Art collector and interior designer Natasha Landers has decided to open up her Walthamstow home to the public
By Lucy MacEwen
A new arts initiative called The Lemon Seed Project is hosting exhibitions inside the Walthamstow home of art collector and interior designer Natasha Landers.
By showing art within her home, Landers hopes to create a more inviting and accessible space to view art than that found in traditional gallery spaces. At the same time, Landers is creating a space for black artists to showcase their work.
“I go to lots of galleries, lots of private views, and I feel that sometimes people are a little bit intimidated about going into a gallery space” Landers said, “obviously [with] a home space, there’s that warmth about coming in and there’s an invitation to come in.”
Landers’ home is already adorned with art collected over the last 30 years, predominantly portraiture by black artists. More than just a gallery, Landers home is a space where exhibiting artists can make connections with others in the industry. To do this she hosts private viewings with curators, collectors, buyers and journalists, as well as free public viewings on weekends.
“For me, it was about giving an opportunity,” said Landers “because we know with systemic racism in all forms of, not just the arts, but business in general, it can be more difficult for black artists to get space to show their work.”
So far, The Lemon Seed Project has hosted two exhibitions. The first, in March, in collaboration with portrait artist Yvadney Davis. The latest, the Ascension Years, took place in July with the photographer Tee Max, a friend of Landers.
Shot by Max across the 90s and early 00s, the Ascension Years is a series of photographs chronicling the rise of hip hop and R&B to mainstream prominence. It includes portraits of the likes of Beyoncé, Usher and The Notorious B.I.G., taken in the early stages of their careers. Speaking about why she loves the portraits, Landers explained, “there’s a vulnerability to them”.
The Ascension Years was displayed earlier this year at the Royal Albert Hall. At Havant House many of the same photographs were featured, as well as three of Max’s most iconic images, portraits of Busta Rhymes, Da Brat and Slum Village, blown up to be over a metre in height. The Busta Rhymes portrait is Landers favourite from the exhibition. “It’s so full of energy”, she said, “you can feel that energy in it”.
When it comes to viewing days, Landers – who has lived at Havant House for 25 years – is no stranger to members of the public walking around her home. She’s previously taken part in London’s annual Open House Festival, and Havant House is available to book for filming and photo shoots.
Up next for The Lemon Seed Project, exhibitions with two interdisciplinary artists, Ayesha Feisal in September, and Lauren Little in November. It’s free to attend the public viewings at Havant House, the only stipulation – email ahead to get your name on the guestlist.
Find out more about the Lemon Seed Project here
Check out Havant House 53 on Instagram
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