Cover Queenie Rosita Law is the founder of Q Art Group (Photo: Kiu Ka Yee)

Queenie Rosita Law is the director and founder of Q Art Group, an art company that operates Q Contemporary, a private museum in Budapest; Q Studio, an art studio; and Double Q, an art gallery in Hong Kong

Queenie Rosita Law has made a career out of showcasing both emerging and historically overlooked artists from around the world, while changing the way people view the gallery experience.

A graduate of Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London, Law has travelled the globe in search of opportunities to bridge the gap between artists and collectors, as well as curating and producing artwork. Her work focuses on Central and Eastern European (CEE) contemporary art.

Almost seven years after she established the company, Law continues to explore the untold stories of CEE art through the exploration of countries like the Czech Republic, Slovenia and Slovakia. Here, she shares how her passion for the region began, what makes her tick and teases a new gallery space in Hong Kong, set to open this year.

Tatler Asia
Above Queenie Rosita Law (Photo: Kiu Ka Yee)

Describe what you do.
I am addicted to art. I run a gallery in Hong Kong with my husband and business partner, Nick Chu, and we run a non-profit space in Budapest—a place we have adopted as our second home.

How does your work make a difference?
We make a difference to artists, collectors and the community. First, we support our artists by helping them produce works, put on great shows, and also by finding ways to support their careers long term. We believe in them, stand by them and pour all our energy into helping them. For collectors, we provide great art in people’s homes. The art doesn’t just make them happy and it’s not just beautiful—it’s inspiring and thought-provoking. Finally, our work [benefits the community]—we love sharing art and the artists’ inspiration with visitors in Hong Kong and Budapest. We give tours and educate them about the artists and exhibitions we are putting on.

Describe a typical day in your life.
I spend most of my time researching artists and visiting artists’ studios. I also work on exhibitions: planning the shows and being there during every installation to ensure it looks perfect.

Speaking to an artist and listening to their inspiration is the very reason I fell in love with what I do. There is nothing more special than talking to an artist—it has become a highlight for me and is my favourite part of the job.

What was your first job?
My first job was in 2013. I worked as an assistant at a fashion photography and creative agency called Art Partner, in Paris. I have loved photography since I was young.

Tatler Asia
Above Queenie Rosita Law (Photo: Kiu Ka Yee)

What inspired you to establish Q Art Group?
I became passionate about collecting art after I travelled to the CEE and came across emerging and historically overlooked artists and their museum-quality works. I immediately fell in love with the power and energy of the region’s artists and decided to focus my collection on CEE contemporary art.

I started to visit various countries [across the CEE], with the goal to meet artists and visit their studios. I was inspired by their struggles and talent, and I realised there isn’t a centralised place in the region to see all of their art. This is what inspired me to establish Q Contemporary
in 2017.

During my journey—from collecting to establishing a contemporary art space [Q Contemporary, established in 2018] in Budapest—I met rising talents from Europe and America, who lacked the opportunity to expand into Asia. In recent years, they have really started to notice the growth and importance of the Asian art market and started asking me to showcase their works in Hong Kong. As a result, Double Q was born [in 2022]. It’s why our gallery programme is focused on European artists. Our vision is to empower today’s best new artists—who lack an audience in Asia—by becoming a leading platform for expanding their careers into Asia, starting with our flagship location in Hong Kong. 

Tatler Asia
Above Queenie Rosita Law (Photo: Kiu Ka Yee)

What has your journey been like in working across the CEE?
I have travelled to most of the countries in the CEE— Hungary, Poland, Serbia, Romania—numerous times. I have visited all the artists’ studios, museums and galleries. I’ve talked to curators and other art professionals and I buy books during my trips to research even deeper.

Can you tell me about a particularly memorable moment in your career?
My friendship with an emerging artist from Hungary named Márton Nemes. I first met Márton in 2019 after his degree show in London, where I acquired
two of his works. We clicked immediately and became friends. Márton was one of the artists who inspired me to open a gallery in Hong Kong in 2022. For me, there’s nothing more exciting than discovering a great artist, and whenever that happens I either want to collect or showcase [their works], collaborate with them—or all the above. I always knew that my life would be dedicated to art; I realised that what I enjoy the most is helping talented yet underrepresented artists like Márton grow their careers. The moment I found out that Márton was selected to represent Hungary at the 60th Venice Biennale, which starts [this month], is a moment I will cherish forever.

Who is your mentor?
My dad [the property developer Raymond Law Ka-kui]. Since I was young, I have always been rebellious and have always loved art. He’s always known this. Instead of encouraging me to be the same as others, he did the opposite. He always told me to be true to who I am and to express my own viewpoint.

What’s next for your gallery?
I want to continue to focus on putting on great exhibitions and discovering the best artists. I am also excited to be launching a new gallery space later this year in Hong Kong—[something that will allow me to] continue putting on unique shows. Later this year, we are also launching an artist residency in Budapest—[for us to] continue discovering great artists and furthering their careers.

What is a surprising thing about you that most people don’t know?
I used to skateboard when I was younger. I met one of my closest friends today at a skatepark, where K11 Musea is now.

Credits

Photographer's Assistant  

Wu Ho Sun

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