Area guide to art exhibitions to see in London from December 2023 to January 2024
The city's festive season is a golden opportunity to immerse yourself in its thriving art scene. You'll find exhibitions delving into impressionism, solo displays spotlighting celebrated artists like Frans Hals and Rubens, and eagerly anticipated showcases like the Chanel exhibition, alongside contemporary gems by artists such as Pope: L. Here's your all-inclusive area guide to exploring London's vibrant art scene this Christmas.
Central London
Kaori Tatebayashi: Still Life
Tristan Hoare presents Still Life, Kaori Tatebayashi's solo exhibition of ceramics, a follow-up to their previous collaboration. Departing from floral themes, Tatebayashi focuses on wild plants, transforming the gallery into an immersive tableau where ceramic art interacts with nature. Her beautiful installation captures fleeting moments in clay, symbolising nature's resurgence, and celebrates its artistic essence.
Date: 10 November – 15 December 2023. Location: Tristan Hoare Gallery, 6 Fitzroy Square, London, W1T 5DX. Website: tristanhoaregallery.co.uk.
Tristan Hoare presents Still Life, Kaori Tatebayashi's solo exhibition of ceramics. Photo by MTotoe.
Julianknxx: Chorus in Rememory of Flight
Julianknxx's multi-screen film installation captures his collaborative journey with Black choirs across European port cities, exploring choral singing as a resistance against cultural erasure. Spanning 4000 kilometers in cities like Hamburg, London, and Barcelona, the project echoes diverse identities, referencing philosopher Édouard Glissant. The recurring phrase "we are what’s left of us" unites choral voices, preserving cultural memory through music. The exhibition redefines African art and culture through poetry, film, and music, culminating in a contemplative space.
Date: 14 September 2023 – 11 February 2024 Location: Barbican Centre, Silk St, London, EC2Y 8DS. Price: Free. Book now.
Julianknxx, Production still of Chorus in Rememory of Flight, 2023 © Studioknxx.
Heecheon Kim:Double Poser
The first UK exhibit of Heecheon Kim, a South Korean artist and filmmaker, explores how technology shapes our perceptions. Kim blends virtual and physical realms in his video works, challenging our reliance on advanced tech. Using tools like GPS and augmented reality, he questions how we interpret identity and daily life in digital spaces. The exhibition includes a new commission using a game engine, inspired by Hayward Gallery's architecture, merging computer-generated imagery and video game aesthetics.
Date: 1 December 2023 – 7 January 2024. Location: HENI Project Space, Hayward Gallery, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, London SE1 8XX. Website: southbankcentre.co.uk.
Kim Heecheon, Deep in the forking Tanks (2019), courtesy of the artist.
Gabrielle Chanel: Fashion Manifesto
The V&A Museum is hosting a groundbreaking exhibition centered around the fashion icon Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel. Divided into ten sections, the exhibit explores her influential fashion legacy, featuring rare pieces from esteemed collections like V&A, Palais Galliera, and Patrimoine de CHANEL. Highlighting Chanel's enduring impact on fashion and her British inspirations, this exhibition is a must-see, offering a concise yet comprehensive glimpse into her unparalleled legacy.
Date: 16 September 2023 – 25 February 2024. Location: V&A South Kensington, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 2RL. Price: from £24.Concessions available. Book now.
Marilyn Monroe applying Chanel N°5, photograph by Ed Feingersh, 1955, New York. © Ed Feingersh Michael Ochs Archives Getty Images.
Marina Abramović
Marina Abramović, a pioneer in performance art, is the focus of a groundbreaking solo exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts. Spanning over five decades of her influential career, the exhibit, curated in collaboration with the artist, features photographs, videos, installations, and live reenactments of her pivotal performances. Abramović's work, characterised by endurance and exploration of personal and societal realms, showcases her profound influence on contemporary art, from her collaborations with Ulay to her innovative solo experiments.
Date: 23 September 2023 – 1 January 2024 Location: Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BD. Price: from £25.50. Concessions available. Book now.
Marina Abramović, The Current, 2017. Video; 1 hour 35 mins. Courtesy of the Marina Abramović Archives. © Marina Abramović.
REBEL: 30 Years of London Fashion Excellence
This landmark exhibition, a collaboration with the British Fashion Council (BFC), celebrates the 30th anniversary of the BFC's NEWGEN program. It tells the story of fearless young designers who transformed fashion and features nearly 100 innovative fashion looks from debut and early collections that have made a mark in pop culture and launched global design careers.
Date: 16 September 2023 - 11 February 2024. Location: 224-238 Kensington High Street, Kensington, London W8 6AG. Price: from £18. Book now.
The Missing Thread
At Somerset House, explore The Missing Thread by BOLD, unveiling the impactful story of Black British fashion from the '70s to today. This showcase reveals Black creativity's profound influence on mainstream fashion, blending style, music, art, and design. Across four themes—home, tailoring, performance, and nightlife—the exhibition places Black British fashion in its socio-political context, highlighting its significant societal impact. Honoring designer Joe Casely-Hayford's legacy and spotlighting contemporary Black designers, the exhibit celebrates their transformative impact on British fashion.
Date: 21 September 2023 - 7 January 2024. Location: Somerset House, Strand, London, WC2R 1LA. Price: from £12.50. Concessions available. Book now.
Eileen Perrier, Untitled 1, Afro Hair and Beauty, 1998 © Eileen Perrier.
Hiroshi Sugimoto: Time Machine
The Hayward Gallery presents Time Machine by Hiroshi Sugimoto, a retrospective spanning 50 years of the artist's work. Sugimoto's enigmatic photos explore time, memory, and photography's essence, blurring reality and imagination. The exhibit features key pieces from his series, revealing his philosophical inquiries and manipulation of 19th-century photography concepts.
