The October Gallery Team, 2019.Installation of <em>DREAM NO SMALL DREAM: CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF THE TRANSVANGARDE</em>, 2019.Installation of <em>LR VANDY: HIDDEN</em>, 2019.Installation of <em>EL ANATSUI: MATERIAL WONDER</em>, 2019.
 

ABOUT US

October Gallery has been instrumental in bringing to worldwide attention many of the world’s leading international artists, including El Anatsui, Rachid Koraïchi, Romuald Hazoumè, Nnenna Okore, Laila Shawa and Kenji Yoshida. The Gallery promotes the Transvangarde, the very best in contemporary art from around the planet, as well as maintaining a cultural hub in central London for poets, writers, intellectuals and artists, and hosts talks, performances and seminars, see www.octobergallery.co.uk/events

The rich diversity of art presented is an inspiration to collectors and enthusiasts. Institutions such as the British Museum, London; the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; Centre Pompidou, Paris; Museum Kunstpalast, Düsseldorf, Germany; Neue Galerie, Kassel, Germany; Setagagya Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan have all collected works from October Gallery.

Founded in 1979, October Gallery is a charitable trust which is supported by sales of art, rental of the Gallery's unique facilities, grants from various funding bodies and the active support of dedicated artists, musicians, writers and many friends from around the world.  The Gallery’s Education Department is inclusive of all ages from under 5’s to PGCE student and delivers a wide range of provision, see https://www.octobergalleryeducation.com

 

THE TEAM


Chili Hawes - Director
Chili Hawes - Director
Chili Hawes, FRGS, is one of the Founders of October Gallery and Director since its opening in 1979. A native of the Rocky Mountains, she obtained a BA in French Literature from Colorado College, followed by a year at the Sorbonne and post-graduate work in Linguistics at Claremont Graduate School and has taught at all levels of the educational system both in the USA and Australia. A founder and director of Institute of Ecotechnics www.ecotechnics.edu, she has managed various ecological projects in the high desert of New Mexico, the Outback of Australia and the south of France. She has travelled widely including major research trips for the October Gallery to India, Melanesia, Peru, Southern Africa and Fiji.
Elisabeth Lalouschek - Artistic Director & Art Sales
Elisabeth Lalouschek - Artistic Director & Art Sales
Elisabeth Lalouschek was born in Vienna and holds an MA in Fine Art from the Royal College of Art. She joined October Gallery in 1987 and has been instrumental in creating a solid foundation for the idea of the Transvangarde, the transcultural avant-garde. Lalouschek has furthered the careers of a range of outstanding artists. She has organised and curated the majority of exhibitions at October Gallery, as well as collaborating on numerous projects nationally and internationally, most notably those promoting contemporary African art.
Gerard Houghton - Director of Special Projects
Gerard Houghton was born in England.  After graduating from Churchill College, Cambridge, he travelled in West Africa, working as an interpreter, before moving to Japan, in 1980, where he taught Literature and Linguistics at Nara Women’s University and Kyoto University. He has been with October Gallery since 1994, and as Special Projects' Director co-ordinates a variety of Gallery projects and oversees all things textual: writing essays, articles, catalogues, Press Release, etc. He is also a free-lance writer, translator and editor with interests in a wide range of subjects both artistic and scientific.
Stefani Abadian-Crone - Director of Operations
Stefani Abadian-Crone - Director of Operations
Stefani Abadian-Crone, originally from the Netherlands, studied Hotel Management at NHL Stenden in Leeuwarden. Following a career path in international 5-star hotel business and telecommunications living in Belgium, where she used her language skills, she joined October Gallery, in 2007, initially as Events Manager. She is currently in charge of Operations in the broadest sense of the term, and plays an important role in running the Gallery as a 'tight ship.' She develops and runs projects in any field within the organisation and has overseen the production of four major October Gallery publications over the last decade.
Dee Haughney - Curator
Dee Haughney - Curator
Dee Haughney was born in Ireland. She studied Photography at DIT, Curatorial Practice at Falmouth University and Asian Art at Sotheby’s Institute of Art.  She worked with the Kilkenny Arts Festival, Ireland, Newlyn Art Gallery, Cornwall and The Photographers’ Gallery, London before joining the team at October Gallery in 2012. In 2018, she undertook a research trip, cycling the length of Africa from Cairo to Cape Town. She works closely with the Artistic Director on all projects, with a particular interest in contemporary art from Africa.
Oliver Place - Gallery Manager
Oliver Place - Gallery Manager
Oliver Place studied sculpture at Wimbledon College of Art and worked for contemporary art galleries and fine art shipping companies before joining October Gallery in 2016, bringing with him a passion for contemporary art combined with a considerable knowledge of shipping logistics. As Gallery Manager Oliver works closely with the Artistic Director on exhibitions and art fairs.
Paige Ashley - Press & Media Relations Manager
Paige Ashley - Press & Media Relations Manager
Paige Ashley read English Literature with Creative Writing at Lancaster University and has a background in auctions and antiques. Her career history includes working with the press team at The Clothes Show Live and at London's Bank advertising agency, for client's such as Coutts, Diesel and Peroni. Paige launched and lead the UK and US press and media operations for the art search service Barnebys for over four years before joining October Gallery as Media & Public Relations Manager in 2018.
Georgie Fay - Head of Education
Georgie Fay - Head of Education
Georgie Fay comes from an art history background and completed an MA in Museum and Gallery Education at the UCL, Institute of Education in London. She programmes and delivers the extensive October Gallery Education department for schools, young people, adults and families and uses the Gallery exhibitions from around the world to create an innovative and broad education practice. She also has her own printmaking and art practice which supports her participatory education work.
Brian Pistolesi - Technician & Building Maintenance
Brian Pistolesi - Technician & Building Maintenance
Brian Pistolesi was born in Rome, Italy but grew up mostly in New York State. He moved to London in 2004 to embark on a course in guitar making at London Metropolitan University. Upon completing the course he worked for five years as a guitar repairer/restorer in London’s Denmark Street before finding his way to October Gallery in May 2013.
Duncan Mullery - Registrar
Alex McNamee - Archivist and Curatorial Assistant
Alex is an artist and studied her BA at The Slade School of Fine Art, graduating in 2013. In 2016 she set up Muddy Yard, a non-for-profit exhibition space in Brixton. She has worked in multiple creative industries from Fine Art Tutor for Bonas MacFarlane, to Assistant Director at Green TV, she has worked on the PR team at Scott and Co and worked for Frith Street Gallery, London Fashion Week and Atelier Concorde.
Sara Belle - Front of House Manager
Sara Belle - Front of House Manager
Sara Belle completed her MMus in Experimental Music at Brunel University, London in 2018. She joins October Gallery as Front of House Manager, charged with overseeing the visitor experience at the gallery and maintaining the overall quality of the Gallery environment. Sara has a wealth of experience in event management, programme development and hospitality. She is also a practising musician, producer, sound artist and lecturer.
Chinyere Ogbue - Receptionist
Chinyere Ogbue, born in Lagos, Nigeria, is a Sociology graduate from the London School of Economics & Political Science, and is currently studying a Master's programme at SOAS, University College, London. She joined October Gallery in 2018 and later that year started a Black Girl Meet group for Black women and nonbinary people to meet and discuss various Black contemporary artists and to visit exhibitions of particular interest together.
Eleri Fanshaw - Gallery Assistant
Eleri Fanshawe grew up in Cornwall, then moved to London to complete a Foundation year in Fine Art at Central St Martins. She went on to study Art History at UCL and SOAS, with a focus on Contemporary Art and Anthropology. Eleri has worked in a variety of art-led establishments in London, including The Royal Academy of Arts, Alexander McQueen and The San Mei Gallery. In 2019 she embarked on a year travelling solo throughout Asia and South America, particularly developing a passion for art and education while working at the Marpha Foundation in Nepal. Bringing with her a keen interest in global arts and curation, Eleri joined October Gallery in 2018 and assists across departments of Press, Curation, Operations and Education.
Harry Logan-Jones - Events Manager
Harry Logan-Jones - Events Manager
Having studied both in the UK and Italy, Harry currently holds a Masters degree in the creative industry and advertising. He has also worked, since the age of 16, for various events companies at festivals, stately homes and corporate functions. With this wealth of experience, Harry currently holds the position of October Gallery Events Manager, overseeing rentals of the Gallery's unique spaces and facilities for meetings, concerts, film-shoots and all kinds of other events and gatherings.
Matthew Wagaine - Assistant Events Manager
John Flahive - Accountant
John Flahive - Accountant
John Flahive has worked in various roles in the film industry and arts, starting as a royalty accountant for the British Film Institute and later becoming their Film Sales Manager representing them at film festivals and markets. He then went to become an independent Film Sales agent and documentary producer with his own company Wavelength Pictures. He re-joined the October Gallery in 2017, having previously worked for us from 2008 to 2013.
Ibrahim Bah - Accountant
Ibrahim Bah - Accountant
Ibrahim holds a diploma in Accounting and Business Administration and is a certified member of ACCA, the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants. Having worked for a number of charitable organisations, including the Africa Centre and the National Literacy Trust, Ibrahim has particular experience in the specialist area of charity finances. He has been an integral member of October Gallery's financial team since 2014.
 

