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The new gallery bringing a touch of Berlin to Kings Cross

The new gallery bringing a touch of Berlin to Kings Cross

By opening her own commercial gallery, Cassandra Bird is enjoying the freedom to do exactly what she wants to do. From the upcoming Arts issue out on February 2.

Matthew DrummondAFR Magazine editor

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When Cassandra Bird was a girl, she loved hanging out on weekends in the art gallery run by a great aunt in Newcastle. Her aunt would throw lavish lunches, bringing curators together with artists like Margaret Olley and Charles Blackman. She published art books and cheekily declared that Newcastle was “the art capital of Australia”. “I remember sitting in the gallery thinking to myself, imagine you can have a life surrounded by all these interesting people,” recalls Bird. “I dreamed of having a life like that. She gave me that window.”

Bird, 42, has built a career and now a business from that dream, having just opened her own gallery in Sydney’s Kings Cross. Her opening exhibition featured works by Janet Laurence and Atong Atem – two of Australia’s most sought-after artists. The Cassandra Bird gallery might be brand new, but Bird’s contacts are top tier, forged from four years working in galleries in Berlin and then a decade with Australia’s contemporary art supremo, Roslyn Oxley.

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Matthew Drummond
Matthew DrummondAFR Magazine editorMatthew Drummond edits AFR Magazine, our premium monthly inserted magazine that covers business, politics, fashion, design, food and wine, and is home to the Rich List, Young Rich List and the Power lists. Connect with Matthew on Twitter. Email Matthew at matthew.drummond@afr.com.au

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Original URL: https://www.afr.com/life-and-luxury/arts-and-culture/the-new-gallery-bringing-a-touch-of-berlin-to-kings-cross-20231211-p5eqlw