Alexander Proud

Alexander 'Alex' Proud is a British entrepreneur. He was born in Brighton,[1] on 14 September 1969 and educated at Tonbridge School and then the University of York, where he studied Politics. In 1998 he founded Proud Gallery,[2] the London photography gallery, which has since grown into the Proud Group with two more galleries, a nightclub and three cabaret venues.

On GMB news UK morning show (08/11/21) during the Covid-19 pandemic Alex Proud was quoted as saying, sic "Nightclubs are safer than Supermarkets"

Early career

On leaving the University of York in 1991 Proud began an apprenticeship with a Japanese art dealer in London before opening his first gallery in 1994 selling rare Japanese prints.

Proud Group

In the autumn of 1998 Proud founded the photography gallery Proud Central in London’s West End.[3]

The gallery brought high quality photography to a mainstream market, based upon a formula of exhibiting accessible shows around popular themes. Proud Galleries has three locations in Chelsea, Camden Town and the Strand.[4]

Since its inception, the Proud Group has expanded into a number of areas including live music events, cabaret shows and restaurants.[5]

Proud Camden is located in the 200-year-old Grade II listed Horse Hospital [6] in the Stables Market in Camden, London. The venue has been restored, but it retains most of its original features, including the stables that once housed the horses that were injured pulling canal barges.

Proud Cabaret [7] is a restaurant chain of The Proud Group.

Other work

With photographer Rankin, Proud co-founded the photographic art book publishers Vision On,[8] launching with Rankin’s books Nudes, Snog and CeleBritation, Audrey Hepburn by Bob Willoughby, and over 100 other titles.

Since 2013, Proud featured as a returning dealer on the Channel 4 series Four Rooms,[9] wherein entrepreneurs and businessmen and women are pitched collectibles from members of the public. Four Rooms won Best Daytime award at 2014's Royal Television Society awards.[10]

Proud served as a judge on Channel 4’s Picture This with photographer Martin Parr of the Magnum Photos photo agency and Brett Rogers of the Photographers' Gallery.[11]

Proud writes a weekly column for The Daily Telegraph[12] and has also written for the London Evening Standard[13] and The Sunday Times.[14]

Proud is active in politics engaging with development proposals local to the Camden community, serving as a vice chairman for Camden Town Unlimited, and also worked as an advisor to the former Liberal Democrat leader, Charles Kennedy.[15]

Proud has been invited to judge several photography competitions including the Nikon Press Awards and The Observer Hodge Awards.[16]

In 2008 Proud co-founded the Sony World Photography Award.[17]

Personal life

Proud lives between East Sussex and London.[18]

In 2020, Proud was accused of sexually harassing members of his female staff. [19]

References
  1. Ian Ray, 'The Argus', 20 September 2010, Proud to be a Brighton boy
  2. Charlie Kenber, 'London Calling' 19 February 2014, What to do: Out and Proud
  3. "Linda Scott, 'The Global Herald', 16 December 2010, Profile: Alex Proud – Nightclub & Gallery Owner". Archived from the original on 3 June 2013. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
  4. Dan Carrier, 'Camden New Journal', Friday 18 February 2005, Proud’s gangster snap
  5. "Giles Addison, 'To Be Continued', Proud To Present...Alex Proud". Archived from the original on 25 March 2014. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  6. Historic England (3 September 1981). "Horse Hospital (1258100)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
  7. Christian Rose-Day, 'Fluid London' 30 October 2009, Proud Cabaret Restaurant And Club Opens In The City
  8. 'Kentishtowner', Tuesday 5 November 2013, Ich Bin Kentishtowner: Alex Proud, gallerist and club owner
  9. 'Channel 4', Four Rooms Dealer Profile
  10. Kevin Ritchie, 'Real Screen', 19 March 2014, "Gogglebox," "Four Rooms" win RTS awards
  11. Jemima Kiss, 'The Guardian', 21 December 2007, Inside some of Channel 4's new media projects
  12. 'The Daily Telegraph', Alex Proud
  13. Alex Proud, 'The London Evening Standard, 26 July 2011, Farewell to Amy Winehouse
  14. Alex Proud, 'The Sunday Times', 16 March 2014, He's gotta have it
  15. Jonathan Morrow, 'The Independent', 19 January 2008, The 5-minute Interview: Alex Proud
  16. "Elena Leo, 'New Style Magazine', 7 March 2011, Alex Proud Profile". Archived from the original on 25 March 2014. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
  17. 'Sony World Photography Awards'
  18. Alex Proud, 'The Daily Telegraph', 16 December 2013, Why I swapped London for the glorious sticks
  19. "Gallery owner Alex Proud 'followed intern upstairs and unzipped dress'".
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