Courtesy of the subject
Rosa Park, director of Francis Gallery, first founded the gallery in 2019 in Bath, U.K., with the second Los Angeles location on Melrose Avenue opening four years later in 2022. The gallery supports a diverse roster of 30 international artists; Park’s narrative-driven curation is rooted in an emotional response to the work, not art-market trends. The Seoul, Korea-born, Vancouver, Canada-raised gallerist and former magazine editor (she founded Cereal with her husband in 2012) moved to L.A. in 2021 and has since carved out a space for the unique art objects that reflect her interest in interiors and travel.
What is your go-to museum in L.A.?My favorite museum in LA without competition is the Norton Simon, mostly because I love their permanent collection. I believe it’s the only museum on the West Coast that has a Rafael. They have a phenomenal collection and that’s the main reason I go at least once or twice a year. I also love the outdoor area they have with the sculptures, and I like the intimacy of the museum – it’s very manageable in a singular visit.
What’s a go-to place for you to find curatorial inspiration?It changes every season, because it depends what show is on [at the gallery]. I’m a longtime admirer and fan of Edmund Devall, who recently had his solo show at the Gagosian, and to time with that he has his year-long show at The Huntington, particularly in the Chinese and Japanese gardens. I think the way his work has been incorporated into the viewing experience of the gardens is immaculate. I really responded to his vitrine being installed at one of the houses in the Japanese gardens, as if it were always there. That kind of placement and curation is what makes it so special to see these shows.
