Southern guild plants tribeca flag after la pivot
After a brief but instructive stint in Los Angeles, Southern Guild, the Cape Town-based gallery known for its collaborative approach to Art and design, is betting big on New York. The gallery, co-founded by Trevyn and Julian McGowan, will officially open its doors next month in a beautifully restored cast-iron building at 75 Leonard Street, Tribeca, signaling a renewed commitment to the American market.
A calculated return: lessons from l.a.
The move isn’t a first foray into the US. Southern Guild previously operated a space in Los Angeles’ Larchmont Village, a venture that concluded late last year. But, as Julian McGowan puts it, that period was “experimental.” The experience provided invaluable insights into American collector tastes and offered a testing ground for innovative ideas – bespoke dinners, live performances – all contributing to a more refined strategy for New York. “We’re much more experienced within the American market now,” says Julian. Trevyn adds, “LA planted the seeds of apprenticeship. Tribeca is where the work will blossom.”
Beyond the gallery: an ecosystem of collaboration
Southern Guild isn’t simply a space to display Art; it’s a carefully cultivated ecosystem. For nearly two decades, the McGowans have fostered a community of cross-disciplinary artists dedicated to material experimentation and process-driven work. This commitment extends beyond curatorial choices, encompassing production, logistics, and fabrication – a system they’ve honed, particularly evident in the GUILD Residency program in Cape Town. Unlike typical residencies that demand finished work, this program prioritizes research, independent work, and knowledge exchange, a philosophy that underscores the gallery's deep involvement in the artists’ creative journeys.
The intimacy of this collaboration is structural. The cofounders actively partner with artists, integrating input from their sales directors and a predominantly female management team. “We see ourselves as partners and collaborators,” Trevyn explains. This ethos resonates deeply with the artists they represent, many of whom embrace collaboration as a central tenet of their own practice. Consider Imiso Ceramics, co-founded by Andile Dyalvane and Zizipho Poswa, where clay becomes a vessel for collective memory and spiritual symbolism, particularly evident in Poswa's monumental sculptures honoring Xhosa cultural traditions.
Introducing south african talent to new york
Southern Guild’s Tribeca debut will feature solo presentations of two South African artists, painter Mmangalizo Nzuza and conceptual artist Usha Seejarim, marking their US debuts. Nzuza's large-scale oil paintings draw inspiration from early 20th-century Cubism, depicting figures within natural and social contexts. Seejarim, meanwhile, utilizes everyday household objects to probe gender, labor, and power dynamics through transformative interventions. The gallery's inaugural exhibitions promise a compelling dialogue between established practices and emerging voices.
Andrea Delph-Dorcely, Southern Guild’s sales director, sees the Tribeca opening as more than just an opportunity – it’s a statement. “In a moment when the market feels cautious and risk-averse, there is something powerful about arriving in New York with fresh energy, new ideas, and a program that is both confident and considered.” The hardwood floors of the Tribeca space, still gleaming with a fresh coat of paint, await the arrival of the first exhibition, a testament to Southern Guild's calculated bet on the city's enduring artistic vitality.