10 art exhibitions to see in London this week: 15 - 21 April 2024
Discover our top pick of art exhibitions to see in London this week:
Opening this week
Ceramic Art London
Ceramic Art London, Europe's largest ceramics fair, commemorates its 20th anniversary with an exciting relocation to Olympia. The larger venue will accommodate its growing popularity, showcasing the works of 120 talented makers from around the world. Offering a diverse range of ceramic pieces priced between £50 and £10,000, this event promises a global celebration of ceramic artistry, with participants hailing from places as distant as Guatemala, Greece, and South Korea.
Date: 19 – 21 April 2024. Location: Kensington Olympia West, 12 Blythe Rd, London W14 8UX. Price: from £18.50. Concessions available. Book now.
Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, 1571 - 1610, Salome receives the Head of John the Baptist about 1609-10. Oil on canvas. 91.5 × 106.7 cm. © The National Gallery, London.
The Last Caravaggio
In May 1610, Caravaggio was in Naples, working on what would be his final painting before his mysterious death two months later. Despite the tumultuous circumstances, this period saw some of his most remarkable works, characterised by tightly cropped scenes and dramatic lighting, featuring real-life models with gritty realism. One of his last-known works,The Martyrdom of Saint Ursula, is coming to London after 20 years, offering a vivid portrayal of violence and guilt, with Caravaggio's own self-portrait adding a poignant touch. The exhibition will also include a letter describing the painting's creation and another late masterpiece, Salome with the Head of John the Baptist.
Date: 18 April – 21 July 2024. Location: The National Gallery, Room 46, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN. Price: Free.
Sony World Photography Awards
The Sony World Photography Awards exhibition returns to Somerset House this week, featuring a diverse range of images capturing everything from breathtaking landscapes to poignant documentary projects. With a refreshed curatorial approach, visitors will encounter photographs presented in various formats, including prints, projections, and digital displays. Discover the works of Edgar Martins, 2023 Photographer of the Year, and iconic Brazilian photographer Sebastião Salgado's black and white masterpieces spanning five decades.
Date: 19 April – 6 May 2024. Location: Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 1LA. Price: from £15. Concessions available. Book now.
© Eddo Hartmann, Sony World Photography Awards 2024.
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Sofia Laskari: Body and Flesh
Body and Flesh showcases the works of Sofia Laskari, winner of the 2023 Robert Walters UK New Artist prize at the Saatchi Gallery, inviting viewers to contemplate the physical and mental challenges of human existence. Laskari's deeply personal paintings delve into the human experience, using vibrant colors and textures to portray expansive surfaces of flesh. Her introspective imagery, often featuring powerful self-portraits within ambiguous interiors, addresses themes of isolation, distress, rage, and vulnerability.
Date: 16 March - 12 May 2024. Location: Saatchi Gallery, Duke of York's HQ, King's Rd, London SW3 4RY. Price: Free.
Yulia Iosilzon: Modus Operandi
Berntson Bhattacharjee presents Yulia Iosilzon's ambitious solo exhibition, celebrating the humble snail through paintings, ceramics, and installations. Iosilzon's playful and vibrant works feature snails of various sizes and hues, evoking a childlike enthusiasm and weaving intricate narratives reminiscent of fairy tales. Each piece unfolds within its own scene, yet collectively, they harmoniously deliver a compelling message, inviting viewers into a whimsical world of imagination and joy.
Date: 28 March - 11 May 2024. Location: Berntson Bhattacharjee Gallery, 45 Berners Street, London, W1T 3NE. Price: Free.
Modus Operandi by Yulia Iosilzon at Berntson Bhattacharjee Gallery. Photo by MTotoe.
Alexandra Zarins: Caught in the Act of Being Ourselves
Elizabeth Xi Bauer introduces Alexandra Zarins' debut solo exhibition, Caught in the Act of Being Ourselves, showcasing Zarins' exploration of intimacy and social interactions on large canvases. Through vibrant compositions and unconventional viewpoints, Zarins invites viewers to delve into the emotional turbulence within intimate moments. Highlighting discomfort in crowded settings and the anxiety of communication, Zarins' work challenges perceptions and offers a unique perspective on human experience.
Date: 12 April – 11 May 2024 Location: Fuel Tank, 8-12 Creekside, London, SE8 3DX. Price: Free.
Lucienne O'Mara: Through the Grid
In celebration of International Women's Month in March, Gillian Jason Gallery showcase the works of Lucienne O'Mara, challenging the male-dominated narrative of Modern Abstract art. Her work redefines abstraction in contemporary art, highlighting the rise of women artists. O'Mara's paintings break down grid structures, using freehand geometry and colour to convey life's complexity. She explores interconnectedness, emphasising the inseparable nature of life and perception. Colour expresses emotions visually, while the physicality of paint adds depth. O'Mara's journey, influenced by a 2017 brain injury, shapes her perception and artistic expression, making her paintings a testament to human adaptability.
Date: 7 March - 20 April 2024. Location: Gillian Jason Gallery,19 Great Titchfield St., London W1W 8AZ. Price: Free.
Caught in the Act of Being Ourselves by Alexandra Zarins at Elizabeth Xi Bauer.
Mafalda von Hessen: Looking In
JGM Gallery presents Looking In, the London debut exhibition of Mafalda von Hessen's works. Von Hessen's art focuses on 'the great indoors,' inviting viewers to contemplate everyday beauty. Her detailed paintings, influenced by her background in design and fascination with object materiality, evoke warmth and introspection. Despite the absence of human figures, her scenes hint at recent activity, prompting reflection on past and future.
Date: 24 April - 25 May 2024. Location: JGM Gallery, 24 Howie Street, London SW11 4AY. Price: Free.
Allan Gardner: Foreverisms
Cob Gallery presents Foreverisms, Scottish artist Allan Gardner's London debut solo exhibition. Gardner's provocative abstract paintings challenge perceptions of language, symbols, and value in contemporary art. Departing from his previous figurative work, Gardner explores the fallibility of definitions and personal biases through representations of words. His paintings serve as catalysts for dialogue on art and culture, offering a bold challenge to prevailing trends in the art market.
Date: 5 April – 18 May 2024. Location: The Cob Gallery205 Royal College St, London NW1 0SG. Price: Free.
San Marco by John Robertson
Haricot Gallery presents 'San Marco', showcasing John Robertson's latest paintings. Inspired by Fra Angelico's Annunciation fresco, Robertson explores the interplay between flatness and architectural space. His works incorporate the wall directly, with compositions evolving over time. Robertson experiments with shaped canvases, even incorporating aluminium flat bars as remnants of previous forms. This evolution represents a turning inside out of the paintings, exposing new dimensions.
Date: 12 - 27 April 2024. Location: Haricot Gallery 2 Blackall St, London EC2A 4AD. Price: Free.
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