A SMALL Fulham gallery is hoping to make waves in the art world and the SW6 community. GREG BURNS found out more.

ANYONE walking past Studio 106 Art Gallery would be forgiven for thinking it is just another empty shop unit in Fulham.

But a closer inspection shows the empty shop floor and white walls are hiding an up-and-coming art hub for borough artists to showcase their talents.

The studio, in Dawes Road, opened its doors in 2008 as a non-profit organisation funded by the Arts Council and Lottery grants.

They pride themselves on giving new artists a platform with French artist Julien Tiberi running his Doubleback Alley show, his first ever solo event in London, at the gallery up until July 16.

Gallery curator Nadege Derderian, 31, joined Studio 106 last year after spells at art galleries in Paris and Brighton and is keen to raise its profile within the community.

She said: "We want to support artists who are young and emerging and keen to break into the art world.
"We are starting to get more and more people coming through the door but a lot of the community don't know we are here so that is one of our key objectives.

"We are trying to create an art hub that will connect all the galleries in the local area and have joint events and attract a bit more attention.

"We want to focus on young artists and are not for profit so we don't base our choices on money and are more interested in supporting the work and the artist and blossoming their talents.

"I don't think Fulham has a big art community so we are keen to be a hub for that so people can embrace art, talk to artists and find out more about it.

"It is very difficult for artist's to find a space to exhibit their work so we like to help any young artist in Hammersmith and Fulham to find a platform."

Studio 106 are also branching out into schools and community groups and have worked on projects with Wormholt Primary School, in Shepherd's Bush, and Lady Margaret School, in Fulham which saw their work displayed at the gallery this year.

They offer workshops in a variety of skills such as oil painting, photography, creative textile design, life drawing and painting and sculpturing along with school holiday projects for nine to 18-year-old's.

"The workshops are very popular and great fun," said Miss Derderian. "We like to encourage the children to open up their creative side and really embrace different types of art.

"It is a part of our work that we take very seriously and are looking to expand further."

The latest exhibition at Studio 106 is Banding the Boundaries, a collaboration with Epsom-based University of Creative Arts, with graduates and tutor's displaying work alongside each other exploring the relationship between student and teacher.

The gallery opens Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday between 12pm and 6pm. For more details visit www.studio106artgallery.org