Date: 1 October 2023 – 7 January 2024. Location: Hayward Gallery, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX. Price: from £18. Concessions available.Book now.
Claudette Johnson: Presence
The Courtauld Gallery showcases Presence, a major exhibition celebrating the groundbreaking artwork of British artist Claudette Johnson, a leading figure in the Black British Arts Movement. Known for her poignant figurative drawings of Black individuals, the showcase features a spectrum of her works, spanning from early creations to her latest pieces. Johnson's art profoundly explores themes of Black identity and presence, delivering intimate yet commanding portrayals. Curated by Dorothy Price, Professor of Modern and Contemporary Art and Critical Race Art History at The Courtauld, the exhibition offers a significant dive into Johnson's career and artistic trajectory, accompanied by an extensive catalogue.
Date: 29 September 2023 – 14 January 2024. Location: The Courtauld Gallery, Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 0RN. Price: from £13. Concessions available. Book now.
Frans Hals. Banquet of the Officers of the St George Civic Guard, 1627. Oil on canvas, 179 × 257.5 cm. © Frans Hals Museum, Haarlem.
The Credit Suisse Exhibition: Frans Hals
The Credit Suisse Exhibition: Frans Hals at the National Gallery marks the largest Frans Hals exhibition in over thirty years.Co-curated with Rijksmuseum and Gemäldegalerie, it unveils about fifty of Hals' masterpieces from global collections, including the famed The Laughing Cavalier from the Wallace Collection.The exhibition follows Hals's evolution through chronological sections.
Date: 30 September 2023 – 21 January 2024 Location: The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN Price: from £20. Concessions available. Book now.
Sarah Lucas: Happy Gas
Tate Britain hosts an all-encompassing journey through the celebrated career of Sarah Lucas. Renowned for her audacious exploration of the human form, sexuality, and societal narratives, the exhibition proudly showcases a collection of over 75 artworks that span four prolific decades, including intriguing new creations.
Date: 28 September 2023 – 14 January 2024. Location: Tate Britain, Millbank, London SW1P 4RG Price: from £17. Concession available. Book now.
Sarah Lucas, Bunny 1997. Private collection. © Sarah Lucas.
Georg Baselitz: Sculptures 2011 - 2015
The Serpentine Gallery hosts Georg Baselitz's solo exhibition, showcasing sculptures and drawings. It features the UK debut of his monumental Zero Dom sculpture, exploring the body's fragility through physical artistic processes.The exhibition highlights previously unseen wooden sculptures and related drawings, offering insights into his multidimensional approach to art.
Date: 5 October 2023 – 7 January 2024. Location: Serpentine South Gallery, London W8 4PU.Price: Free. Website: serpentinegalleries.org.
Ranjani Shettar: Cloud songs on the Horizon
Indian sculptor Ranjani Shettar presents Cloud Songs on the Horizon at the Barbican Conservatory, showcasing stunning large suspended sculptures inspired by nature and traditional Indian crafts. Collaborating with the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, Shettar's first European exhibition beautifully aligns with the Barbican's focus on contemporary art within its architecture.
Date: from 10 September 2023. Location: Barbican Conservatory, Barbican Centre Silk St London EC2Y 8DS. Price: Free. Book now.
The Conservatory x Ranjani Shettar. Photo by MTotoe.
RE/SISTERS: A Lens on Gender and Ecology
RE/SISTERS: A Lens on Gender and Ecology at Barbican Art Gallery examines the link between gender and ecology through artworks by 50 global artists. It highlights the connection between women's oppression and environmental damage, emphasising marginalised communities. The exhibition advocates creative protest and care amid ecological challenges. It reframes gender-environment discussions, addressing extractive capitalism's impact and promoting empowerment.
Date: 5 October 2023 – 14 January 2024. Location: Barbican Art Gallery, Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London, EC2Y 8DS. Price: £16. Concessions available. Book now.
Women In Revolt!
Women in Revolt! is a pioneering exhibition surveying over 100 British women artists from 1970 to 1990, a period of profound societal shifts. It covers various mediums—painting, sculpture, film, and more—exploring pivotal moments like the Women's Liberation movement, legal changes, cultural movements, and societal issues. Celebrating marginalised women artists, it showcases their impact on British culture and their lasting legacy for future artists.
Date: 8 November 2023 - 7 April 2024. Location: Tate Britain, Millbank, London, SW1P 4RG. Price: from £17. Concessions available. Book now.
Image: Gina Birch 3 Minute Scream 1977 © Gina Birch.
Daido Moriyama: A Retrospective
The retrospective spans Daido Moriyama's diverse career, from his early magazine works and fascination with the American occupation to his exploration of photorealism. It progresses through his self-reflective phase in the 1980s and 1990s, delving into his pursuit of the essence of photography and self, capturing reality, memory, and urban life. Featuring over 200 works, installations, rare photobooks, and magazines, Daido Moriyama: A Retrospective is a comprehensive display, including a dedicated reading room showcasing his legendary publications.
Date: 6 October 2023 - 11 February 2024. Location: The Photographers' Gallery, 16-18 Ramillies St, London W1F 7LW. Price:from £6.50. Concessions available. Book now.
The Place I Am
The Place I Am, exhibited at the Stephen Friedman Gallery, features artworks by diverse artists delving into the connection between identity and place. Renowned artists like Mamma Andersson and Kehinde Wiley provide unique viewpoints on landscapes and human experiences. The exhibition showcases surreal representations, reflections on family dynamics, and explorations of cultural landscapes. It celebrates a sense of 'home' that transcends physical spaces, emphasising a community of diverse influences within the gallery.
