Champagne Reception, Red Carpet and Mini Originals: The Pre-Nit del Art at Gallery Mensing

Champagne Reception, Red Carpet and Mini Originals: The Pre-Nit del Art at Gallery Mensing

Around 400 guests, pop-art moments and funds for the Asociación Balear de Parkinson

On Thursday evening a short but loud procession moved from Carrer de Colom to Gallery Mensing: high heels on old paving stones, taxi horns in the distance and the bells of Plaça Cort chiming briefly around half past nine. Palma presented itself at about 24 °C with dense cloud cover — just the right weather for champagne and exhibitions inside a 700 m² art house.

About 400 visitors found space: neighbors, collectors, regulars from the art scene and people who were simply curious. A red carpet led into the exhibition hall, Champagne One was on hand, and works of all sizes shone on the walls. The mood was relaxed, conversations mixed with the soft clink of glasses.

The Pop Art artist Tom Boston, who was present in Palma, attracted particular attention. He handed out small, hand-signed artworks to guests — not machine prints, but individually worked mini pieces. Boston explained that he sprays additional graffiti elements onto prints, giving each piece its own texture. Among the motifs he mentioned were figures many know: the Blues Brothers as well as Ernie and Bert — icons that gain new layers of color in his hands.

Familiar faces mixed with local patrons among those present: TV personalities, former reality show participants and people from the real estate and cultural sectors. Names were mentioned, but more important that evening were the conversations on site — watching a collector pause in front of a painting or a group on the gallery stairs discussing technique and favorite materials.

The atmosphere was supported by an easygoing musical arrangement: DJ Jerome played sets on the ground floor while violinist Serafima filled small pauses between drinks with short, clear melodies. On the second floor photographer Sven Köhler had set up a photo booth where portraits and group photos were taken, capturing the evening from another perspective.

Catering was provided by Rauschenberger: tapas, small bites and skewered prawns circulated, accompanied by wine from Son Amaret. All of this matched the aim of the evening: to make art experiencable and to enable encounters — not primarily to sell, but to start conversations.

Gallerist Harry Mensing took the opportunity to explain works to visitors and to point out the Nit de l'Art: Palma's long art night returns taking place on Friday and Saturday. His message was clear: gallery nights live from personal exchange between artists, gallerists and the public. Short speeches from people in the photography and media sphere placed the evening in context and praised the local art scene.

The evening concluded with a raffle: tickets were sold and the proceeds go to the Asociación Balear de Parkinson. The main prize was a work by New York artist Charles Fazzino — a lucky guest left the gallery later that night with a very special souvenir.

Evenings like this are more than pretty images for social networks. They show how culture comes together in Palma: established galleries, international artists, gastronomy and a touch of local color. As the Nit de l'Art 2025: Palma Between Gallery Glamour and Crowds fills the city in the coming days, one can only hope that this friendly, slightly chaotic bustle remains: conversations on the stairs, one glass too many, a new contact for a young artist.

Those who missed the vibe of the Pre-Nit should take a walk along Carrer de Colom, Evening Stroll Through Palma's Art Night: Nit de l'Art Open Until 11 PM, listen to the sounds of the city and mark their calendars for the upcoming gallery nights. Culture lives from coming together and sharing — and that was tangible that Thursday evening at Gallery Mensing.