Interview Gallery Director Elli Jason Foster
A doyenne of the art world, Foster carved out her ambitious steps with two decades in the film and TV industry working at national film distribution companies including the likes of Channel 4 and ITV, where she found a passion in forging connections with visual narratives. It’s this unique perspective and entry into the art world to which Elli attributes her ability to draw out unlikely curatorial connections and an ability to create dynamic shows and a rich diverse community of collectors.
Inspired by her visionary feminist mother, gallery founder Gillian Jason and her suffragette Grandmother, Elli found a passion in providing platform and profile to oft underrepresented female artists with new and rich narratives. Gillian Jason Gallery, founded in 1982, was indeed the first London based bricks and mortar gallery purely focused on female representation. Today, the gallery is run by ambitious mother and daughter duo Elli and Millie Jason Foster, who continue its legacy with passion.
Following a strong female echo of the leadership, Gillian Jason Gallery is committed to championing new narratives – continually exploring and probing critiques the past, present and future of contemporary feminism through pioneering artists. This juxtaposition and thoughtful approach sees renowned artists such as Bridget Riley, Tracey Emin and Cecily Brown in dialogue or alongside an incubation of fresh new artists including: Megan Baker, Olivia Valentine and Sirpil Mavi Üstün.
THE WICK: Tell us about your typical Monday.
Elli Jason Foster : A typical Monday for me starts with the excitement of what the week has to offer. I am always ready to face the day, although more often than not the day doesn’t quite live up to my expectations. However, I have two small dogs to walk, they keep me sane, and a multiple of young colleagues and artists with whom I can collaborate so there is never a dull moment whatever the day of the week.
TW: Gillian Jason Gallery works with female-identifying artists from across the generations, why is this important to you?
EJF: Cross generational work is important so that we can not only see where we are going but where we have come from. History in any form helps to identify patterns of being and encourages clarification of where we stand within an ever-changing world. This idea is not only mimicked by the makeup of gallery staff but also by the breadth of amazing women artists that we are able to showcase in the gallery.
TW: GJG was established by your mother, Gillian Jason and you run it with your daughter, Millie. How does the family legacy impact your ways of working – is it possible to strike a work-life balance?
EJF: I think family members that are able to work together have one advantage over other partnerships. There is seemingly a common bond which means that no matter how difficult the professional choices, the underlying tenets of the relationship are strong and have been tested through generations. Yes, absolutely it is possible to strike a work life balance even if sometimes you have to work at it.
TW: Who is your favourite fashion designer and why?
EJF: Grace Wales Bonner for her dedication to changing the way we dress. I love street wear but I also love tailoring. I want to wear clothes that look good and use cutting edge materials. It’s also difficult to find a female style for an older woman that doesn’t mimic fashion for young bodies. Stepping into a more male silhouette helps me to transcend the usual twin set associated with people of my age. Wales Bonner is a thinker and a collaborator and across the board works with artists, designers and musicians. I like her style.
“I spend the same amount of effort and energy unravelling the narrative behind an artist’s paintings as I did back then a writer’s script.”