OUR TRUSTEES


John Allen FLS
John Allen FLS
Author; Mining-metallurgical Engineer; Inventor Biosphere 2 project; Co-founder Institute of Ecotechnics and Theater of All Possibilities; Co-founder October Gallery.

Santa Fe, New Mexico
Ian Goodfellow
Ian Goodfellow
Architect, Partner at Penoyre & Prasad; Deputy Chair of Higher Education Design Quality Forum (HEDQF); Director Ecotechnics Maritime.

London
Marie Harding
Marie Harding
Co-founder October Gallery; Artist; President Synergia Ranch LLC; Director Institute of Ecotechnics; President Global Ecotechnics Corporation.

Santa Fe, New Mexico
Judy Ann ‘Chili’ Hawes
Judy Ann ‘Chili’ Hawes
Co-founder and Director October Gallery; Co-founder and Director Institute of Ecotechnics.

London
Deborah Parrish Snyder
Deborah Parrish Snyder
Publisher Synergetic Press (Santa Fe / London); Executive VP and Director Institute of Ecotechnics.

Santa Fe, New Mexico
Dr. Chris Spring
Dr. Chris Spring
Artist, Writer and Curator, formerly of the African Galleries at the British Museum; Trustee The Africa Centre.

London
 

FORMER TRUSTEES


Ulric Cross DSO DFC (1917-2013)
Ulric Cross DSO DFC (1917-2013)
Judge; Diplomat; RAF Navigator

Trinidad
Peter Mayer (1936-2018)
Peter Mayer (1936-2018)
Publisher

New York City and London
David Widdicombe QC (1924-2019)
David Widdicombe QC (1924-2019)
Deputy High Court Judge

London
 

Visiting October Gallery

October Gallery is open from 12:30 to 17:30 pm, Tuesday to Saturday. The Gallery is closed during official holidays and for the entire month of August.