the gallery on Old York Road in only seven minutesand once I’m there I must quickly have a latte at Brew or CWTCH to get myselfcentred for the day ahead. At the gallery we go through what the most urgent tasksof the day are first. Until now it has mostly been me and Hedvig here, and we worklike ten people—with a bit of help from others in between. We have to be prettyefficient. I usually check the accounts in the morning to make sure everything is ok.I’m not sure it’s something I really need to do every day, but it makes me feel moreorganized.


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During the day we do a lot of shipping, we organize our programme, prepare for artfairs and events. We handle promotion of current and future shows and organizemeetings—it’s important to have as many people come to the gallery to view ourprogramme as possible. We are constantly in touch with our family of artists and alsocollectors who have become our friends. The most exciting part of my day is when Ican get a great new collection or collector interested in an artist’s work. Closing adeal is my kind of fun. Every time I can make one of our artists excited and happyabout a sale, exhibition or other event is another highlight.


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I try to think of what I can do for all of my artists on a daily basis. I am trying my best

to make sure they feel happy and busy. The great thing is that they are such great

friends with each other by now too, so they are often in touch giving each other

support. I think it creates a safe zone for all.

I love people, and luckily people who are interested in art are people you want to

hang out with. So if the chance comes, I like having the collectors around, hosting

dinners and lunches with them, and hearing about what they like and don’t like. It

gives you other impressions and ideas. We are fortunate that when most of our

collectors acquire one piece from us, they end up purchasing another not long after. I

am always grateful for their loyalty. Some collectors have bought work from seven or

eight of our artists, which proves our artists are rather complementary. In the

evenings I often go and see other exhibitions, or go to dinners. Other nights I cook

for the boys at home and make sure all homework is done and that they are happy.


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When I opened the gallery a little over five years ago I looked for the nicest street inmy area. As a foreigner with no credit history in the UK, I can’t believe how lucky Iwas to meet the Patel family, who trusted in me and let me have the space we are infor only three months deposit and let us begin fixing it up. The Patels gave me asculpture of Lord Ganesh and it sits high up on a shelf in the gallery as the remover ofobstacles, the patron of arts and sciences and the giver of intellect and wisdom. Thegod of new beginnings, giving the space great energy.


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Back then, there were fewer cafés but the street is just getting better and better—although we miss some of the old haunts as well. It is strange to see how one streetcan change so much in five years. My favourite spot in the neighbourhood is mygirlfriend Naomi Ruth Elli’s clothing store, Anthology, which is also on our street. Shebecame the best friend one could have after I opened the gallery. We support eachother through our ups and downs and she styles me for any event I go to. It’s a greatfriendship, full of joy, laughter and, once in a while, a couple of tears.

London has a great energy, with an incredibly international mix of people, whichmakes it pulsate with life. May it never change. I have in many ways often felt like anoutsider, especially as I started my gallery in a location where there are no othergalleries, although I concentrate more on international clients and my artists are veryinternational as well. Lately though, I feel there is more of an acceptance towards meand the gallery, which makes me feel more included and respected in the London artscene and it feels good, like I suddenly belong in my adopted city. Absurd in the timeof Brexit perhaps!


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kristinhjellegjerde.com Photography by Benjamin McMahon

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Day in the Life of Kristin Hjellegjerde | ELEPHANT · 2017. 10. 27. · 10/27/2017 Day in the Life of Kristin Hjellegjerde | ELEPHANT 5/11 I try to think of what I can do for