ABOUT TASTE
Taste Contemporary showcases established artists whose work is internationally recognized and acquired by major public and private collections and museums. However, the gallery is also committed to finding new voices and rising stars, and to identifying mid and late career artists whose work remains on the margins of critical acclaim.
Many exciting opportunities are available to collectors and patrons who wish to engage with this segment of the contemporary art market. It takes time and dedication to develop a collection. Monique Deul advises both private and institutional collectors on starting and building collections.
Taste Contemporary presents an annual exhibition programme at its Geneva based gallery, and at other select venues that have included Musée Ariana, Geneva; Maison Louis Carré, Bazoches-sur-Guyonne near Paris and Cromwell Place, London. In addition, the gallery participates regularly at international art fairs. While maintaining curatorial direction at Taste Contemporary, Monique Deul continues to collaborate with leading international curators.
Monique Deul
Founder and Director, Taste Contemporary
OUR TEAM
Monique Deul
Initially studying law at the University of Amsterdam, Monique Deul began her career in music before founding Taste Contemporary in 2012.
In addition to presenting an annual exhibition programme at the gallery, she has been invited to curate exhibitions at museums and other exclusive locations most notably Musée Ariana, Geneva and Maison Louis Carré near Paris. She has served as a jury member for international ceramics and glass awards and is regularly invited to participate in expert panels.
‘I have made it a priority to search out artists within disciplines that historically might have been overlooked by collectors. In doing so, we have discovered a world populated by, not just fascinating and accessible artists, but leading practitioners in their fields, many of whom are included in the collections of major museum and other institutional collections. I am pleased that Taste Contemporary has been able to play a small part in shedding a brighter light and focus on a segment of the art market that continues to develop rapidly. These are artists that never fail to surprise and inspire me. I pinch myself every day, realizing how fortunate I am to encounter and work with, both in terms of our artists and our collectors, such a wonderful group of thoughtful and creative people.’
Frances McDonald
Frances McDonald has managed numerous international exhibitions and events including the Making In series of international design seminars for Joseph Walsh Studio Ireland; Liminal – Irish Design at the Threshold, New York, Eindhoven & Dublin for Irish Design 2015; The International Academy of Ceramics Dublin 2014 for the Design & Crafts Council Ireland; MATERIALpoetry and dubh – dialogues in black, for STUDIOpractice in New York & Dublin and Realisations 2008 in New York for Joseph Walsh Studio.
She also writes on contemporary craft and design and has contributed to the Irish Arts Review; Ceramic Review; Neues Glas: Art & Architecture; Ceramics Art & Perception and CFile.org.
Frances McDonald has worked with Taste Contemporary since 2016.
Brian Kennedy
Between 2002 and 2010 Brian Kennedy curated a series of major exhibitions for the Crafts Council of Ireland, including Forty Shades of Green, which travelled to SOFA, Chicago. Following this, he curated the highly acclaimed exhibitions, Material Poetry and Dubh – Dialogues in Black at the American Irish Historical Society, New York.
In 2014 he curated the critically acclaimed exhibition Vase Vessel Void for the Oliver Sears Gallery and in 2015/16 In Residence I & II for the same gallery in London. Other notable projects include Walpole’s Crafted – Makers of Excellence exhibitions in London and VASE, Function Reviewed a major survey exhibition of international contemporary ceramics for the Design & Crafts Council Ireland. From 2016 – 2018 he was Artistic Director for the TRESOR Contemporary Craft Fair, Basel, Switzerland.
Brian Kennedy has worked with Taste Contemporary since 2012.