Friendships

Paintings by Martin Gustavsson in dialogue with prints & drawings from the collection of Andrew Edmunds

4th – 25th October 2025

Andrew Edmunds Prints & Drawings

44 Lexington Street, London W1F 0LW

Above are some interior documentation of the exhibitopn Friendships at Andrew Edmunds prints & drawings.

photo courtesy Matthew Booth

Friendships is an exhibition of recent paintings by Martin Gustavsson, interwoven with prints and drawings collected by Andrew Edmunds, presented in his celebrated print shop on Lexington Street, London. This exhibition serves as a poignant comparison of the formal and emotional qualities found within these timeless prints, which have remained in place following Edmunds' untimely passing in September 2022, and Gustavsson's latest body of work.

Set against the backdrop of the 18th-century environment of 44 and 46 Lexington Street, this juxtaposition of images aims to illuminate how painterly concerns transcend time, simultaneously enriching our understanding of various forms of connection and friendship. These historic buildings have been characterised by a vibrant coffee house culture since they were first erected; an atmosphere embraced by Edmunds in his eponymous restaurant, Academy Club and print shop.

Gustavsson's artistic journey has long been preoccupied with the relationships embedded within artworks and genres, both contemporary and historical. Currently pursuing a practice-based PhD in Painting at Konstfack in Stockholm, Gustavsson employs random juxtapositions and pairings

to explore emotional and sometimes unexpected content—a method that finds a fitting platform in this exhibition.

The camaraderie between Edmunds and Gustavsson blossomed over decades, beginning in 1997 when Gustavsson worked next door at the restaurant. From 2003 to 2006, Edmunds generously provided Gustavsson with a studio space at the rear of 46 Lexington Street, now the restaurant's kitchen. Their friendship thrived on countless conversations surrounding the artworks Edmunds collected, along with the pieces Gustavsson created during those years and beyond.

Edmunds played a pivotal role in introducing Gustavsson to influential works by artists such as Hogarth, Rowlandson, and Barry. Their discussions opened avenues for both to reassess how these historical pieces resonate within a contemporary framework, helping Gustavsson to deepen his understanding of art history and encouraging him to merge formal and social concerns into his own practice. The influence of their exchanges can be seen in works such as the multi-canvas installation, In No Particular Order, exhibited at Maria Stenfors in 2010, and the monumental piece Eye Candy for Andrew, inspired by a print by James Barry (1741-1806) and showcased at Kalmar Art Museum in 2023.

In Friendships, Gustavsson invites viewers to engage with the emotional and formal complexities of art while honouring the legacy of a cherished friendship, ultimately illustrating how connections within the visual world can reverberate across time, allowing for new interpretations to emerge.

Picture 1 from left: Bluff 30x23cm, Resting Awake 20x39cm, Friendships 66x101,5cm, Turning Right 46x46cm, Leg Crossing 39x30cm

Picture 2: Leg Crossing 39x30cm

Picture 3: A Measure 30cm diameter, Bluff 30x23cm, Resting Awake 20x39cm

Picture 4: Purple Pose 101,5x66cm, Closure 56x50cm, A Particular Hand Movement 37x27cm

Picture 5: Looking Left 46x46cm, Bubbles 36x27cm, Pearls 50x40cm, Well 38cm diameter, Crotch 55x60cm

Picture 6: Man Falling 39x30cm

Picture 7: Bubbles 36x27cm, Pearls 50x40cm

Picture 8: Crotch 55x60cm, Acceptance 50x60cm

Picture 9: Another Pose 66x61cm

Sodom & Gomorrah

is a space that will emerge in different physical locations with the aim of further investigating the main research question of the Faggoty Brushstrokes.

It is a participatory method to deepen the relationship with the public and implement and explore the concept of ‘live’ in relation to both painting and spatiality.

It is a platform from which to launch projects and conversations involving both the dead and the living. Sodom and Gomorrah will also make exhibitions in different forms.