Alex Tieghi-Walker Shares (Some of) His New York Secrets

When British curator and gallerist Alex Tieghi-Walker, or Tiwa to his close circle, moved to New York, he found himself in an ever expanding collective of creatives. And, as he builds his gallery-meets-cultural space, TIWA Select, the relatively new New Yorker seems to be everywhere.

After co-hosting a Frieze New York launch party at his gallery (pictured here), we caught up to find out more about his adopted city, the highlights in and outside of his neighborhood of Tribeca, the creative community that inspires him, and his go-to list, from galleries to pancakes.

Photo: Kate Owen @thekateowen

Lily Sullivan: What is TIWA Select?

Alex Tieghi-Walker: While my space is called a gallery, I'm hoping that it's perceived and presented as something a little bit fluid. It’s more of a cultural space. That is why I put so much time into the food program, and why I do the events that I do.

I work primarily with self-taught artists. That's obviously not always the rule, but that's just the type of art world that I like to tap into. My whole aim with the gallery, the artists I work with, and the spaces, is that it feels a bit more inclusive and a bit more casual and convivial.

Photo: Kate Owen @thekateowen

I saw you at a lot of events this year, what are some highlights?

I feel like we had access to some really beautiful spaces during the design month in the same way that when you go to Milan Design Week, you have access to all these beautiful palazzi and studios and ateliers. That was the foundation of my gallery, taking over homes. And I feel like New York stepped up its game, and the backdrop of the week wasn’t just art galleries or design showrooms. It was actually about going into real spaces.

You really could just spend your life eating your way around New York.

What are some examples of this?

Giancarlo Valle’s new showroom. Then, August Journal did the launch of their new issue in a USM loft (based on the design system of Fritz Haller). It was so beautiful to see this Swiss designed apartment in the middle of Manhattan. And it was great seeing Athena Calderone's new home (in celebration of her Beni collaboration launch).

Tribeca has become quite a hub for design and art—what studios and galleries in your neighborhood do you find yourself returning to?

I think the fun about living down here is that every time I pop out, I can just dip into a different gallery. Friends like Jacqueline Sullivan, who has an amazing space, and Superhouse, which has just moved to Walker Street. I love 52 Walker and Canada Gallery, they both have excellent programming. And Ted Mueling with his gallery-slash-store. That space is so curious and fantastic.

Photo: Kate Owen @thekateowen

Who are some creatives in your circle that inspire you?

I moved to New York and stumbled into a group of people who were doing such interesting things. I'm often in awe of what my friends managed to achieve because I know how hard it is to make things work, especially in New York where there's a lot of demands from you to do something that's interesting and different.

Beverly Nguyen (Beverly’s) is one of my closest friends, and I'm just so proud of her for instigating the store and tying it into her heritage but also her passions, and making it feel very organic and welcoming. Raf Prieto and Laila Gohar are obviously doing such beautiful things—Raf making chocolate (Casa Bosques) and Laila making cakes in the shape of courgettes (Gohar World). And I love what Arley Marks has done with his space on Franklin and the community that he's building there.

You know, it's all people doing their thing and doing it very well.

Can you describe how you would spend an untethered day in New York?

I really love cycling around New York. My dream day would probably involve cycling all the way from Tribeca up the Westside Highway to the Cloisters or the Noguchi Museum. I like those far-flung museums that don't quite attract the same masses of tourists that places like the Met or the MoMA do, and I really just enjoy being outside in New York. There's something special about the skyline, the water, and nature.

And then just snacking all the way home. I have a Google Map with all the places I like to eat and snack. And oftentimes I'll just be in the neighborhood and see what's there.

Photo: Kate Owen @thekateowen

What are some highlights on that list?

I mean, up in Inwood, there's some amazing taco spots up near the Cloisters, places you’d expect to find in LA. And I honestly love all those old school cafes in Midtown—like Lodi, which is new but has the old school vibe. And classic New York institutions that feel so special like Odeon and Frenchette. And Ear Inn, that funny little British pub. You really could just spend your life eating your way around New York.

What are some other must-sees in NYC, some gems that are worth the trip uptown or to Brooklyn?

The nice thing about New York is that a lot of places have retained their character. So I love cycling down to Red Hook and going to the little Key Lime Pie spot—it feels like you're in the overgrown Deep South.

I also love walking through Boerum Hill, which just has these beautiful little old school wine bars. Or Greenpoint, where there's a lot of stuff going on, but you still have the history of the neighborhood and its residents present.

Any best-kept secrets you are willing to spill? Or advice for finding spots in New York?

I think that my experience of New York is so small compared to everything it has to offer. And I kind of like to keep them a secret. But honestly nowhere is a secret if you dig deep enough into city blocks and resources. You'll find places that surprise you and that you know you'll keep returning to.

My advice to someone who's looking to learn more about their own city is to really dig deep. My boyfriend and I play this little game where once every two weeks or so, we'll take turns suggesting a restaurant to go to that's out of the way. It’s nice that we get to partake in an adventure in our hometown together.

I recently went on a trip to Jackson Heights because I was like, I want to eat proper Indian food. You know, being British where we have such incredible Indian food and I was really missing it. So I got on a bike and then I went to the Infatuation and found some cool spots.