Date: 24 November 2023 – 22 December 2023 . Location: 5-6 Cork Street, W1S 3LQ. Price: Free.
Installation view of UVA Synchronicity at 180 The Strand. Polyphony, UVA, 2023. Commissioned by 180 Studios. Photo by Jack Hems.
UVA: Synchronicity
London-based collective United Visual Artists (UVA) commemorates their 20th anniversary with UVA: Synchronicity, an immersive exhibit exploring human perception of reality. It features collaborations, including a piece with bio-acoustician Bernie Krause. UVA's innovative approach combines light, sound, and technology to transform spaces and challenge conventional thinking.
Date: 12 October – 28 January 2024. Location: 180 Studios, 180 The Strand, London, WC2R 1EA. Price: from £20. Concessions available. Book now.
Miranda Forrester: Arrival
Miranda Forrester's debut solo exhibition, Arrival, at Tiwani Contemporary's new Cork Street space, delves into the intimate journey of queer parenthood. Through her paintings, Forrester explores the challenges, joys, and insecurities of becoming a non-gestational mother within a same-sex partnership. Her art challenges societal norms and celebrates the profoundness of motherhood while redefining traditional perceptions.
Date: 23 November 2023 - 6 January 2024. Location: Twani Contemporary, 24 Cork Street, W1S 3NG. Price: Free.
The Song of Psyche: Corners of a Soul's Otherworlds
The Song of Psyche is a unique collaboration between two artists who explore the connection between the physical and the subconscious. Edward Bekkerman condenses forms into symbols, portraying the twists of the human mind, while Nicola Turner's ambiguous figures have a dark, corporeal presence. Together, they create realms where the ordinary becomes extraordinary. Turner, known for site-specific interventions, presents new work interacting with the gallery space, while this marks Bekkerman's debut exhibition in the UK.
Date: 25 November 2023 - 12 January 2024. Location: Shtager&Shch, 51-53 Margaret Street, W1W 8SQ. Price: Free. Website: shtager-shch.com.
Nicola Turner. Klipp and Klapp. Mixed media inc steel, wool and recycled polyamide, 114x40x47 cm.
The Cult of Beauty
The Cult of Beauty at the Wellcome Collection delves into the ever-evolving concept of beauty, scrutinising its connection to morality, social status, health, age, race, and gender. The exhibition explores three themes: 'The Ideals of Beauty,' 'The Industry of Beauty,' and 'Subverting Beauty,' challenging established norms and promoting more inclusive definitions of beauty. Featuring over 200 objects and artworks, along with contributions from artists like Juno Calypso and J.D. Okhai Ojeikere.
Date: 26 October 2023 - 28 April 2024. Location: Wellcome Collection, 183 Euston Road, NW1 2BE. Price: Free. wellcomecollection.org.
David Hockney: Drawing from Life
The National Portrait Gallery has reopened 'David Hockney: Drawing from Life,' spotlighting his six-decade career with intimate portraits of five subjects. Hockney explores diverse mediums, showcasing over thirty new 2021-2022 portraits taken at his Normandy studio.The exhibition was was staged for just 20 days before the Gallery's closure due to Covid in March 2020.
Date: 2 November 2023 - 21 January 2024. Location: National Portrait Gallery, St Martin's Place, London, WC2H 0HE. Price: from £21/ £23.50. Book now.
Aluminium and copper wire, 1000 x 560 cm © El Anatsui. Collection Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam and Kunstmuseum Bern. Courtesy the Artist and October Gallery, London. Photo © Jonathan Greet.
Hyundai Commission: El Anatsui
Renowned artist El Anatsui has revealed his striking masterpiece as part of the Hyundai Commission at Tate Modern's Turbine Hall. His breathtaking metallic sculptures, created from repurposed materials, take centre stage. Anatsui's art harmoniously melds local influences with global themes, exploring concepts related to the environment, consumption, and trade.
Date: 10 October 2023 - 14 April 2024.Location: Turbine Hall, Tate Modern, Bankside, London SE1 9TG.Price: Free. Website: tate.org.uk.
Impressionists on Paper: Degas to Toulouse-Lautrec
Impressionists on Paper: Degas to Toulouse-Lautrec. explores how late 19th-century French Impressionist and Post-Impressionist artists transformed the perception of works on paper, like drawings and pastels. It showcases about 80 works from artists such as Degas, Monet, and van Gogh, blurring the lines between drawing and painting. The exhibition spans various decades, highlighting the growing appreciation of works on paper in the 1890s and 1900s.
Date: 25 November 2023 - 10 March 2024. Location: Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington House, London, W1J 0BD. Price: £19 - £21. Book now.
Edgar Degas. Dancer Seen from Behind, 1873. Essence (diluted oil paint) on prepared pink paper. 28.4 x 32 cm. Collection of David Lachenmann
Michael Pemberton: The Age of Water
JC Gallery presents The Age of Water, a solo exhibition by UK artist Michael Pemberton in Mayfair, London. This showcase features five works, including a striking triptych and two diptychs, exploring the relationship between human narratives, the environment, and global themes such as climate change. Pemberton's art, known for its loose brushwork and vibrant colours, blends historical and post-modern references.
Date: 10 November – 22 December 2023. Location: JC Gallery Mayfair,14A Hay Hill, London W1J 8NZ. Price: Free.
Nick Cave: Power & Cycles
Holtermann Fine Art unveils Nick Cave: Power & Cycles, marking the artist's inaugural solo London gallery exhibition. Renowned for his exploration of the human body's politics, this showcase delves into Cave's contemporary sculptures. The exhibition features the striking 4-metre-tall Chain Reaction, comprising 15 suspended chains sculpted from the artist's own body. Alongside this centrepiece, visitors will encounter a new Tondo, a large wall-hanging sculpture conveying reflections on modern environmental and societal challenges, and Arm Peace, adorned with tole flowers, symbolising defiance, remembrance, and affection.
