Camden Market Street Art Doors To Be Exhibited Before Auction
A unique group of street-art covered doors, salvaged from iconic Camden Market, are part of a free display at RWB Auctions ahead of an online sale.
The doors were originally part of wooden sheds used by stall holders in Camden Lock Village, along the side of the Regent's Canal. They were painted by a diverse group of urban artists in 2014 as part of a project organised by The Real Art Of Street Art. The community advocacy group provides walls and other surfaces for artists to legally spray paint.
The vibrant designs featured in many selfies taken at the market which is one of London's top tourist attractions. More than a quarter of a million visitors per week are drawn in by independent traders, world-class street food and a colourful, creative and countercultural atmosphere.
Artists who worked on the doors include Captain Kris, The Real Dill, Fan HC, Secle Style, Zena, Seeds One, Winston the Whale, and Panik. Those participating were able to choose their own design, promoting the creativity often seen only in freely created graffiti art.
Urban Art Saved From The Scrapheap
Despite their reputation, the doors were destined for the scrap heap when Camden Lock was closed for redevelopment in 2015.
A small quantity of the doors were salvaged and privately sold on behalf of the relevant artists. Unfortunately, the speed at which the market was taken down meant the vast majority of the shed doors simply vanished or ended up on a skip.
The site, known as Hawley Wharf, is now occupied by a hip shopping centre and luxury apartments.
The 15 doors to be sold at RWB Auctions belong to a private collector.
Speaking about the upcoming sale, Edd Thomas, a specialist at RWB Auctions, said:
It's not often that artwork like this come up for sale and it's just by chance that they survived the bulldozers. This group of doors represents a time capsule, documenting an iconic London market and its well-known street art. Anyone who visited the market around 2014 or 2015 would remember these vibrant graffiti pieces.
Street Art Exhibit In The View Gallery
Fifteen doors will go on display at The View Gallery from Thursday 23 May to Saturday 1 June.
The rooftop exhibition space opened in January and has since hosted a range of exhibitions and events including a recent group show focused on equine art.
The View Gallery is free to access though we recommend those parking in our free carpark report to reception first. A visit to the Camden Doors exhibition is complemented by a barista coffee at Quercus Bistro, our on-site cafe-restaurant.
Online Timed Sales At RWB Auctions
The doors will be sold via an online-only timed auction scheduled for Monday 20 May to Sunday 2 June.
This sale has been organised as a timed auction via the-saleroom.com. Bids can be submitted throughout the sale period. When the sale closes, the bidder who has submitted the highest bid wins the lot.
Viewing for lots in this sale is via The View Gallery during their opening hours. Requests for condition reports should be sent to office@rwbauctions.com. Our portering team is pleased to work with your choice of courier following the sale and can recommend trustworthy UK-based firms for all your transport needs.
