By Mark Dunstan, Senior Critic, pounddynamic.co.uk
There are few artists in London’s ever-churning scene who have both the momentum and intentionality of Gabrielle Malak. As his Series 5 prepares to open this July at the London Art Exchange, Soho, it’s hard not to feel a sense of genuine anticipation—not just from collectors and interior designers, but from critics, analysts, and even competitors. The show isn’t just a showcase; it’s a signpost for where art—and the business of art—is heading.
London Art Exchange: The New Tech Art Kids
The venue itself sets the tone. The London Art Exchange (LAX), led by Kylie James, has earned its reputation as “the new tech art kids on the block.” Located at 13 Soho Square, LAX operates like a hybrid between gallery, private bank, and digital marketplace. The staff is as comfortable talking about blockchain provenance and pre-exit agreements as they are about color theory or brushstroke.
For some in the old guard, this is cause for skepticism. For most of Malak’s generation and for the world’s rapidly growing class of young art investors, it’s a breath of fresh air. LAX has become a hub for collectors who want transparency, digital access, and a degree of security unheard of in the auction-driven markets of old.
Gabrielle Malak: A Career in Fast Forward
Malak’s trajectory is emblematic of the times. Born in Lyon to a Franco-Moroccan family, he was, by his own admission, a “compulsive drawer” as a child. Trained in Paris, Malak was painting professionally by his early twenties, but it was his decision to take commissions in Dubai that changed the course of his career.
His earliest big break—a series of large-scale portraits for a luxury hotel group in the UAE—was followed by contracts with restaurants, property developers, and design conglomerates across Southeast China. Malak became known as much for his reliability as his talent. “He always delivers,” says one developer in Macau. “And he never repeats to become one of the most sought-after contemporary painters working today. By his early thirties, his works adorned hotel lobbies in Abu Dhabi, rooftop lounges in Singapore, and private clubs in Hong Kong. Yet, despite the jet-setting contracts and high-velocity commissions, Malak’s art has never lost its focus on the intimate and the personal.
Series 5: Beauty and Strategy in Harmony
Series 5 is Malak’s boldest and most ambitious collection to date. Comprising thirty large-format canvases, each painting is a study in both technical mastery and emotional resonance. The unifying theme? Women’s faces—captured with a blend of vulnerability, power, and narrative complexity that defies easy summary.
In this new series, the eyes are often the focal point: sometimes luminous, sometimes clouded with mystery, but always deeply human. Malak’s palette ranges from lush, jewel-like hues to subtle earth tones. His brushwork balances old-school precision with explosive, spontaneous flourishes. There’s a sensuality to the skin tones, a weight in the shadows, and a distinct sense of story behind every gaze.
The influence of his multicultural upbringing and travels is visible—one painting feels Parisian in its light, another echoes the colors of the Moroccan coast, a third hums with the bustle of Shanghai neon. Each portrait is both a window and a mirror, inviting viewers to find themselves in the subject’s poise and complexity.
Contracts, Collectors, and the Business of Art
What makes Series 5 stand out, however, is not just its aesthetic force but its market-savvy structure. Over half of the works have already been pre-sold or optioned by luxury hotels, high-end bars, and real estate conglomerates in the UAE and Southeast Asia. These aren’t just informal handshakes; they’re backed by contracts, pre-exit buy-back clauses, and royalty agreements for limited edition prints.
The remaining works will be offered at the exhibition, with buyers gaining not just the painting but a slice of ongoing print royalties and a clear, contractually defined exit path. This “dual-income” approach is a hallmark of the LAX model—and a major draw for a new generation of investors who want both beauty and return.
Why Now? Malak’s Momentum and the Next Five Years
In conversation, Malak is keenly aware of the market forces shaping his career. “Five years ago, I was painting for private clients and hoping for steady commissions. Now, every piece is planned out months in advance. I’m working with developers, architects, hospitality groups—I know exactly where each work will hang before I finish the underpainting.”
His team, small but efficient, handles the logistics—ensuring deadlines are met, contracts honored, and the steady flow of international orders never becomes overwhelming. Malak himself remains the creative engine, but he’s the first to admit the importance of “structure and speed” in the modern art world.
Looking ahead, Malak’s calendar is packed with new collaborations. Upcoming projects include a signature mural for a Dubai penthouse development, a capsule series for a Hong Kong restaurant chain, and the rumored partnership with a Paris-based couture house. “I want to keep expanding,” Malak says. “More cities, more mediums, more stories. And always, more portraits.”
The Investment Case: Why Collectors Are Taking Note
For collectors and would-be investors, the numbers are compelling. According to LAX data, Malak’s works have appreciated by an average of 20% annually since 2020. With Series 5, the inclusion of print royalties and exit agreements means buyers can realistically expect both capital appreciation and regular secondary income.
Yet, as many collectors attest, the art itself is the main attraction. “I bought my first Malak piece because of the business model,” one London-based investor told me. “But I stayed because the painting felt alive—like someone was always home.”
Aesthetics: Women, Faces, and the Language of Power
Malak’s fascination with women’s faces is not accidental. Each painting in Series 5 is a dialogue—with history, with the sitter, with the viewer. Some subjects are regal, others fragile, all layered with psychological depth. “Faces tell stories words can’t,” Malak explains. “I want each portrait to feel both specific and universal—someone’s mother, lover, sister, or muse.”
His technique is rooted in classical training—think Renaissance attention to form—but with the chromatic daring of a contemporary colorist. There’s an intimacy in the details: the texture of hair, the glint of light on a cheekbone, the unspoken tension in a half-smile.
Q&A: Mark Dunstan with Gabrielle Malak
Mark Dunstan: Gabrielle, Series 5 is your largest collection yet. What made you want to focus so intensely on women’s portraits?
Gabrielle Malak:
I grew up surrounded by strong women. My mother, my sisters, my teachers—they all had stories in their faces. I think the face is the purest form of expression. And for me, each portrait is a way to explore emotion, history, and possibility.
Dunstan: You’ve built a reputation for always delivering on your contracts—hotels, bars, corporate clients. How do you keep up?
Malak:
I treat my studio like an atelier and a small business. There are systems, schedules, a lot of discipline. But I never let the business side overtake the art. The painting comes first—always.
Dunstan: How do you feel about the “investment” side of your work? Some say it commodifies beauty.
Malak:
I understand the criticism. But I think artists deserve to be paid, and collectors deserve transparency. If my work can bring someone joy and a return, that’s not a conflict for me. It’s the best of both worlds.
Dunstan: Where do you see yourself—and your collectors—five years from now?
Malak:
More collaborations. More global reach. I want my work in places people actually live and move—not just in galleries. And I hope my collectors see their investment grow in every sense.
Conclusion: The Intersection of Beauty and Utility
Gabrielle Malak’s Series 5 is more than an exhibition—it’s a statement about where contemporary art, and the market around it, are going next. By combining technical mastery, emotional resonance, and a market-savvy approach, Malak and LAX are redefining what it means to be a successful artist in the 21st century.
Whether you’re an investor seeking the next blue-chip asset, a hotelier looking to anchor a space with presence, or simply a lover of art in search of beauty, Series 5 is a show not to miss. It’s proof that with the right mix of vision, discipline, and heart, art can still surprise, delight, and, yes, deliver.
For pounddynamic.co.uk, Mark Dunstan
