25th April 2023
Firmly at the head of the anti-white-box-brigade, Nelly Duff showcases the best of contemporary print and street art from artists all over the world from Korea to Mexico. Drawing on inspiration from their corner of East London, their walls are as vibrant and chock full of exciting artwork as the walls outside the gallery. We’ve been fans since the beginning of the gallery’s fruitful life. We spoke with Alice, who helps run Nelly Duff about art, and what makes the East End a great place for a thriving art community.
When was Nelly Duff launched?
In 2006 by directors Cassius Colman and Jessie Dyer, back then it used to be just one room on the ground floor, and has since expanded to take over the whole building! When you have as much art as we do it has to go some somewhere…
Why Columbia Road?
Well with East London being the hub for street art, it was never going to be anywhere else! So many incredible artists are based around here, but it’s the history and strong association with independent businesses that Columbia Road has that makes it the perfect home for Nelly Duff.
Who were your first artists and who are your newest?
When Nelly Duff started out in 2006 we didn’t work with as many artists as we do now, it was a lot of local urban and street artists we had gotten to know like screen printing legend Aida Wilde and incredible portrait artist Matthew Small. Now having expanded our roster some of our newer artists include Jorge Gerada, who’s large scale murals can be found all over the world, such as the white house lawn!
