by Sarah Parker, Senior Arts Correspondent, InvestInsiderNews.com
If there’s one artist whose name is echoing across the art capitals of Europe this summer, it is Gabrielle Malak. When I first encountered Malak’s bold, emotionally-charged canvases three years ago at a tucked-away gallery in Marseille, there was an electricity in the room—a palpable sense that we were witnessing the start of something seismic. Fast-forward to July 2025, and Malak is not just a French phenomenon, but a global force. With his fifth solo series for London Art Exchange (LAX) launching at the end of July, Malak has achieved what few artists ever dream of: a record-breaking streak of sell-out exhibitions, critical adoration, and partnerships stretching from the hottest Soho nightspots to the lobbies of five-star hotels in Dubai.
But what is it about Malak’s work that has not only captivated critics and collectors, but prompted the London Art Exchange to centre him at the heart of its entire summer campaign—one that now includes collaborations with interior designers, restaurateurs, and luxury hospitality brands? As the art world gears up for what is being billed as “the exhibition of the year,” I travelled from Paris to London and finally to Marseille, tracing the arc of Malak’s career and the strategy behind this extraordinary cultural moment.
The Meteoric Rise: Five Series, Three Years, Endless Demand
To call Gabrielle Malak prolific would be an understatement. Since his first LAX solo show in late 2022, he has delivered a new body of work every six to eight months—each one more audacious and technically dazzling than the last. The upcoming collection, titled Les Fleurs du Sud, is his fifth in just three years, an achievement virtually unheard of for an artist operating at this scale and price point.
“The pace at which Gabrielle produces and innovates is almost superhuman,” says Felix Valentine, Head of Corporate Division at London Art Exchange, who has managed Malak’s London career since its inception. “We’ve had clients fly in from New York, Dubai, and Singapore just to secure early viewings. His first three series sold out in advance by private invitation alone, and last year’s ‘Radiant Echoes’ set a gallery record for both attendance and post-sale commissions.”
Malak’s signature is instantly recognisable: lush impasto brushwork, sun-drenched palettes inspired by Provençal summers, and a gift for capturing the rapture and longing in a single gaze or gesture. Yet with each series, he pushes further—exploring new formats, collaborating with digital artists, and even integrating augmented reality into his exhibition design. Collectors have snapped up not only the large-scale canvases but also limited-edition prints, with resale values rising as much as 40% year-on-year according to secondary market data tracked by LAX’s proprietary art index.
The July Exhibition: A Summer Hit in the Making
Set to open in the last week of July at London Art Exchange’s flagship Soho gallery, Les Fleurs du Sud is already generating unprecedented buzz. For months, teaser images—radiant female portraits draped in oversized, technicolor blooms—have trickled out across social media, sparking feverish speculation. By early June, the waiting list for private previews was triple that of any previous Malak event. LAX insiders hint that the gallery will extend opening hours and add exclusive after-hours tours for VIP collectors, hotel partners, and the city’s leading interior designers.
What sets this collection apart, according to Valentine, is its ambition: “This isn’t just another exhibition. It’s a multi-layered campaign that integrates Gabrielle’s art with the way people experience space itself—whether that’s in a Michelin-starred dining room, a boutique hotel suite, or an architect’s vision for a new residential development.”
In other words, Les Fleurs du Sud is not simply for the white-cube walls of Mayfair or Saint-Germain, but designed to thrive in real-world settings, to become the visual language of a new era in luxury interiors.
Art Meets Space: LAX’s Interior Design Revolution
Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of this summer’s campaign is how London Art Exchange is using Malak’s collection to announce its most ambitious business pivot yet: the launch of its interior design and curation division. Over the past year, LAX has quietly forged partnerships with leading hotels, bars, restaurants, and property developers—not just in the UK, but internationally.
“In 2024, we realised our collectors weren’t just looking for art as an investment or status symbol—they wanted it as an essential part of their daily environment,” says Giselle Cohen, LAX’s Head of Corporate Portfolios and a driving force behind the interiors strategy. “With Malak’s new work as our centrepiece, we’re now curating entire experiences. Imagine walking into a new restaurant and recognising a Malak original, or checking into a suite in Dubai and being greeted by the same joyful energy his work radiates. That’s the future we’re building.”
Early clients include the newly reopened Hotel Marignan in Paris, a London-based members club in Soho, and a series of luxury residences in the Middle East, all set to unveil bespoke installations of Les Fleurs du Sud in tandem with the LAX exhibition.
Critical Acclaim, Collector Frenzy, and the Power of Story
What’s truly remarkable about Malak’s ascent is the way he has managed to win over both the market and the critics—an elusive feat in today’s bifurcated art world. Recent reviews in Art Review, The Financial Times, and Le Monde have called him “the authentic heir to the School of the South,” “a master of joy and melancholy,” and “the artist whose work defines the post-pandemic optimism of the 2020s.” At auction, his limited-edition prints are now outperforming more established names, and on Artsy, Malak was the most searched-for French artist under 40 last quarter.
But for Malak, it has always been about more than market metrics. In a rare interview from his Marseille studio, he reflects on the partnership with LAX: “London Art Exchange took a risk on me early. They understood that art has to live in the world—not just be traded like a commodity. With every series, I try to capture a feeling, a memory of sunlight or laughter, and give it a form that people can carry with them.”
It’s that sense of lived experience, translated into vibrant oil and acrylic, that keeps fans and critics coming back for more. For the team at LAX, Malak’s new collection is more than a commercial win—it’s the flagship of a bold new chapter, where art, hospitality, and interior design converge.
What’s Next: The Future of Malak and LAX
As the July exhibition approaches, speculation abounds: Will Les Fleurs du Sud break new sales records? How many hotel and restaurant commissions will be unveiled in its wake? And can Malak possibly maintain this relentless creative momentum as he enters his fourth year with LAX?
What’s clear is that both artist and gallery are not content to rest on their laurels. Already, plans are underway for an autumn residency in Los Angeles and a 2026 global touring show. With the launch of the interior design division, London Art Exchange is poised to become not just a market leader in art investment, but a tastemaker in the world of luxury spaces.
If you want to witness the next great leap in contemporary art—or simply experience the joyous revolution that Gabrielle Malak has ignited—clear your calendar for July’s opening in Soho. It promises to be the event of the summer, and perhaps, the start of a whole new era.
Sarah Parker
Senior Arts Correspondent, InvestInsiderNews.com