Fraser Kee Scott (born 1978)[1][2] is the "maverick and dynamic"[3] owner of A Gallery in Wimbledon, London, and a partner in Wanted Gallery,[4] Notting Hill. He has promoted artists, Paul Normansell and Thomas Ostenberg, as well as the Stuckists, with whom he has demonstrated against the Turner Prize. Scott is a member of the Church of Scientology, whose teachings he has said can be beneficial to artists. This association caused a dispute with the Stuckists, which was resolved amicably.
Fraser Kee Scott developed a strong interest in art at school and saw himself as an artist.[2] On his 19th birthday, and without a degree,[2] in 1997 he founded the A Gallery, which has since dealt with "some of the biggest names in contemporary British art, often pre-empting the mainstream by at least a year."[5] The first exhibit was recent Chelsea graduate Alison Jackson's Crucifix.[5]
In 2001, Scott became a member of the Church of Scientology during a trip to Los Angeles. He has said that the importance of artists is acknowledged by Scientology, whose teachings can help artists' work by improving their "emotional tone", which in the case of Francis Bacon was "all fear".[1] He said, "I am always inspired by Scientology. Basically L Ron Hubbard knew the importance of artists to society and he pointed out how art has the power to lift moods and change the world and I strive to achieve this goal, a new renaissance!"[2]
In 2004, Scott exhibited in the window of the gallery a life-sized nude sculpture[6] There were some public complaints to the police,[7] who advised him that the work was offensive under the Indecent Displays Act 1991.[6] He placed the work behind frosted glass[7] and raised the price from £5,000 to £7,000,[7] which he said was nearer its real value.[8] He said that he knew "eye-catching" sculptures in the gallery window, including a large screaming lady, would "get attention, but I didn't know it would get this,"[6] that there were nude sculptures outside the Houses of Parliament, including male figures, and he did not understand why there was so much fuss.[8]
In October 2005, Scott, described as "gallery owner—and Stuckist", said in The Daily Telegraph that Tate gallery chairman, Paul Myners, was hypocritical for refusing to divulge the price paid by the Tate for its purchase of The Upper Room, paintings by its trustee, Chris Ofili, who had asked other artists to donate work to the gallery.[9] Scott said that Stuckist artists would be painting pictures called "The Hypocrisy of Myners" and the best one would be offered to the Tate.[9]
In December 2005, Scott took part in a Stuckist demonstration[1] outside Tate Britain against the Tate's purchase.[10] He talked to Isabella Blow, the fashion designer who overdosed on drugs in May 2007, advising that her problems could be helped by Scientology.[1]
In 2007, A Gallery staged On Form, a group show, which included some Stuckist artists, such as Peter McArdle, whose painting On a Theme of Annunciation, used to promote the show, was censored by MySpace for showing a nude figure.[5] Scott called the site "Murdoch Space" and said the painting was not porn or titillation, but thought-provoking: "They don't seem to be able to differentiate between the two!"[5]
In an article in the South London Guardian, Scott talked about the show On Form and also about Scientology.[5] In the Evening Standard, Stuckist co-founder, Charles Thomson, said the South London Guardian article put the Stuckists in a difficult position, as he had been promised the gallery was run as a commercial enterprise, and it was "outrageous" that the show should be used to promote Scientology, linking it to the Stuckists, who had no connection with the Church.[1] Another Stuckist artist, Paul Harvey, made a similar complaint.[1] Scott said that it was not "even an issue" and he did not use artists to promote Scientology, but was dedicated to selling their work, which he did so very successfully.[1]
Interviewed later by Scott, Thomson said that his remarks in the Evening Standard represented how he saw matters at the time, but that he accepted Scott's subsequent explanation that there was no intention to link the show and the Church and Scott did not realise the article would do this; Thomson said that the matter was a misunderstanding which had been resolved, and the Stuckists had continued to show successfully at the gallery: "For the record, I have always found you to be a very honest and principled person with a genuine passion for art."[11][12]
In 2007, then-Tate gallery chairman, Paul Myners, visited the A Gallery.[13] Scott said, "He [Myners] said he wasn't sure why we were so critical when our art was quite similar to the stuff... at the Tate";[13] Scott replied, "...if that were the case why on earth did the Tate turn down the art we offered them?"[13]
Scott noticed the work of Paul Normansell in his Birmingham degree show, and subsequently exhibited it in the A Gallery.[14] An article on the A Gallery show, Go Figure, in GQ magazine showed Normansell's painting of Kate Moss, which was seen by the manager of rock band The Killers, who commissioned Normansell to create the artwork for the Day & Age album and the single, "Human".[15]
In 2009, Scott promoted the show, Famous Doubles by Paul Harvey at the Wanted Gallery, Notting Hill,[16] of which Scott is a partner.[4]
Asked to comment on the artworld, Scott replied: