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Joshua Compston (1970-1996) was a London gallerist whose space 'Factual Nonsense' was closely associated with the emergence of the Young British Artists.
Compston graduated from the Courtauld Institute in 1992. Interest in the YBAs was begining to take off but as there was a shortage of established dealers Compston saw an opportunity and opened 'Factual Nonsense' on Charlotte Street in Hoxton which had become the centre of the emerging YBA scene. Compston worked with many of the leading artists of the second wave of the YBA moment including Tracey Emin and organised an annual fete in Hoxton Square. However Compston never had the financial backing to sign the artists to secure contracts and as they became succesfull his artists moved to other dealers, notably Jay Jopling. Lack of money and seeing the artists that he had nurtured abandon him contributed to a downward spiral of drug abuse. Compston died of an ether overdose. His funeral was attended by several hundred mourners including many leading figures of the London art scene.
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