CLOSE Gallery is a rural contemporary art space with global reach. Founded in 2009 by Freeny Yianni, a curator with 30+ years in the international art world, the gallery bridges Somerset’s pastoral setting and the avant-garde. Based at Close House, a 17th-century estate, its program spans exhibitions, residencies, and artist legacies, representing estates like Jane Harris and Grenville Davey alongside living artists such as Trish Morrissey and Simon Hitchens. Yianni’s approach is hands-on and legacy-driven: she nurtures long-term artist relationships (some spanning decades) and champions work that challenges genres. Formerly of Lisson Gallery, where she collaborated with figures like Anish Kapoor and Richard Deacon, she now channels her expertise into CLOSE’s intimate yet ambitious ethos, hosting shows in converted farm buildings while advising institutions worldwide. Beyond the gallery, CLOSE partners with museums and organizations on off-site projects, and Yianni co-chairs Somerset Art Works, a charity fostering community art engagement.
