Chapman, Lane and Ashton collaborate at Matches in Marylebone, London 13 Jun - 31 Aug

Posted on April 1, 2008 at 10:38 AM.

An exciting new move in the relationship between art and fashion. Tom Chapman, Director and founder of London-based fashion retailer Matches, is collaborating with some significant movers and shakers in the art world.

The artist Abigail Lane and the curator Karen Ashton have been invited by Matches to construct an exclusive installation in their new Marylebone High Street store.

Chapman describes 'retail as a fusion of the senses. Fashion, art and design all form part of the sensory experience'. Lane has drawn on influences of the circus, magic shows and on late Victorian displays such as séances. With this theme she will transform both floors of the recently opened Matches space with her site specific figurative art works. Monochrome motifs of elephants, clowns, flying acrobats, lions, and tigers will adorn the walls, furniture and furnishings of the store.

These works will include decorative tables and screens as well as a limited edition of art prints and cufflinks by Lane available to purchase in store and on the Matches website. For Your Pleasure will be Matches' first collaboration with an artist, with limited edition and unique works available to purchase.

Abigail Lane was born in Penzance in 1967 and co-curated Freeze, alongside Damien Hirst, Gary Hume and Sarah Lucas. She had her first solo show with Karsten Schubert in 1997. Since then she has shown at the Victoria Miro Gallery in London and exhibited internationally.

In October 2003, Abigail Lane launched the design company, Showroom Dummies, with Bob Pain and Brigitte Stepputtis. She has deployed her imagery across a range of innovative merchandise including blankets, screens and fabrics. Lane will be showing her work as part of the group exhibition You Dig the Tunnel, I'll Hide the Soil (4 April - 10 May), curated by Harland Miller at White Cube Hoxton and Shoreditch Town Hall. www.showroomdummies.com

Karen Ashton, founder of the Art Car Boot Fair, will be curating this collaboration. This is the latest in a series of art projects curated by Ashton, a producer and curator of bespoke art events and projects. Contemporary photography is one of Ashton's special interests and has seen her curate several exhibitions in this field and in 2003 produced the first Brighton Photo Biennial.

In 2004, Karen Ashton and Helen Hayward set up Ashton & Hayward to launch London's first Art Car Boot Fair. Recently she has developed various spin off projects such as Pretty Taxing - a range of limited edition tax disc holders by leading artists. Ashton aims to bring art to a wider audience and engages in energised events and ideas which celebrate art and frivolity.

Tom Chapman founded Matches in 1991, and now has eight stores across London. The Matches philosophy has always been about personality and creativity. The shops are all unique in their style, constantly changing, introducing new labels and seeking out the season's must-haves. The new 2500 sq ft Marylebone branch opened in February 2008.

Matches: 87 Marylebone High Street, London W1U 4QU
Opening Hours: daily, 10am - 6pm
Admission: Free