Karlina Nathan: A Collector’s Guide to London

Karlina Nathan is a globally recognised art adviser and cultural strategist with deep roots in the international art market. She has spent several decades building relationships, with unique access to visionaries, institutions and collectors across the globe, and has led cultural and philanthropic initiatives throughout the UK, Europe and Africa. Today, Nathan advises individuals on building purpose-driven art collections and creating sustainable philanthropic projects.

London is a place I feel very much at home, and one of the first things I do when I touch down here is head straight to the galleries. I am driven by curiosity and love navigating between different worlds – from design and photography to modern and contemporary art, impressionists and old masters. My work as an art adviser is grounded in a culturally erudite approach, helping collectors see connections across these worlds and guiding them on an educational yet personal journey with art. These are some of my favourite places to visit in the capital. 

1 Gagosian
First on my list is the Gagosian on Grosvenor Hill. What sets the space apart from all the other commercial galleries in London is not just the calibre of the artists it represents, but also the curatorial depth of its exhibitions. In 2022, Friends and Relations, brilliantly put together by Richard Calvocoressi, looked at the work of Lucian Freud, Francis Bacon and their circle of naughty friends, exploring the relationships, influences and shared histories between them. I love that kind of intellectual framing: it elevates the experience for collectors far beyond a straightforward sales context. 

2 Serpentine Galleries
I lived just off Lancaster Gate for many years, so weekends were often about visiting the Serpentine Galleries, overseen by Hans Ulrich Obrist, one of the world’s coolest curators. What he does in terms of public art is incredible, working with household names such as Georg Baselitz in 2023, as well as cutting-edge contemporary artists. The Serpentine is a cultural landmark. Its summer pavilions are inspirational, a place where art, design and architecture converge. 

3 White Cube
Jay Jopling’s White Cube in Bermondsey is another superstar, with showstopper exhibitions, such as Antony Gormley, Anselm Kiefer and Tracey Emin. I met Emin back in 2006 at Frieze art fair and followed her career, then saw the 2019 show A Fortnight of Tears at White Cube. The documentary that accompanied it, in which she talked about all the trauma she has experienced, completely changed my appreciation of her and her art. It’s testament to the depth of the exhibitions that Jopling does – it’s not just “Slap the latest works on the wall”. It has gravitas. The heavyweight shows define the discourse on contemporary art in London and beyond. 

4 Incubator
Angelica Jopling, Jay’s daughter, has opened a great little gallery called Incubator on Chiltern Street. She has an incredible eye. Her strength lies in championing emerging artists and giving them the freedom to experiment. It’s a space for discovery. I love to refer to it when I’m looking for young, fresh names, or for collectors who are starting their journey and don’t have a massive budget. Those relationships and the influence you can have on an artist at that point in their career is hugely meaningful. 

5 Whitechapel Gallery
In my first year in London I lived in Spitalfields and became very familiar with the nearby Whitechapel Gallery. It represents history plus ambition and has a long legacy of introducing artists before they become household names. It’s not for everyone: the shows aren’t always palatable, but they prompt really interesting conversations that challenge us to think differently. The Whitechapel is a hugely important institution for London, and for collectors it’s an invaluable place for boundary-pushing art and to understand what’s driving current practice. 

6 Hayward Gallery
The Hayward Gallery on the South Bank is renowned for bold, thematic exhibitions that can reframe entire movements or artists. The Yoshitomo Nara this summer was amazing: it wasn’t curated as an Instagrammable show, but it pulled in an audience of young gallery-goers who aren’t traditional museum visitors. It has its finger on the pulse and understands what speaks to people. For collectors, it provides context – a way to see works not just as individual objects but as part of wider artistic and cultural dialogues. 

7 Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac
Ely House, the London outpost of Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac, is quite literally my dream home – an 18th-century mansion transformed into a space for contemporary art. I love the contrast between the grandeur of its historic architecture and the cutting-edge works it houses. The roster is stellar, with artists more often seen in major museums: Georg Baselitz, Antony Gormley, Anselm Kiefer, Martha Jungwirth and Tony Cragg. For collectors, experiencing these works in such an intimate setting is uniquely powerful.

karlina@karlina.co.uk

This story originally appeared as part of a collaboration with Arts & Collections