Megan Pipper opend some years ago the Pipper Gallery, She is a very strong stylish and intelligent woman, I came across this interview that she gave online yesterday, She is for me a really great example and role model. Here I leave a piece of the interview where she describes a day in her life:
"I wake up at 8am but have a horrible habit of working in bed, so I normally reach for my laptop, go through emails and prep my to-do list for the day.
I set up The Piper Gallery at the end of June last year and since then my life has been crammed full with exhibition openings, business meetings and new projects. Our flat is small but perfectly-formed, with a balcony overlooking the OXO Tower. It’s packed with family memories from our childhoods, like old furniture and art. My favourite piece is by my friend, who’s an architect and illustrator. I went through the dictionary choosing random words and asked my friend to create something. The result was a drawing of a satsuma with a brolly protecting a crocodile. It’s wild.
Once I’ve got my to-do list sorted I’ll shower, get dressed – usually in skinny jeans, ankle boots, a shirt with a Gap boy’s knit jumper and my trademark Mac Russian Red lipstick – before sitting down for a cup of tea and a mug of cereal with Duncan. People ask if it’s weird living with my brother, but there’s a real camaraderie between us. We support each other and I get to live with my best friend, which is brilliant.
Once I’ve got my to-do list sorted I’ll shower, get dressed – usually in skinny jeans, ankle boots, a shirt with a Gap boy’s knit jumper and my trademark Mac Russian Red lipstick – before sitting down for a cup of tea and a mug of cereal with Duncan. People ask if it’s weird living with my brother, but there’s a real camaraderie between us. We support each other and I get to live with my best friend, which is brilliant.
I’ll pull on a jacket (vintage Aquascutum, Jaeger or Dior) before walking 30 minutes to the gallery in Fitzrovia for 10am. My timekeeping has vastly improved. It used to be terrible but I soon realised that if you’re running a business you cannot be late. I have the most brilliant assistant, Charlotte – I can start a sentence and she’ll know how it finishes. So we’ll get together and work through a target list for the day. Then, I’ll read the papers and reply to emails about upcoming shows or meetings with potential collectors.
I came up with the idea of the gallery in 2010 while I was working for a fine art organisation called Momart. I only represent contemporary artists whose careers have spanned 40 years or more but have slipped under the radar, like Tess Jaray and Martin McGinn. I thought there was a gap in the market for a gallery that championed older artists. People sometimes find this odd considering I’m relatively young, but I think my age is on my side. There’s an interesting generational relationship between myself and the artists with whom I work. I’m making the statement that as a young person what these artists are doing now is interesting. If I was the same age as them, it wouldn’t have the same impact. Luckily, I was able to find an investor and business partner fairly easily. Andrew Morris, my silent partner, is the father of my brother’s best friend. He got wind of my idea and said, “Tell Megan to call me.”
In the morning I’ll normally meet with an artist to discuss an upcoming show, or with a writer to talk about catalogues for exhibitions. I’m in charge of deciding what exhibitions take place at the gallery and have total creative control, which I love. People ask if I find it a struggle being a young woman in what is sometimes seen as a male industry but I’ve never found it a problem. While women are less well-represented as artists, women art dealers do have a very strong and influential presence.
In the morning I’ll normally meet with an artist to discuss an upcoming show, or with a writer to talk about catalogues for exhibitions. I’m in charge of deciding what exhibitions take place at the gallery and have total creative control, which I love. People ask if I find it a struggle being a young woman in what is sometimes seen as a male industry but I’ve never found it a problem. While women are less well-represented as artists, women art dealers do have a very strong and influential presence.
Dean Street Townhouse is my favourite place for lunch and meeting clients. When we were setting up the gallery I used it as my office. I’d sit at the bar on my laptop eating fish fingers and creamed spinach. I also like Ducksoup in Soho.
In the afternoon I’ll probably meet a collector at the gallery for a cup of tea, or sit down with Charlotte to work through plans for upcoming exhibitions. I’m a terrible perfectionist so I have to rework things a lot, from the design of the website down to the envelopes for invitations.
In the afternoon I’ll probably meet a collector at the gallery for a cup of tea, or sit down with Charlotte to work through plans for upcoming exhibitions. I’m a terrible perfectionist so I have to rework things a lot, from the design of the website down to the envelopes for invitations.
The gallery closes at 6pm when I’ll either go to private views or for drinks and dinner at 10 Greek Street or Polpo. Sometimes I’ll get home late and head out for a midnight run past Big Ben and along the river. There’s something so liberating about the feeling that everyone else is asleep. There’s no-one around, I don’t have any money or my mobile, it’s just my own quiet time. It’s magical. I’ll get back about 12.30am, shower and head to bed at about 1am."
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