Date: 5 October 2023 - 20 December 2023. Location: Holtermann Fine Art,30 Cork St, London W1S 3NG. Price: Free.
Nick Cave: Power & Cycles at Holtermann Fine Art. Photo by MTotoe.
House of Voltaire presents 'Twenty-Nine' downstairs at Thomas Dane Gallery.
House of Voltaire presents Twenty-Nine at Thomas Dane Gallery, featuring unique and limited edition works by 29 renowned artists, including Aaron Angell, Anish Kapoor, and others, alongside beloved Artists’ Blankets. All sales support Studio Voltaire's acclaimed artistic and public programs. This exhibition continues the House of Voltaire legacy of fundraising, established in 2010 and having raised over £5 million to date.
Date: 29 November – 16 December 2023.Location: Thomas Dane Gallery, 3 Duke Street St James's London SW1Y 6BN. Price: Free. Website: studiovoltaire.org.
Pesellino: A Renaissance Master Revealed
Discover the Renaissance brilliance of Francesco Pesellino (c.1422–1457) in his first-ever dedicated exhibition. Overlooked despite commissions from Florence's Medici family and collaborations with Renaissance greats, Pesellino's legacy faded after his early death at 35. This showcase reunites his masterpieces, like the Pistoia Trinity altarpiece and the 'Stories of David' cassone panels, shedding light on his storytelling prowess, ceremonial art, and intricate detail, reviving appreciation for this often-neglected artist.
Date: 7 December 2023 – 10 March 2024. Location: Room 46, The Natiobal Gallery, Trafalgar Square, WC2N 5DN. Price: Free.
Francesco Pesellino. A Miracle of Saint Silvester. Tempera on panel. 31 x 78 cm. Worcester Art Museum, Worcester, MA, Museum Purchase, 1916.12. © Worcester Art Museum / Bridgeman Images.
DIVA
From the Opera goddesses of the Victorian era to today’s global megastars, DIVA celebrates the power and creativity of iconic performers, exploring and redefining what it means to be a diva and how this has been subverted or embraced over time across opera, stage, popular music, and film. Featuring fashion, photography, design, costumes, music and live performance drawn from the V&A collection and loans from across the world, the exhibition looks at how the performer has intersected with society and driven change through their voice and art.
Date: 24 June 2023 - 7 April 2024. Location: Victoria and Albert Museum, South Kensington, Cromwell Road, SW7 2RL. Price: £20. Book now.
Gucci Cosmos
Gucci Cosmos, the archival exhibition by the Italian fashion house, is on at 180 Studios, offering an immersive dive into transformative creativity. Conceived by contemporary artist Es Devlin, the exhibit charts a constellation of ideas and innovations cultivated by Gucci's creative directors and artisans across its 102-year history. Curated by fashion theorist Maria Luisa Frisa, this showcase unveils treasures, some making their inaugural journey beyond the archive, illuminating Gucci's role in reflecting and shaping cultural epochs.
Date: 11 October - 31 December 2023. Locaton: 180 Studio, 180 Strand, Temple, London WC2R 1EA. Price: from £18. Concessions available. Book now.
Gucci Cosmos Exhibition 180 studios. Photo by MTotoe.
Sergio Lombardo
Cardi Gallery presents Italian artist Sergio Lombardo's groundbreaking post-war avant-garde works. Lombardo, akin to Mario Schifano and Tano Festa, expanded painting's horizons by embracing everyday subjects and industrial materials. His collections like Monocromi and Stochastic Paintings exemplify his evolution, focusing on evoking emotional responses in viewers. Lombardo's six-decade career, alongside his roles as artist, psychologist, and theorist, remains a significant influence on art psychology.
Date: 9 October - 22 December 2023. Location: Cardi Gallery, 22 Grafton Street, W1S Price: Free.
Colour and Form: Sculptures, Frescoes and Drawing
Muirne Kate Dineen and Paul Vanstone collaborate in Colour and Form: Sculptures, Frescoes, and Drawings, a joint exhibition at the Royal Geographical Society. Displaying Dineen's mastery in Araash Fresco, utilising vibrant pigments and marble dust, the showcase immerses viewers in a vivid spectrum of colour, while Vanstone's sculptures capture exquisite form. The exhibition explores their distinct mediums, emphasising Dineen's fascination with vibrant hues and Vanstone's focus on sculptural elegance, offering a journey through raw material transformation.
Date: 7-19 December 2023. Location: The Royal Geographical Society, 1 Kensington Gore, South Kensington, London SW7 2AR. Price: Free.
Richard Prince Early Photography, 1977–87
Gagosian is hosting an exhibition spotlighting Richard Prince's early photography spanning 1978 to 1988. With over 100 photos sourced from print ads in fashion, watches, cigarettes, and jewelry, the exhibit explores Prince's fascination with re-photography and his quest to dissect media, artificiality, and authentic representation through his work.
Date: 5 October - 22 December 2023. Location: Gagosian Grosvenor Hill, 20 Grosvenor Hill, London W1K 3QD. Price: Free.
Richard Prince, Jackee, 1983 (detail) Ektacolor photograph, in frame, 96 × 48 inches (243.8 × 121.9 cm), edition of 3 © Richard Prince.
Discover Liotard & the Lavergne Family Breakfast
Discover Liotard's masterpiece, 'The Lavergne Family Breakfast,' at the National Gallery—an exceptional reunion of a pastel artwork with its oil copy after 250 years. This renowned scene depicts a breakfast moment, capturing a woman and a young girl amidst a still life. Last exhibited in 1755, this pastel joined the National Gallery in 2019. The exhibition highlights Liotard's innovative use of different mediums and his globetrotting artistic journey, showcasing his sketches from his travels.
