LONDON.- Agnew’s, one of London ’s leading international art dealers, has confirmed that its new premises at 35 Albemarle Street will open in early September. Founded in 1817, the UK ’s oldest family-owned art dealership has created a gallery which clearly states that modern and contemporary art will play a very significant role in its future, but at the same time acknowledges their long-established position as dealers in Old Master paintings and drawings and British paintings and watercolours.

The gallery also announced that Georgina Pemberton will be joining Agnew’s as a Director at the end of August 2010. Georgina was formerly Director and Head of Australian Paintings at Sotheby’s in Australia where she worked since 2002; from 2005 she has been a Specialist for the Australian Antiques Roadshow. Prior to joining Sotheby’s she worked with Rex Irwin, the well-known Sydney-based art dealer representing international and Australian artists. Earlier in her career she worked at Phillips in the UK where she specialised in 20th Century British paintings.

Georgina will work closely with Thomas Lighton (former Managing Director of leading modern and contemporary art specialists Waddington Galleries, who joined Agnew’s as Chief Executive earlier this year) and Gina Agnew, a seventh-generation member of the family who has been appointed as an Associate Director.

Agnew’s will give the primary focus of its purpose-built street-level gallery to a programme of modern and contemporary art exhibitions, whilst earlier paintings will be exhibited in a dedicated first-floor gallery space. Its opening exhibition at 35 Albemarle Street on 8th September will be devoted to paintings by Australia ’s pre-eminent 20th Century artist Sir Sidney Nolan. Over the last few years, Agnew’s has sourced top-quality works by Nolan throughout the world, including from private collections in America , Australia and Britain . This important survey of Nolan’s work will include a key picture of the explorers Burke and Wills, originally from James Fairfax’s collection, and also a painting of Ned Kelly painted in 1964. ‘First Class Marksman’ (1946) from the first Ned Kelly series sold for A$5.4 million (£3.1 million) – an auction record for any Australian artist – in March this year in Australia.

Julian Agnew, Chairman, said “it was logical for us to appoint Tom, a man with a wealth of experience in 20th Century and contemporary art. We believe Georgina’s appointment will further strengthen this department and she brings specialist knowledge of the Australian market, and we believe is well-placed to help us focus on emerging markets in the Pacific and Middle East .”