PAD London Art Fair, or Pavilion of Art & Design London, makes Berkeley Square its chosen venue for its tenth year. This popular event will run from the 3rd to the 9th October and is the spin-off of its longer established Parisian sister.
PAD London brings together exceptional works of 20th Century modern art, design, decorative arts, photography, jewellery and tribal art from 1860 to the present day. Some 62 esteemed galleries will take up residence, but what makes the event unique is the way in which it “brings a different ‘eye’ to the British scene” (Financial Times). The fair, which takes place at the same time as the Frieze and Frieze Masters art fairs, helps to attract the world’s most influential art buyers to London each October.
Joshua Buckley, a Mayfair based property consultant at H.Barnes & Co comments: “PAD is my favourite event on the Frieze calendar for a number of reasons.
Firstly, it is a fairly small sized event on a scale perspective (in comparison to a number of other events during Frieze), so the event is very concentrated and focused, especially towards furniture and design.
Secondly, the majority of the designers and galleries are typically from Paris and you have an opportunity to view what I believe to be the most influential and current design and generally what we tend not to see in the London market place. Essentially, I feel it is the most tasteful and stylish event (especially if you like furniture) and offer a real chance to pick up something unique and special that you won’t spot anywhere else in London.”
About Berkeley Square
Once upon a time in civilised Georgian society, Berkeley Square, which was created in 1730 by William Kent gentleman architect, may well have resonated with the sound of nightingales singing; the few original Georgian houses can still be seen to the west side. Today it’s a busy hub peppered with smart clubs like Annabel’s and Mortons and restaurants such as Sexy Fish owned by Richard Caring. The traffic whizzes around and black cabs scoot between the smart hotels.
That said, Berkeley Square still manages to exude an historic stately elegance, distinguished by a central landmark parade of 220 year old Plane trees, some of the oldest specimens in London. Famous residents include Winston Churchill and Charles Rolls, co-founder of Rolls Royce, who was born in Berkeley Square in 1877.