Date: 16 November 2023 - 3 March 2024. Location: The National Gallery Sunley Room, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN. Price: Free.
South London
POPE.L: Hospital
Pope.L's diverse artistic practice is showcased in Hospital, his debut solo exhibition in a London institution. The display spans SLG's galleries, featuring reimagined installations that explore memory, decay, and care, inviting viewers to ponder ongoing narratives and unfinished stories within personal and institutional contexts.
Date: 21 November 2023 – 11 February 2024. Location: South London Gallery, 65 Peckham Rd, London SE5 8UH. Price: Free. Website: southlondongallery.org.
The Unlimited Dream Company II
Unlimited Dream Company II, inspired by J.G. Ballard's novel, showcases eight artists exploring modern life's seductive aspects. Blurring reality and artifice, the artworks touch on fantasy, desire, and illusion, mirroring Ballard's narrative of blurred realities. The exhibition presents a diverse range of themes and emotions, from the manipulation of desires to unsettling, surreal imagery, reflecting a world between anxiety and ecstasy, oscillating between societal repressions and admired commodities.
Date:7 October – 16 December 2023. Location: Hannah Barry Gallery, 4 Holly Grove, Peckham, London, SE15 5DF. Website: hannahbarry.com
The Unlimited Dream Company II Installation view. Hannah Barry Gallery.
In House: Bamidele Awoyemi and Adia Wahid
In House: Bamidele Awoyemi and Adia Wahid is the first in a series of duo exhibitions organised for Studio Voltaire's artists and tenants. The exhibition focuses on patterns in their practices, exploring the way patterns convey meaning in our everyday lives. Both artists use patterns to create dialogues, drawing connections between various symbols and motifs. Bamidele Awoyemi engages with storytelling techniques to gain insights into our cultures and rituals, while Adia Wahid's work explores the complex interplay of time and cultural influences through layered diagrams. Their art reveals how patterns can replace words and visually convey meaning.
Date: 8 November 2023 – 14 January 2024. Location: Studio Voltaire, 1a Nelsons Row, London, SW4 7JR. Price: Free.
Rubens & Women
Rubens & Women at the Dulwich Picture Gallery is an exhibition challenging the misconception that artist Peter Paul Rubens depicted only one archetype of woman. Showcasing over 40 artworks, the exhibit explores the varied roles women played in Rubens's life and art, portraying them as patrons, family members, religious inspirations, and personal connections. Noteworthy pieces include portraits of influential women, depictions of his wives and daughter, and artworks that delicately blend depth and tenderness in portraying both biblical and real women. This exhibition offers a recontextualization of Rubens's legacy and sheds light on the diverse influences and representations of women in his body of work.
Date: 27 September 2023 – 28 January 2024. Location: Dulwich Picture Gallery, Gallery Road, London SE21 7AD. Price: Adults £16.50 with donation. Concessions available. Book now.
Antony Gormley Body Politics. Photo by MTotoe.
Antony Gormley: Body Politic
Antony Gormley's Body Politic exhibition delves into our relationship with the industrially constructed world. This exploration takes place at a crucial juncture, where our need for refuge intersects with our inherent migratory nature. Across five new bodies of work, Gormley examines the balance between sanctuary and control, freedom and discipline. He uses the language of sculpture to emphasise silence, stillness, and materiality, prompting viewers to reflect on their own freedoms of movement and thought.
Date: 22 November 2023 - 28 January 2024. Location: White Cube, Bermondsey, 144-152 Bermondsey Street, London, SE1 3TQ. Price: Free.
Solomon Garçon: Arms
Solomon Garçon's new UK exhibition at Studio Voltaire combines sound, sculpture, and performance. Garçon explores the 'digital' and the 'underground,' creating narratives and simulations of imaginative spaces. His work plays with scale, materiality, and sound, drawing inspiration from shape-shifting figures in reality TV and horror genres. Visitors encounter enigmatic sculptures hidden under shrouds, evoking questions of protection and latent violence. Chairs represent absent or potential onlookers, and reverb techniques explore the 'territorial.'
Date: 4 October 2023 –14 January 2024. Location: Studio Voltaire, 1A Nelsons Row, London SW4 7JR. Price: Free. Website: studiovoltaire.org.
Solomon Garçon: Arms at Studio Voltaire. Photo by MTotoe.
Warm Sun Cold Rain: São Paulo Chapter
Elizabeth Xi Bauer showcase an exhibition charting Cătălin Marius Petrișor Hereșanu's artistic evolution. From semi-realistic monochromatic depictions to bold, colourful compositions and innovative techniques, Petrișor's journey features a radical phase of cutting and reconstructing his artworks and recent meticulous scratching of paint layers, creating illusions resembling woven compositions. This showcase embodies Petrișor's transformative journey and meticulous attention to detail.
Date: 24 November – 17 December 2023. Location: Bauer Gallery Fuel Tank, 8-12 Creekside London SE8 3DX. Price: Free.
Cătălin Petrișor, It's all in your vivid imagination and feelings, 2018. Oil on canvas, 95 cm x 107 cm. Courtesy of the Artist and Elizabeth Xi Bauer Gallery, London.
