A trio of US galleries opens in London before Frieze Art Fair

In advance of this year's Frieze Art Fair, three new American galleries have opened in Mayfair. The arrival of the new David Zwirner, Michael Werner and Pace galleries further cements London as Europe's main art marketplace and redraws the art map as the city centre eclipses the east end.

Writer: Emma O'Kelly

David Zwirner

New York gallerist David Zwirner has converted a former private bank in Mayfair into his first European gallery. Artists' architect du jour, Annabelle Selldorf, (who created Zwirner's white cube style gallery in Chelsea, NY) has reworked the eighteenth century townhouse into an elegant 10,000 sq ft space, with three floors given over to exhibitions. Says the London gallery's director, Angela Choon: 'We chose London as the location for our first European gallery as its role as the centre of the European art world is so well established.' The new space will cement David Zwirner's existing links with artists, museums and collectors in the region. Its opening show features new canvasses by eminent Belgian painter Luc Tuymans, who has not shown in London since 2004. Next up, in January, will be minimalist sculptures from the late Fred Sandback. 

'Luc Tuymans: Allo!' at David Zwirner runs until 17 November

Pace Gallery

Located next to Royal Academy, Pace's new gallery opens with a duet show of black and grey paintings by Rothko and seascapes by Hiroshi Sugimoto. The exhibition space, in the former home of the Haunch of Venison, has been revamped by David Chipperfield and is the 52-year-old gallery's second London offering in addition to a small gallery in Soho. Pace owner Marc Glimcher says; 'In London, people understand art one way, in New York, it's another, so we must embrace local uniqueness.' The new gallery director Mollie Dent-Brocklehurst adds; 'Although Pace is an American gallery, we hope to bring a more local feeling to this space. And we will use it to look east and chime with the Pace Gallery in Beijing. '

'Rothko/Sugimoto: Dark Paintings and Seascapes' at Pace Gallery runs until 17 November. 6 Burlington Gardens, London W1S 3ET

Michael Werner

He has had a presence in London since 2007, but it is only now that Werner has opened a gallery. Located on two floors of a Georgian townhouse in Mayfair, the small but perfectly formed space has the feeling of a private salon and was chosen to complement Werner's brownstone space in New York and his townhouse gallery in Cologne. The opening show features work by Scottish artist Peter Doig, although Werner specialises in deceased Paris-based artists. He hopes to bring to London those who we haven't seen enough of; expect Francis Picabia and Jörg Immendorff in the near future.

The Peter Doig exhibition at Michael Werner runs until 22 December. 22 Upper Brook Street, London W1K 7PZ