Flowing through the centre of Florence, the Arno weaves through the cadence of history. Within this timeless valley, a space emerges that transcends the established boundaries of art. Reaching 500 square meters, Keil Space is a pioneering art space where advanced techniques meet science, technology and bronze mastery. Standing as both a testament to innovation and a bridge to history, the project has ancient roots and is tied to a fascinating family legacy that is an intricate tapestry woven from artisans and antique dealers. The Keil family’s influence has shaped the art world over generations, stemming from the Keil Foundation that was created in London by Henry William Keil in 1932 and continuing today with Sam Keil at the helm of a visionary new project in Florence that ripples through the art world.
A heritage rooted in excellence
The Keil family’s journey into the realms of art and craftsmanship began in the early 20th century with Henry William Keil, a distinguished antique dealer who first worked for the renowned designer Sir Sydney Gordon Russell before establishing his own businesses, H.W. Keil Ltd. and Keil Foundation, in 1932. Operating from the picturesque Tudor House in Broadway, Worcestershire, Henry Keil’s expertise soon gained him international renown. The firm’s reputation attracted the patronage of luminaries, including members of the British royal family, such as Queen Mary of Teck and her mother, Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge. Both frequent visitors, they acquired pieces that now grace the halls of Buckingham Palace. Over the decades, the Keil name became synonymous with impeccable taste and an unwavering commitment to preserving the past and inspiring the future.
Henry’s sons, Peter and John Keil, carried forward this legacy, establishing their own antique businesses and expanding the family’s influence. John further elevated the family’s prominence in the art world by founding John Keil Antiques in Brompton Road, London, specializing in rare and vintage jewelry, clocks, manuscripts and art, with its curated collections featured in auctions at Christie’s, Bonhams’ and Sotheby’s. In collaboration with the Ashmolean Museum, in 2013 Tudor House became the Broadway Museum and Art Gallery. John Keil, as the owner of Tudor House, offered the property on a long-term lease to give home to objects, paintings and textiles from the Ashmolean’s reserve collections, in addition to pieces from the Keil family’s private collection.
Sam Keil: art meets philosophy, mathematics and quantum physics
Born in the United Kingdom in 1965, Sam Keil’s upbringing was steeped in art and history, later attending Stowe School and the Royal Academy of Arts, where Dame Elizabeth Frink became her influential mentor. Under Frink’s guidance, Keil honed her sculptural techniques and thematic focus, earning prestigious scholarships and awards. A period in Vienna deepened her understanding of anatomy and motion through the study of Lipizzaner horses. Soon after, Keil’s exploration of dynamic systems extended to music and dance, incorporating Yehudi Menuhin’s violin methodology and drawing inspiration from Nijinsky, Nureyev and the Ballets Russes. Her passion for integrating movement and music into art led her to New York, where she collaborated with prestigious institutions like Adventure in Motion Pictures, creating sculptures of dancers for Swan Lake.
Beyond formal training, Keil’s work is shaped by a profound intellectual curiosity spanning philosophy, mathematics and quantum physics. These disciplines influence her creations, where dynamic principles and structural innovation reflect her commitment to understanding and recreating the complexities of the world. Keil’s multidisciplinary approach led to experimentation in various directions and across multiple mediums. The crowning achievement of her lifelong artistic quest is the recently launched Keil Space, where bronze sculptures and New Generation works are presented in a deeply meaningful context. The pieces and the space itself are not simply objects and settings, but signs and coordinates of an experiential topography that invite observers to explore the metaphysical dimensions of existence.
Keil Space: a revolution in art
Established by the Keil Foundation, Keil Space is a territory for Advanced Arts, offering visitors an individual experience that transcends traditional art exhibitions. The First, Second and New Generation collections are displayed in environments designed to foster philosophical and artistic dialogue.
Here, the past and future converge. The atavistic energy of the First and Second Generation sculptures develops into the New Generation works, which evoke the vastness of the cosmos, exemplifying the Keil family’s commitment to pushing artistic boundaries. This space not only honors the family’s heritage, but paves the way for the future of art as a tool for personal transformation and collective understanding. In this regard, the impact of Keil Space is notable, as evidenced by the qualitative research carried out by the data analytics specialists of QDAS. Based on more than 500 interviews of visitors of different ages and cultural and social backgrounds, the study underlines Keil Space’s revolutionary approach to art and the therapeutic effects of the experience. According to the testimonies, the project fosters a new way of experiencing and communicating with art by widening the accessibility of the artistic dialogue and welcoming each visitor as the protagonist of their own experience.
Keil Foundation: sculpting the future
The Keil family’s connections to esteemed entities like Sotheby’s and Christie’s, as well as their collaborations with institutions such as the Ashmolean Museum, underscore their enduring influence in the art world. From the antique treasures curated by Henry Keil to the avant-garde experiential topographies of Sam Keil, the family’s journey is a testament to the power of art to inspire, connect and transform. As the torch-bearer of the Keil legacy, Sam Keil envisions a future where art transcends traditional forms to become a tool for personal transformation and collective understanding. As Keil Space continues to redefine the boundaries of artistic expression, it provides further evidence of the family’s unwavering conviction in the capacity of art to shape our understanding of the world and ourselves. In honoring their past, the Keil family paves the way for a future where art remains a vital force for connection and inspiration.