Sayan Chanda & Luke Samuel: Chamber
Cooke Latham presents a compelling duo exhibition by Sayan Chanda and Luke Samuel in its industrial space, where Samuel's elongated paintings echo the gallery's structure and challenge spatial norms while Chanda's massive black quilt, 'Jyestha,' and red tapestry, 'Dwarapalika,' play with the gallery's verticality. Samuel's meticulously layered paintings evoke memories as tangible matter, engaging with interior and exterior planes, prompting an awareness of space within the gallery. Chanda's pieces draw from forgotten Vedic goddesses, particularly 'Jyestha,' reclaiming lost stature through art while 'Dwarapalika' breaks tapestry conventions, inviting tactile interaction and sculptural interpretation, reflecting as living sacraments invoking an invisible presence through shapes and tactile details.
Date: 22 November - 22 December 2023. Location: Cooke Latham Gallery, 41 Parkgate Rd, London, SW11 4NP. Price: Free. Website: cookelathamgallery.com.
Thriving Through (Chaos)
Turmina’s inaugural solo showcase, Thriving Through (Chaos), at Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, envisions a future adapting to heightened temperatures and a symbiotic bond with nature. Her paintings, inspired by Brazil's history and the endangered brazilwood tree, feature a restrained colour scheme hinting at a climate-altered landscape. Figures within the artwork merge with nature, embodying a mix of hope and foreboding, portraying genderless, adaptable characters engaged in rituals and collective healing—a portrayal of harmony amid life's inherent chaos. Turmina's work explores the concept of thriving amidst environmental flux, emphasising the interconnectedness between humanity and the ever-changing world.
Date: 17 November - 20 December 2023. Location: Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, 533 Old York Road, SW18 1TFG. Price: Free.
The Winter Show
Orleans House Gallery will host their annual Winter Show presenting the creative output of over 45 local artists from Richmond. Showcasing original works for sale, exclusively crafted within the borough, this exhibition celebrates the diverse visual arts community thriving in Richmond. From landscapes to portraits, abstract pieces, ceramics, and bronze creations, the selected artists offer a wide spectrum of artistic expression. Nestled within serene gardens and woods, the gallery invites all visitors to explore this vibrant showcase while enjoying the on-site café's delightful beverages and food.
Date: 2 December 2023 – 28 January 2024. Location: Orleans House Gallery, Riverside, TW1 3DJ. Price: Free. Website: orleanshousegallery.org.
Coalescence by Paul Cocksedge opens at the Old Royal Naval College on 9 December 2023. Photography ©Mark Cocksedge
Coalescence
Internationally acclaimed designer Paul Cocksedge presents Coalescence, a thought-provoking art installation that will make its London debut at the Old Royal Naval College's magnificent Painted Hall in December. Comprised of over 2,500 pieces of coal, representing the energy consumed by a single 200W light bulb in a year, the suspended installation creates a mesmersing interplay of shadows and glimmers, leveraging the anthracite's lustrous quality. This piece prompts viewers to question our reliance on fossil fuels. Accompanying this installation in the Nelson Room is "20 Trees," a new artwork subtly addressing ecological balance through a blend of mathematics and dwindling natural resources. Both artworks underscore the crucial link between human actions and environmental stability, encouraging visitors to reflect on our connection with the natural world.
Date: 9 December 2023 - 4 February 2024. Location: Old Royal Naval College, SE10 9NN. Price: £15. Book now.
West London
Vincenzo de Cotiis: Archaeology of Consciousness
Renowned artist Vincenzo De Cotiis challenges traditional archway symbolism in Archaeology of Consciousness at Carpenters Workshop Gallery London. Using unique materials like rare stones, recycled fibreglass, and Murano glass, he reimagines archways as gateways to fresh perspectives and ancestral transitions.
Date: 11 October 2023 - 13 January 2024. Location: Ladbroke Hall, 79 Barlby Road W10. Price: Free.
Christine Kowal Post at 'If Not Now, When? Generations of Women in Sculpture in Britain, 1960-2023'. Photo by MTotoe.
If Not Now, When? Generations of Women in Sculpture in Britain, 1960 – 2023
If Not Now, When? celebrates the artistic contributions of 29 female sculptors from the 1960s to the present. This exhibition highlights the resilience of women in male-dominated fields, showcasing renowned sculptors and rediscovering underrepresented artists. Divided into three chapters, it explores the theme of time, women's roles, and societal issues, culminating in a message of hope and change. This exhibition is seen as a crucial step in recognising and celebrating women's impact on the world of sculpture.
Date: 15 November - 22 January 2024. Location: Saatchi Gallery, Duke of York's HQ, King's Rd, London SW3 4RY. Price: from £10. Concessions available. Book now.
SKATEBOARD
SKATEBOARD showcases seven decades of skateboard design history. The exhibit features a bespoke mini-ramp inspired by California skate culture, inviting experienced skateboarders to skate on it. It also includes around 100 rare skateboards and over 150 related objects. Curated by Jonathan Olivares and Tory Turk, the exhibition provides an in-depth exploration of skateboard design and its cultural significance.
Date: 20 October 2023 - 2 June 2024. Location: Design Museum, 224-238 Kensington High St, London W8 6AG.Price: From £14.38. Book now.
Idris Khan & Annie Morris: When Loss Makes Melodies
Idris Khan and Annie Morris, a creative duo, showcase their joint exhibition at Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery, exploring emotion, time, and memory. The display includes over thirty diverse works, illustrating how their practices influence each other. Curated by Maya Binkin, the exhibition aligns contemporary creativity with the neo-classical setting.
Date: 4 October 2023 – 7 January 2024. Location: Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery, Ealing Green, London W5 5EQ. Price: from £9. Concessions available. Book now.
Albion by Mat Collishaw. Petrichor at Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art. Kew Gardens.
Mat Collishaw: Petrichor
Mat Collishaw's exhibition Petrichor at the Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art in Kew Gardens merges nature, art, and technology. Using AI-inspired flower art, historical plant transportation projections, and digital animations tied to tulip mania, Collishaw weaves diverse elements together. The showcase includes a zoetrope depicting courtship displays and an intriguing oak tree illusion.
