Spray Gallery was founded because of our passion for the artists and their shapeshifting work. Our rapport with the artists we represent is testament to our expertise and the authenticity of our artists' work.

 

Spray is the continuously evolving creation of its founder, Samuel Farlow, b. 1998, London. For his undergraduate studies, Sam studied French and Classics at Royal Holloway. During his third year, he spent 7 months in Montpellier, southern France. 

 

Walking the notorious streets, squares and quarters, surrounded by the timeless Haussmann architecture, Sam found himself mixing in an ever-changing and quick-paced universe of subculture. The stunning buildings, incredible medieval walls, and bollards, bins, even the floor - all urban matter - were adorned with graffiti, or street art. The drawings, spray ups, paste-ups, collages and stencils all seemed to enhance the beauty of the city and the city’s architecture. Day after day, pieces would be rearranged, added to, or just disappear. Sam’s curiosity grew and he wanted to find out how this ephemeral art came to be so prominent in Montpellier. 

 

Sam wrote a thesis on the Montpellier street art movement, before undertaking a masters in International Contemporary Art: Curation and Business. His University of Exeter masters course included a 6 week stint at Camden Art Centre, where Sam was mentored by experts in the world of contemporary art. During a short internship at Maddox Gallery in Mayfair and also Westbourne Grove, Sam gained a strong understanding of the contemporary art market and the way in which a leading gallery operates. For his final masters project, Sam curated his first exhibition, showcasing the work of Salamech, a pioneer on the Montpellier street art scene.

 

Sam pursued his hopes of starting a gallery, and the Prince’s Trust are currently supporting his Spray Gallery endeavours.  

 

Montpellier is a mini capital of street art, where the art form has become accepted by the Montpellier Metropole. The city’s stories are told through the art, and Samuel Farlow aims to bring the stories of the artists, and the stories that the artists wish to tell, to the UK contemporary art scene. 

​

Having met the artists in their studios, or working on the streets - in their environments - Sam has a direct connection to the artists and he wishes to promote the artists to a wider audience.