Chilli Art Projects

Chilli is an artist-run gallery, founded in 2021 by artist and collector, Aubrey Higgin. Chilli began as a nomadic programme of exhibitions across London. In 2022, the gallery opened its first permanent space on New Bond Street, Mayfair. The gallery operates largely from this 19th century former retail space, also running a regular programme at its Cheshire location as well as offsite projects, in order to reach new audiences who may not otherwise engage with art. The gallery is devoted to staging carefully installed presentations in unique spaces, both in London and at the gallery’s second location in Cheshire.

Chilli’s programming is centred around diverse, emerging, international artists - united by a desire to tell untold stories of identity & environment through unique painterly, artistic or conceptual processes. With a focus on painting, Chilli showcases artwork from across the globe, giving many artists the opportunity to present their work to European audiences for the first time.

Since its inception in 2021, the gallery has championed a number of underrepresented artists in London, particularly from Africa & its Diasporas. As such, Chilli has quickly grown into a respected voice in the conversation surrounding BIPOC+ Art in London and beyond.

Chilli takes great pride in having a close relationship with the artists they encounter and work with, giving them a solid foundation to build their career through the careful placement of their works, as well as through mentorship and guidance from other practicing artists across different sectors and media. The gallery believes in nurturing artists and giving them the tools to find their voice within the contemporary art scene, presenting their work with intellectual and academic rigour.

The gallery is dedicated to its mission to widen public access to international art, running a regular programme of talks and events, often in collaboration with organisations such as the Royal African Society, Creative Resilience International and Nature Safe. The gallery and its artists have also collaborated on a number of public events and artworks with W1 Curates, Lambeth Council and Tate Britain. Public outreach, education and dialogue are key to the gallery’s commitment to improving accessibility to the arts. As such, the gallery also produces publications featuring many of the gallery’s artists under the gallery’s publishing wing, Chilli Press.