Concrete Hermit Ventures to Soho

In 2004, Yorkshire-born Chris Knight founded the independent label Concrete Hermit, a brand that strives to deliver the work of artists to a wider audience than those simply looking for something to hang on their walls.

Its first gallery space-come-clothing-shop was opened in the East End’s oh-so-trendy Shoreditch in 2007, displaying the works of local and international artists such as Jon Burgerman and Ian Stevenson. Now it is expanding and opening a second branch in the capital’s centre: Kingly Court, Carnaby Street.

This gallery’s unique approach changes the preconceived ways in which we appreciate, absorb and ultimately purchase fashion and art. Concrete Hermit’s ever-changing exhibitions, every four to six weeks, allow it to constantly be seen as fresh and forward-thinking, as it spearheads the movement to provide new ways for art to reach a wider demographic.

Concrete Hermit also produces lines of clothing and publishes books which – along with the mixture of illustrations, graphic design and fine art – allow greater access to the artists’ work. Chris Knight views this as crucial in supporting ‘the grassroots scenes that have always made London and the UK so creatively vibrant’ in providing new means for artists’ work to reach the wider public.

The new venue in the West End’s Kingly Court opened recently with a range of new clothing by artist Gareth Bayliss; postcard books by Ian Stevenson and Mr Bingo; and a range of screenprints resulting from an exciting collaboration with Christie’s. This new space affords Concrete Hermit the opportunity to have two galleries with individual and distinctive identities which will ultimately deliver the same cohesive message: that the gallery’s founder isn’t bothered ‘if you’re a student or a superstar; good stuff is just good’. Concrete Hermit’s job is to deliver ‘good stuff’, good art and fashion to the wider public.

Concrete Hermit can be found at:

Ground Floor
Kingly Court
Carnaby Street
Soho
W1B 5PW

5a Club Row
Shoreditch
London
E1 6JX

Tel: 020 7729 2646