A galaxy of stellar artists have contributed works on paper to an exhibition and auction in aid of Quench in Margate, a pillar of the coastal arts community founded by the artists Lindsey Mendick and Guy Oliver. Dames Tracey Emin and Sonia Boyce, alongside Jeremy Deller, Natalia Gonzalez Martin, Pio Abad and Ryan Gander have donated works to save the non-profit project space and gallery which has supported 68 artists with bursaries amounting to £89,400 since 2021, but has since been hit by funding cuts. A statement on the space's website says "...we are on the brink of having to close our doors".
Among its many notable achievements, the organisation has supported emerging and early career artists with mentoring and exhibition opportunities. “Quench also focuses on LGBTQ+, global majority and working-class artists throughout our programming [and] offers a free educational programme for local young people with a particular focus on young people from backgrounds under represented in the arts,” says a statement.
The auction will go live on 27 July at 5pm, alongside an opening at Quench Gallery, and will close online 11 August at 6pm (the auction will be streamed on the Quench website and Instagram). So dig deep—look down the back of the sofa—get bidding, and help save Quench….
Pio Abad, Untitled (Malakas), 2022
courtesy Quench