MOT (gallery)

The MOT gallery you are heading toward in Hackney was once a significant independent art space known as MOT International. Founded in 2002 by Chris Hammond, Floyd Varey, and Mally Mallinson, it began its life as an experimental project housed within Regent Studios on Andrews Road. The gallery built a reputation for its unorthodox curatorial approach, often blending the professional art world with the gritty, creative atmosphere of East London's industrial spaces. One of its most memorable early projects involved turning a derelict Georgian house in Bethnal Green into a pristine, all-white art installation that was then listed for sale, effectively turning a real estate transaction into a public art piece. While the gallery eventually expanded to locations in Mayfair and Brussels, its roots remained tied to the community of artists and independent studios that defined this part of Hackney for over a decade.