A Day Well Spent with Francesca Gavin
Words Billie Brand
Photography Kane Hulse
Francesca, who is now back on home turf in Hampstead, is all too familiar with life on the move – not least for work (when we speak, she has imminent trips to Copenhagen and Paris on the horizon). When she was younger, Francesca, her “bohemian” parents – her mother is a writer, her father an actor and musician – and two sisters moved from London to LA and then Woodstock. “I grew up in this strange esoteric America. Woodstock is a former indigenous American burial ground, where crystal shops and rainbow stores were places of pilgrimages,” she says. Francesca returned to the UK aged 11 when her parents separated, as a budding pianist and jazz vocalist, with a blossoming interest in design and counterculture. There were no prizes for guessing she would pursue a career in the arts.
Francesca has spent more than two decades reporting on contemporary art scene for titles including Frieze, Financial Times and Wallpaper* among many others, while also curating exhibitions such as Mushrooms: The Art, Design and Future of Fungi at Somerset House in 2020. Her books range from 100 New Artists (2011) to Creative Space: Urban Homes of Artists and Innovators (2009). And, having just launched Epoch, a publication and online platform that aims to connect opposing subjects, such as fashion and anthropology, she shows no sign of slowing down. But what does a day well spent look like to Francesca? You can bet it features plenty of books and art, as well as an encounter with a beloved old friend – and a Campari cocktail or two.
Where are we waking up today, Francesca?
In my top-floor flat in a converted Georgian building in Hampstead. I don’t have a social circle there, but it’s green and stunning. And I get woken up by the sound of birds.
Do you have a morning routine?
I am a very routine-led person in general. No matter where I am in the world, I like having a structure. I wake up and bathe. My hair needs washing every day to manage the curls. I usually have apple muesli for breakfast and a coffee – a cortado with oat milk – then I go straight into my emails. At about 10am I like to go out to a cafe.
What’s your most frequented cafe?
I’m quite slutty with my cafe choices, but I really like somewhere I can watch the world go by. If I’m lucky, I’ll be sitting in the sun somewhere, doing a quick crossword in The Guardian. I’m really into the whole structure of cafe life: the politics of it, reading a newspaper. My routine has been like this for years. Because I have worked for myself for such a long time, I don’t have a certain place I need to be.
When it comes to working, where do you find you’re most productive?
I’m a big fan of working in the rare books and music section in the British Library. It’s the quietest room in there. You’re not allowed to use your phone, so it’s an incredibly good space to be in when you need to meet deadlines. You’d be amazed at how many writers you bump into in there too.
What about on your fantasy morning – does that entail work too?
No. If we’re talking about my fantasy morning then I’d go out for breakfast. I will always have a soft spot for Dean Street Townhouse. I did the art collection there and they always give me a good table.
What’s your order?
Poached egg with avocado – always. Sometimes with a side of mushrooms.
Where are we heading after breakfast?
To a dance class. I began dancing nine years ago. At first, I was awful but I thought: “I’m going to get into this”. Now it’s a full-time hobby – I sometimes do five classes a week. It’s immensely fun. My work is quite intellectual, so it’s lovely to have a moment off and connect with my body. The style of dance I do is called commercial; pop-video stuff. I love cheesy R&B – Ariana Grande, Ella Mai, Lizzo. I’m not the best dancer in the world, but now I’m intermediate level, which means I can keep up with the pros – and that makes me really happy.
Your Instagram feed features short videos of you dancing. What inspired you to put them out there?
It gives me pleasure to share things that make me happy. Also, I can see where I messed up and watch my progression, which is really satisfying. It was never about me thinking of myself as desirable and I don’t want to make a career out of it. It’s just about having a good time.
Where are we spending the afternoon?
Soho. I’m a West End girl at heart. I grew up in Hampstead, but I went to school behind Oxford Street’s John Lewis until I was 16, and then to one in Hammersmith.
You’ve recently moved back to London after spending time in Vienna. What did you miss most about this city?
That it’s so alive. I like to feel like – even if I choose to stay in – that there’s a world out there. London is so culturally active.
As a curator and art lover, we’d love to know what galleries you currently admire.
Those of Mayfair: Thaddaeus Ropac, Michael Werner, Sprüth Magers, Hauser & Wirth, Thomas Dane and the ICA. I love the ICA bookshop and never leave without having bought something.
What books are in your personal collection?
I probably have about 1,000 at home. I once packed up a room of books into 40 boxes. I have a huge number of art reference titles – big monographs, thematic books, esoteric ones. Then I have theory books, which I look at for work. I also have tons of magazines. From quite a young age, I’ve been ripping pages out and sticking them into scrapbooks. When it comes to fiction, though, I’m a big fan of classic British literature: JG Ballard, Graham Greene, Daphne du Maurier. Usually, with novels, I will only keep them if I’m a huge fan of the author.
Speaking of books – congratulations on the launch of your 10th title: Rough Version. How did you find revisiting the old conversations of your NTS Radio show?
It’s interesting to see the political conversations we were having at different periods – from Donald Trump to the rise of Black Lives Matter. For me, the best thing about doing the show, and the book by extension, is getting a different selection of music from each artist. There’s something about getting a subject to talk about something that isn’t their work – they just relax. It makes for such a different dynamic.
If you could have any artist you haven’t had on the show already, who would be at the top of your list?
Kerry James Marshall – he has great taste. I’ve interviewed him about three or four times in the past and I would just love to have him on. Pierre Huyghe – in my opinion, he is one of the best artists ever. I was lucky to interview him about their work recently, but I’d love to talk to him about music. I’ve asked Cameron Jamie, but he said no. But I love him and music is an incredibly important part of what he does.
Music is a clearly a big part of your life. What do you like to listen to day to day?
I’m into listening to different music to suit the weather. I always listen to Miles Davis, Blue in Green, when it’s raining. This summer, I’ve been playing a lot of Jan Hammer – the 1970s, free-jazz stuff. Throughout the week, I always have NTS on. As I DJed for years, I have a lot of records too – 1970s funk, Stevie Wonder, 1980s soul, Chaka Khan.
Are you a homebody or someone who likes to go out?
Let’s get out the house. My rule is I spend one-third of the day at home and two-thirds out. I might need to come back for a rest though; I’m a big fan of a disco nap. I am slightly obsessed with a well-placed 45 minutes. Then I’ll have an espresso and get ready, usually for an art opening or a dinner.
How long does it take you to get ready for something like that?
I’m very low maintenance. All my clothes are black. Everything goes together. Even for the most special of occasions, half an hour is as long as I take. I’m more interested in conversation and having a good time than perfecting myself.
What’s for dinner?
There’s a tiny Japanese restaurant in Soho called Jugemu that I love. It’s run by a former professional footballer from Tokyo. I also love going to Maison François because Darren, who’s on the door, is amazing so I like seeing him. I tend to go classic places, where I can get a nice Campari and lemon juice.
What about an evening well spent at home?
I quite like eating early. I’ll make something from my mother’s cookbooks. I grew up on simple Mediterranean and vegetarian food. Then I like to watch old French movies. When I was 10, I wanted to be a film director and I went on to work at the Everyman when it used to be a repertory cinema, playing jazz and singing in the basement, so I’ve always watched old movies.
What’s the last thing you do before going to bed?
I like writing lists. Being organised excites me. I’m really into Japanese stationery and I have lots of planners. I also like feeling that everything around me is clean. That’s important to me because there’s not much separation between my work and normal life. Some days I will wake up and know that I’m not going to be able to write or curate – that there are no ideas in me. When that happens, I’ll treat that day as my weekend. In a way, I actually like working on weekends. I like being able to switch the balance.
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