Many will remember Mr Summers as managing director of the Lefevre Gallery, a position he held from 1968 until the gallery in Mayfair’s Bruton Street shut up shop in 2002, since when he has been dealing privately.
But before joining the Lefevre, Mr Summers spent seven memorable years with another Bruton Street gallery, Arthur Tooth & Son, where he worked closely with the gallery’s famous director J.P.W. Cochrane.
They were exciting times as the young Martin Summers watched Peter Cochrane pioneering the work of such 20th century greats as Cy Twombly, Jim Dine and Howard Hodgkin.
Mr Summers opens his inaugural exhibition in Glebe Place (he calls the gallery Studio 54) on March 17, with paintings mainly from the collection of the late Peter Cochrane, who died just before Christmas at the age of 92. They include works by Elsworth Kelly, Tapies, Yves Klein, Frank Stella, Dubuffet, Allen Jones and Howard Hodgkin.
There will also be some pictures from the private collection of Marina Picasso, granddaughter of Pablo, and a recently rediscovered Gustave Courbet.
Viewing is by appointment, weekdays 10am to 5pm, Tel: 020 7351 7778.
Time to go it alone
NEWS too, of confident moves in the fine art trade. After a career in the London art world spanning some 45 years, Martin Summers has, just after his 66th birthday, set up his own gallery and dealership, Martin Summers Fine Art Ltd, at 54 Glebe Place in Chelsea.
