Stepping Into the Frame: A Curator’s Day in Mayfair

This week, I found myself at Sotheby’s, not just as a visitor, but as a curator on a mission.

The morning began quietly, with a train into London and a champagne breakfast hosted by the Work Arts Club. As I stepped into the vaulted walls of Sotheby’s, I realised how far this journey has brought me, not just geographically, but personally. A few years ago, I wouldn’t have imagined being here. But curating the legacy of Nick Fraser (1946–2023) has brought me into new spaces, new rooms, and new possibilities.

A Rare Glimpse at Sotheby’s

As part of our tour, I was given access to preview the upcoming Modern & Contemporary Evening Auction (June 24), the Modern Day Auction (June 25), and the Modern British & Irish Art Sale (June 26) — along with Sotheby’s Old Master & 19th-Century Paintings Sale. These sales bring an extraordinary collection of high-value work to the public, including never-before-seen Picasso pieces.

To be in those rooms, among works awaiting their auction debut, was powerful. The scale, the price points, the pressure — it all underscored how rare and intimate Nick’s quieter, private artistic world really was. And yet, it made me feel even more committed to carrying his story into these kinds of spaces.

Art After Sotheby’s: Bond Street & Beyond

After the tour, I spent the day walking galleries across Bond Street — from Halcyon’s Bob Dylan show to the regal quiet of Richard Green Gallery, where billion year older, ancient stone sculptures stood like guardians of time. I spoke with gallery teams, asked questions about representation, and began to map out what it might look like to bring Nick Fraser’s name further into the institutional conversation. In my final stop, at a Hockney-focused Castle Fine Art, I received PR insights that have sparked something larger — new visual strategies to bring Nick’s work directly to the public.

What’s Coming Next

I’ve been invited to join Milli Rose on Voices Radio (via Voices FM) to talk about my journey sharing Nick’s story and to also discuss the preparation for the Young creatives Exhibition this August in the Summer holidays!

Reflections

This day at Sotheby’s was a moment of perspective. Standing in rooms filled with art ready to command millions, I felt both the distance and the purpose of what I’m doing. Nick never had a platform like this in his lifetime. But I carry his story now, into rooms he never saw, among people who are finally ready to listen.

This unforgettable experience at Sotheby’s was made possible thanks to an invitation from the brilliant team at Working Arts Club — a creative collective fostering meaningful connections across the art world. Their commitment to community, discovery, and artistic dialogue is something I admire, and I’m grateful for their support and generosity.

Thank you for reading.

Marcus O’Shaughnessy

Curator | The Nick Fraser Estate

www.nickfraserartist.com

www.imaginative-reaction.org