Where to find public art in London right now
Summer in London offers the perfect opportunity to delve into the city's fantastic public art trails. With the resurgence of public art programmes at The Southbank Centre, alongside the public art trail associated with Chelsea and Kensington Art Week, as well as permanent fixtures like The Line in East London and the last opportunity to view sculptures from the 12th edition of Sculptures in the City, there's plenty to explore. Here's our guide on when and where to experience free public art in London this summer.
You Belong Here at the Southbank Centre
Yinka llori. Forever. Courtesy of the artist.
#FLODown: The Southbank Centre’s summer season, You Belong Here, showcases free art installations exploring identity and history. Highlights include returning favourites like Jeppe Hein’s Appearing Rooms and new works by artists like Tavares Strachan and Yinka Ilori. Photographers Artur Conka and Serena Brown highlight marginalised communities, while Olivia Plender commemorates the friendship between activist Sylvia Pankhurst and Emperor Haile Selassie.
Date: 8 June – 1 September 2024. Location: Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX. southbankcentre.co.uk.
POoR Collective: Together We Rise
Battersea Power Station has collaborated with POoR Collective to create a new summer artwork inside the Grade II* listed Power Station, now on display until 13th October 2024. Photo by Charlie Round-Turner.
#FLODown: Battersea Power Station has partnered with POoR Collective to present Together We Rise, an artwork displayed in Turbine Hall A and B. This installation features over 100 flags suspended in the historic turbine halls, representing the sun’s movement with vibrant pop art colours. Sunrise Flags in Turbine Hall A showcase warm morning tones, while Sunset Flags in Turbine Hall B display evening hues. A rotating motif across the flags symbolises the sun’s daily cycle. The artwork will be complemented by another POoR Collective installation, Together In Battersea, during the London Design Festival from 20 September - 20 October 2024.
Date: until 13 October 2024. Location: Battersea Power Station, Circus Rd W Nine Elms London SW8 5BN. Price: Free.
The Kensington and Chelsea Art Week (KCAW) Public Art Trail
Kensington and Chelsea Art Week (KCAW) Public Art Trail 2023. DETANGLING THE MBS by Josephine Chime. Photo by MTotoe.
#FLODown: The Kensington and Chelsea Art Week (KCAW) presents a diverse array of artistic works across London, with the Public Art Trail as its centrepiece. This year's highlights on the Public Art Trail include Yoni Alter's interactive Love Continuum, Charlotte Colbert's psychedelic-inspired Tutti Frutti, and Gillie and Marc's conservation-focused Kids Go Wild sculpture trail. Additionally, visitors can experience Gus Farnes' ancient-inspired Stele and Amy Jackson's environmentally beneficial Living London moss sculpture. These installations, along with locally curated projects, poetry events, and an Art Bus tour, offer an engaging exploration of contemporary art in London.
Date: June – August 2024. Location: Kensington and Chelsea. kcaw.co.uk.
Yayoi Kusama: Infinite Accumulation
Infinite Accumulation by Yayoi Kusama. Liverpool Street Station. Photo by MTotoe.
#FLODown: Yayoi Kusama's Infinite Accumulation is a large-scale, site-specific artwork that transforms the exterior public spaces of Liverpool Street Station in London with her signature polka dot motif. The installation features linked forms that wrap around the architecture of the station, creating a immersive and interactive experience for viewers. Designed in response to the unique landscape and architecture of the station, Infinite Accumulation encourages passersby to look up and respond to their urban environment in a new way. Commissioned in 2019 as part of The Crossrail Art Foundation's public art programme for the Elizabeth line with the support of Victoria Miro Gallery.
Location: Liverpool Street station. art.tfl.gov.uk.
Chelsea Barracks Sculpture Trail 2024
Dale Chihuly at Chelsea Barracks. Photo by Natascha Milsom.
#FLODown: This year, Chelsea Barracks expands its art programme with 'Modern Masters', an outdoor exhibition curated by New Public and London Craft Week. The inaugural edition features renowned American artist Dale Chihuly, showcasing four glass installations throughout Chelsea Barracks. Chihuly's works explore form, light, and space. These installations will be on display throughout the summer, giving visitors ample time to appreciate his art.
Date: 13 May 2024 - 30 October 2024. Location: Chelsea Barracks, Belgravia, London, SW1W 8BW. chelseabarracks.com.
The Line
The Line. Serge Attukwei Clottey, Tribe and Tribulation, 2022. Photo by Thierry Bal.
#FLODown: Established in 2015, The Line is an art walk that features works by renowned artists such as Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin, and Thomas J. Price. Stretching along the Greenwich Meridian from Stratford to Greenwich, notable pieces include Richard Wilson's A Slice of Reality, Abigail Fallis's DNA DL90, and Thomas J. Price's Reaching Out in Stratford. Exploring The Line can take up to four hours and offers a perfect opportunity to immerse oneself in London's vibrant art scene while enjoying scenic views of East London.
Date: ongoing. Location: Stratford to Greenwich. the-line.org.
Sculpture Garden at Dulwich Picture Gallery
Installation views of Material (SG) IV (2023) by Yinka Shonibare CBE RA and To find a way home (2023) by Li Li Ren. Photos by Graham Turner.
#FLODown: Yinka Shonibare CBE RA and Li Li Ren have launched Dulwich Picture Gallery's innovative sculpture garden, part of the "Open Art" project. Shonibare's Material (SG) IV and Ren's To find a way home mark the beginning of London's first gallery-based sculpture garden. These vibrant additions, along with future curated installations, signal the gallery's transformation over the next two years. Beyond the garden, the Open Art project includes revitalising outdoor spaces and creating family facilities, aiming to blend art and nature for an engaging visitor experience.
Date: ongoing. Location: Dulwich Picture Gallery,London SE21 7AD.
Sculpture in the City
Summer Moon by Ugo Rondinone. 12th Sculpture in the City. Photo by MTotoe.
#FLODown: Sculpture in the City returns for its 13th edition in 2024, featuring 17 new artworks by artists like Samuel Ross, Richard Mackness, and Julian Opie. Launching on 24 July 2024, this public art exhibition will transform the City’s spaces into a vibrant open-air gallery. Highlights include Maya Rose Edwards' Kissing Gate and Hilary Jack’s Deluge. An activation programme with workshops, tours, and talks will run from summer to March 2025. The exhibition is part of London Sculpture Week from 21-29 September 2024.
Watch out for more news on the 13th edition of Sculpture in the City, due to take place in late 2024 - 2025.
Date: 24 July 2024 — Spring 2025. Location: City of London’s financial district. Sculpture in the City is completely free and accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. sculptureinthecity.org.uk.
Yayoi Kusama: Pumpkin
#FLODown: Yayoi Kusama's fascination with pumpkins, or kabocha, is rooted in her childhood, where her family cultivated the plant and surrounded her home with fields of squash. Kusama views pumpkins as a symbol of joy, comfort, and everyday beauty, often featuring them in her work as a stand-in for self-portraits. Pumpkin (2024) is her latest large-scale bronze pumpkin sculpture, standing at 6 metres tall and 5.5 metres in diameter. Installed in Kensington Gardens, it offers various viewpoints for viewers to appreciate its beauty.
Date: 9 July - 3 August 2024. Location: The Round PondKensington Gardens. serpentinegalleries.org.