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As London Art Fair 2025 kicks off, I sat down with Sally Bent - Director of the Fair - to discuss her inspirations, favourite artworks, and the enduring impact of the artists she admires. From Frank Auerbach to Tracey Emin, Sally shares her perspective on the art world and its emotional power.
It really depends on my mood. So, in the run-up to the fair, I always say something like The Scream. But one of the works I always come back to is Frank Auerbach’s Mornington Crescent - Summer Morning. I’m a North Londoner, and the early morning light around Camden has always had this special place in my heart. I just feel like if I had that on my wall, it would always make me very happy.
When I was younger and a bit more “eye-rolly” about Contemporary art, I remember going to the Rothko room at the Tate, and having such an emotional response to those pieces. They have such depth. I don’t come from a practicing art background, and I was definitely one of those people who thought it was just blocks of colour on the wall. But when you go and sit in front of them, it really gives you cause to think, and I still think it’s one of the first pieces that made me really reassess my relationship with art and my emotional connection to it.
I think Auerbach would have to be there. I do love David Hockney also. He’d be a great guest to have just because he’s got good cheeky chap energy. Finally, I think Lubiana Himid would be a very interesting Contemporary artist to have there.
I can’t think of a specific artwork, but there’s something about going into a Roman church and seeing a Caravaggio. There’s something about encountering art in a different way in those spaces. I went to Rome with my family in my twenties, and I do remember my mum banging on at me about how important it was. I think going to see it again now and knowing more about how art has to be conserved and presented, I think I’d have a more mature approach now.
Obviously Frank has to be in there, and after his passing last year there’s been a real reassessment of his work. Francis Bacon is also quite front-of-mind for me right now as we have Bacon at the forefront of the Sainsbury wing at the beginning of the fair.
There’s something very lovely about the Horniman Museum, they have an insane collection. I’d also say South London Gallery, because I think the programme of works they do for a small gallery out of Central London really pushes the boundaries and they’re such a champion of up-and-coming artists.
I’m very late to the party but I’ve just started reading Yellow Face. It’s good, dark humour. I also started reading Agatha Christie over Christmas; The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is a great entry point and has a great twist. I love a good page-turner that transports your mind somewhere else entirely.
I would quite like to have been Tracey Emin when she brought out the bed. I just think that piece is so ballsy and she took so much flak for it. I think it would be very interesting to have a moment in her shoes. And it’s so interesting as well that when all her work burnt down, she refused to recreate it. Her work is made and defined by moments that can’t be repeated.