Date: 20 October 2023 - 7 April 2024. Location: Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art, Kew Gardens. Price: Admission to the exhibition is included in a ticket to Kew Gardens. Pre-booking online offers the best value visit.
Ainu Stories: Contemporary Lives by the Saru River
Ainu Stories Contemporary Lives by the Saru River, sheds light on the contemporary lives of the Ainu people in southern Hokkaido, Japan. It explores the revival of their language, textiles, crafts, and traditions, with a focus on four key themes. Additionally, it reveals historical ties between the UK and Biratori and offers a rich events program covering various aspects of Ainu culture, featuring guest contributions from Biratori throughout the exhibition period.
Date: 16 November 2023 – 21 April 2024. Location: 101-111 Kensington High St, London W8 5SA. Price: Free. Website: japanhouselondon.uk.
Fashion Shoot, Brixton Market, London 1973. Armet Francis.
Armet Francis: Beyond The Black Triangle
Armet Francis, a Jamaican-British photographer, has spent over 40 years documenting the resilience of the African diaspora. His work, guided by 'The Black Triangle,' captures diverse Black experiences worldwide, from joyful Brixton Market scenes to critical portraits of Empire Windrush travellers. Autograph, marking 35 years, honours Francis with this exhibition celebrating his impact on British history through photography.
Date: until 20 January 2024. Location: Autograph, Rivington Place, London EC2A 3BA. Price: Free. Website: autograph.org.uk.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude: Boundless
As part of its Season of Sculpture, the Saatchi Gallery is showcasing the largest retrospective of the renowned artist duo Christo and Jeanne-Claude ever in the UK. Titled Christo and Jeanne-Claude: Boundless, this exhibition traces their artistic journey across six decades, featuring iconic projects such as the ‘Wrapped Coast’ in Australia and ‘The Gates’ in Central Park, New York City. It marks the final exhibition Christo signed off on before his passing.
Date: 15 November 2023 - 22 January 2024. Location: Saatchi Gallery, Duke of York’s HQ, London, SW3 4RY. Price: from £12. Book now.
Seeing Things by Gareth Mason at Carpenters Workshop Gallery. Photo by MTotoe.
Gareth Mason: Seeing Things
Carpenters Workshop Gallery is hosting the first UK solo exhibition in over a decade by renowned British ceramicist Gareth Mason. His distinctive clay works, which incorporate foreign objects, challenge porcelain's traditional elegance while embracing clay's unique and universal qualities.
Date: 11 October - 18 January 2024. Location: Ladbroke Hall, 79 Barlby Road W10. Price: Free. Website: carpentersworkshopgallery.com.
East London
Grace Ndiritu: Labour
Grace Ndiritu's inaugural exhibition at Kate MacGarry showcases her diverse artistic approach, spanning film, painting, textiles, performance, and social practice, all driven by her quest to reshape the contemporary world. Central to her recent work, ‘Healing The Museum,’ is a mission to reintroduce shamanistic healing to revive the sanctity of art spaces. Titled Labour, the exhibit features her film ‘Labour: Birth of a New Museum’ and an intimate performance guiding pregnant participants on a shamanic journey to discover their unborn child's 'soul' name, reflecting her focus on lineage, resilience, and collective care associated with motherhood. Through Protest Carpets depicting historic political marches and engaging visitors in collective experiments, Ndiritu bridges past activism with contemporary relevance, drawing from her upbringing in an activist household.
Date: 3 November – 16 December 2023. Location: Kate Macgarry, 27 Old Nichol St, London E2 7HR. Price: Free. Website: katemacgarry.com.
Women’s Strike by Grace Ndiritu. Labour by Grace Ndiritu. Kate MacQuarry Gallery. Photo by MTotoe.
The Drawing Year 2023 End of Year Show
The Royal Drawing School in Shoreditch will exhibit artworks by 28 scholarship students, displaying over 400 pieces. They'll also introduce a new award sponsored by Christie’s. Since 2000, the School's intensive postgraduate-level drawing course offers fully funded opportunities for up to thirty students annually, each with dedicated studio space.
Date: 7 – 19 December 2023. Location: The Royal Drawing School, 19 – 22 Charlotte Road, London EC2a 3SG. Website: royaldrawingschool.org.
Dani Trew. A Twitch on the Thread. Coloured pencil and gouache on paper 101 x 102cm.
Re: Dina El-Sioufi, Wole Lagunju, Abe Odedina, Freya Tewelde
Ed Cross Gallery hosts two exhibitions. In the group exhibition Re, four artists reinterpret known subjects via various mediums: Abe Odedina and Dina El-Sioufi in paintings, Freya Tewelde with a performance piece, and Wole Lagunju blending motifs. Lagunju also displays new ink drawings titled And The World Goes By in Gallery 2. These drawings, stemming from subconscious characters, contrast his deliberate paintings, inviting viewers into a dreamy space.
Date: 17 November 2023 – 20 December 2023. Location: Ed Cross, 19 Garrett St, London EC1Y 0TY. Price: Free. Book now.
What Happened by Nicole Eisenman at Whitechapel Gallery until 14 January 2024.
Nicole Eisenman: What Happened
Nicole Eisenman: What Happened is a comprehensive showcase of over 100 artworks spanning three decades of the artist's career. The exhibition, featuring previously unseen pieces in the UK, includes monumental paintings, sculptures, monoprints, animations, and drawings, highlighting Eisenman's diverse and inventive artistic style. Organised chronologically into eight sections, the display reveals Eisenman's critical and often humorous exploration of contemporary socio-political issues, such as gender, identity, political turmoil in the US, activism, and the influence of technology on relationships.
