Turner Prize-winning sculptor Grenville Davey died earlier this year at his home in Essex, England, aged 60. Over the years, Davey made sculptures that reference industrial objects, from cable-like spools to oversized tanks, but have no functional purpose.

Davey first garnered widespread attention in 1987, with an exhibition at Lisson Gallery in London, and rose to prominence during the 1990s. At Lisson, Davey first met Freeny Yianni, who would later become his long-term dealer at Close Ltd. in Somerset, England. 

Davey and Yianni developed a particularly close relationship, with Davey keeping a studio at the gallery. Following Davey’s passing, we spoke with Yianni about her long friendship and years working with the artist, and how she plans to honor his legacy.

Grenville Dave and Freeny Yianni. Courtesy of Close Ltd.

When and where did you first come across the work of Grenville Davey? 

I first met him in 1990 at Lisson Gallery, where he was a gallery artist and I had just begun my career as a dealer.

When did you start working together? 

In 2000, when I left London and moved to Somerset to open Close Ltd. Grenville has always had a studio with us here. His work fits into our gallery vision as a natural progression of our past. We had, over the years, built a deep trust in one another and an understanding of how we wanted to work, which did not follow the conventional art world. The role of art dealer and artist is a special relationship. I had studied sculpture myself, so there was also a practical synergy in fabrication and making that I understood firsthand. We enjoyed the problem-solving that comes with the production of objects.

Grenville Davey, Common Blue (1998–2019). Courtesy of Close Ltd.

Are there any works of his that are particularly memorable to you? 

Common Blue, which refers to the British butterfly. It is on permanent exhibition here at Close Ltd. and now that he is gone, we see it as something that will remain as a testament to his knowledge, his love of nature, and his lighter side that articulated a play with words.

Do you have any special memories of him as a person that you’d like to share? 

We will miss his storytelling, contrasted with a deep and intuitive ability to interpret visual language in a unique and poetic way. His legacy will be that his contribution to the world should now be given the recognition it deserves for the sake of his son, friends, artists, collectors, students, and colleagues that he inspired.

Grenville Davey working in this Somerset studio. Courtesy of Close Ltd.

Do you have any plans to host a memorial exhibition of his work?

We have plans to build a permanent pavilion to house the Grenville Davey Close Ltd Collection here, in a place he spent many years and loved so well.