Ampersand House is a unique concept in a gallery of art and design. Located in a classical Brussels house, it is the initiative of two collectors, Kathryn Smith and Ike Udechuku. Both Anglo-Australian citizens and lovers of art and design. They took advantage of their various stops around the world (London, San Francisco, Luxembourg..) to jointly develop their passions and collections.
Professionally active in the fields of law and finance, Kathryn and Ike have acquired over the years, pieces by artists from countries where the couple has resided; from Matthew Hilton and Nigel Coates in London in 1996 – two artists who have since then become benchmarks of contemporary design, to Eames and Michael Light in San Francisco.
Kathryn Smith has training in art and gained experience in the field working for Michael Hackett, one of the most important galleries in San Fransisco. Real expertise in the field of art was developed, then applied to many companies and organizations in London until the day when Kathryn and Ike decided to dedicate themselves exclusively to their love of art and design and make their own way.
The result? Ampersand House, a gallery whose name (the ampersand) is suggestive of their vision unifying the various disciplines and backgrounds. Brussels, and especially the house from the street Tasson Snel is the location they discovered for Ampersand House. A place of growth where art and design are to develop according to the themes defined by Kathryn and Ike.
From June 2 to July 7, Ampersand House will open its doors to Danish creativity. A magnificent exhibition of over 100 selected works in the fields of vintage, design and contemporary art.
To achieve this, they associated with many different partners according to their areas of expertise: The Rocket Gallery in London through which reissues of vintage furniture by Jens Risom will be available in Belgium; Archetype Gallery and Yolande De Bontridder representing the Danish artist Ane Vester; Annette Sloth Puls Contemporary Ceramics for her contribution to Danish design in the field of ceramics and glass, Torsten Watt Boolsen and Marie Eriksen reModern in Copenhagen, with whom Kathryn and Ike regularly collaborate to gather pieces of vintage Danish design. Some vintage pieces are from the private collection of Monika Unger, Be Modern Italy. Finally, the selection was made by Mindcraft Danish Crafts in association with Lise Coirier TL Magazine.
The result? A highly successful and harmonious combination of pieces of Danish art and design past and present. And good news, everything is for sale!
Ampersand House & Gallery – 30 rue Tasson Snel, 1060 Brussels, Belgium
Opening hours: During exhibitions, open to the public from Wednesday through to Saturday from 13h00 to 18h00.
Outside exhibition times, we welcome visitors by appointment. Request by email.