Date:11 October 2023 - 14 January 2024. Location: Whitechapel Gallery, 77-82 Whitechapel High St, London E1 7QX. Price: from £9.50. Concessions available. Book now.
Click here for more art exhibitions that will be on at Whitechapel gallery through to January 2024.
Lucy Stein: La Muñeca
Lucy Stein’s exhibition, La Muñeca, heralds her return to London after nearly a decade, showcasing her multidisciplinary artistic approach rooted in psychoanalysis, feminist theory, and personal narratives. The title, meaning 'doll' and 'wrist' in Spanish, encapsulates the intricate interplay between process and imagery in her paintings, drawing from her Spanish childhood and exploration of feminine archetypes. Stein delves into diverse themes, from Lilith’s portrayal representing the complexities of womanhood to references like da Vinci’s Head of St Anne. Her poignant paintings, featuring a 1950s nurse doll linked to her psychic grandmother and floral elements inspired by Walter Crane, evoke childhood nostalgia and societal reflections, intertwining emotions of guilt, complicity, pleasure, and rage. Through these motifs, Stein weaves a resonant exploration of unconscious narratives and societal reflections within her haunting artworks.
Date: 23 November 2023 – 20 January 2024. Location: Hales Gallery,Tea Building, 7 Bethnal Grn Rd, London E1 6LA. Price: Free. Website: halesgallery.com.
La Muñeca by Lucy Stein at Hales Gallery, Shoreditch until 20 January 2024.
Fashion City: How Jewish Londoners shaped global style
This exhibit highlights the influence of Jewish designers in the city's fashion realm. Featuring iconic pieces like Princess Diana's 1981 red coat by David Sassoon and a recently acquired tweed coat worn by June Brown as Dot Cotton in EastEnders, the exhibit aims to illustrate the profound impact of Jewish designers, retailers, and entrepreneurs on Britain's fashion industry. Spanning from East End tailoring to West End boutiques, it emphasises the interconnectedness of immigrant communities within London's fashion landscape.
Date: 13 October 2023 - 14 April 2024. Location: Museum of London Docklands, No 1, West India Quay, Hertsmere Rd, London E14 4AL. Price: from £12. Book now.
Princess Diana wearing a red coat by Bellville Sassoon at the Guildhall, 1981. Tim Graham Photo Library/Getty Images.
Alia Farid: Elsewhere
Kuwaiti-Puerto Rican artist Alia Farid's first UK exhibition at Chisenhale Gallery highlights her film and sculpture work, focused on often overlooked histories shaped by Arab and South Asian migrations to Latin America and the Caribbean. Her research-driven practice explores how these migrations influenced architecture, rituals, and social structures.
Date: 1 December 2023 - 4 February 2024. Location: Chisenhale Gallery, 64 Chisenhale Rd, Old Ford, London E3 5RG.Price: Free. Website: chisenhale.org.uk.
Alia Farid, Research image (2023). Produced by Chisenhale Gallery, London, and commissioned by Chisenhale Gallery; Passerelle Centre d'art contemporain, Brest; The Power Plant, Toronto and Kunsthalle Wien, Vienna. Courtesy of the artist.
Nikita Gale: BLUR BALLAD
Nikita Gale’s BLUR BALLAD exhibition at Emalin marks her first solo show, exploring vision through sculpture, installation, and drawing. Delving into the concept of sight, Gale uses materials like prescription lenses to challenge norms and provoke different ways of seeing. Her works capture movement and touch, questioning the impact of entertainment industries and corrective norms on the body. The exhibit culminates in a sound installation merging a vision test with music, highlighting the intimate relationship between technology, vision, and the body. Throughout, Gale scrutinises the complexities of vision and the social pressures affecting the body within various systems.
Date: 22 September – 9 December 2023. Location: Emalin, 1 Holywell Lane, EC2A 3ET. Price: Free. Website: emalin.co.uk.
Japan: Myths to Manga
The Young V&A's first exhibition, Japan: Myths to Manga, designed for young audiences and families, delves into the impact of Japanese narratives on art and technology. With interactive activities for all ages, it highlights how myths have inspired renowned creations such as Pokémon and Studio Ghibli.
Date: 14 October 2023 – 11 August 2024. Location: Young V&A, Cambridge Heath Road, Bethnal Green, London, E2 9PA. Price: £10.Concessions available. Book now.
Click here to discover more great exhibitions in London for children this festive season.
North London
Tamara Henderson: Green in the Grooves
Green in the Grooves by artist Tamara Henderson delves into earthworm ecology. Through a new film,12 paintings, a sound installation, and sculptures, Henderson highlights the imagination's role in shaping our future. The exhibit also underscores humanity's impact on Earth's cyclical processes, emphasising the significance of handmade items and experimentation.
Date: 6 October - 31 December 2023.Location: Camden Art Centre Arkwright Road, London NW3 6DG. Price: Free. Website: camdenartcentre.org.
Green in the Grooves by artist Tamara Henderson at Camden Art Centre. © MTotoe.
Marina Xenofontos: Public Domain
Marina Xenofontos' Public Domain is an innovative commission merging architectural interventions and sculpture, exploring personal histories, cultural knowledge, and ideology. The exhibition questions the link between widely shared images and personal content, highlighting how everyday cultural materials impact civic life and shape social interactions. Xenofontos elevates mass-produced objects, blending the anecdotal with the monumental, the material with the digital. This world exists in physical and virtual spaces, weaving cultural histories, symbols, and future imaginings from the materials, images, and memories around us.
Date: 6 October - 30 December 2023. Location: Camden Art Centre, Arkwright Rd, London NW3 6DG. Price: Free. Website: camdenartcentre.org.