Gallery Tour
In May of 2005 TEW moved to The Galleries of Peachtree Hills and opened three levels of an inviting, architecturally driven facility that moves far beyond the typical white box. Each of the three levels confers a distinct personality with attention lavished on finishes, floors and vital design elements. Timothy Tew worked with noted interior designer Corey McIntosh to create the space plan and initial design, then let fly his own love of melding the old and the new to create an environment that reflects his personal aesthetic.
Upon entering the Mediterranean blue doors of TEW Galleries Inc., guests will notice the diverse features that incorporate classic 19th century appeal, modernism, and a touch of Deco glamour. On the first level, the wood floor, its grain visible through a whitewashed finish, is structured in a pattern copied from a Russian boxcar. Within the space, Tew has added 19th century antique English moldings that are left unpainted, then waxed to impart a natural luster. Pine door surrounds from an 1820 Mayfair London home are fitted with mirrors to open the stairwell, which is further accented with built-in sculpture stands. A coffered wall of square glass panes, contemporary stair carpeting and a Deco crystal chandelier represent Tew's love of the 20th century.
The wood floor on the second level contains a chevron pattern, similarly color-washed. This level, offering the largest exhibition space, is the closest the gallery comes to the usual "white box approach" of most galleries. The addition of a Regency style chandelier of natural and white wooden beads instead of crystals, is a nod to both modernism and tradition. Tew also designed the stair railing with its undulating external form inset with a diamond pattern and emblazoned with the TEW logo. This circular form is repeated throughout the gallery in a variety of ways.
Finally, the third level, which houses Tew's office and the gallery library, defines a more relaxed atmosphere and is the least contemporary space. Ceilings, painted a deep turquoise green; honor Tew's admiration for neoclassical architecture. The flooring repeats the chevron pattern used below, but here, the wood has been left in its natural state. A pair of antique Doric pilasters and a laurel pediment, frame the entrance to Tew's office, creating a sense of drama and elegance.
"This space is about truly understanding all aspects of great design and incorporating them in a way that makes the space whole," says Tew. "I believe in art as beauty, and the new space reinforces this perspective." The new TEW Galleries Inc., with it's feeling of a grand residence, imparts a sense of how the exhibited art will look in a private collection. "Art is poetry. I want people to know how to use art to create a gorgeous interior."
-Carrie Whitney