It was a bright, chilly Saturday in January when a line of eager visitors wrapped around the courtyard of an art gallery on a farm in Bruton, Somerset. The crowd had gathered to witness a new exhibition by young artists while being serenaded by a local jazz band named The New Academic Feetwarmers playing classic tunes. As smoke wafted from a wood-fired grill, guests were treated to grilled sausages, vegetable soup, and mulled cider, all free of charge.
The man at the center of it all, chatting with everyone and pouring Maid of Bruton sparkling rosé, was not your typical English farmer. He was Iwan Wirth, the Swiss art dealer who, along with his wife Manuela and mother-in-law Ursula Hauser, owns the global powerhouse gallery Hauser & Wirth. With 17 gallery spaces worldwide and representing 103 artists, Hauser & Wirth is a major player in the art world.
Visitors to the gallery also had the chance to peruse the farm shop, part of the couple’s Artfarm business, where they could purchase farm-grown produce or splurge on a £225 bottle of whisky from their Fife Arms hotel in Scotland. The Roth Bar & Grill, attached to the gallery, provided delectable dishes for the guests.
Hauser & Wirth’s expansion shows no signs of slowing down with new gallery spaces set to open in Basel and Mayfair, London. The gallery’s unique blend of elite culture and accessible charm has drawn in a diverse range of visitors, making it stand out among its competitors.
The Wirths’ venture into hospitality and food has roots in their early days in the art world, with Iwan’s first sale as a teenager leading to a pivotal moment in a Zurich restaurant. This philosophy of integrating art and life has become a core tenet of Hauser & Wirth’s ethos.
From a Swiss art dealer with a vision to a global art institution, Hauser & Wirth’s journey is one of innovation and creativity, blending the worlds of art, food, and hospitality into a seamless experience for visitors worldwide.