Lauren Halsey at Serpentine South: Celebrating Community, Confronting Inequality
Lauren Halsey blends Afrofuturism, funk, and local iconography to explore Black empowerment, queerness, and resistance to gentrification. In her emajendat exhibition at London’s Serpentine South Gallery, Halsey’s work celebrates community vitality while confronting systemic inequities. Over the past decade, Halsey has developed a unique artistic language rooted in her generational ties to South Central. Through […]
Groucho Club Under Investigation, Doors Closed
The Groucho Club in London, a Soho private members club known for its star-studded history and hedonistic reputation, has been temporarily closed as police investigate a “serious crime” allegedly linked to a breach of its licensing conditions. Since its establishment in 1985, the Groucho Club has stood as a bold departure from traditional gentlemen’s clubs. […]
Lygia Clark and Sonia Boyce at the Whitechapel Gallery: Play, Participation, and Cultural Dialogue
Lygia Clark: The I and the You and Sonia Boyce: An Awkward Relation at the Whitechapel Gallery embrace the ethos of collective engagement by exploring how participatory art transforms the relationship between artist, audience, and artwork. This bold curatorial pairing highlights shared themes of touch and play while bridging two distinct cultural and historical contexts. […]
Pamela Phatsimo Sunstrum at the Barbican: Exploring Colonialism and Identity through Cinematic Storytelling
It Will End in Tears at the Barbican presents a hauntingly immersive journey framed by minimalist “film sets” reminiscent of noir cinema. With influences from Hitchcock to Bessie Head, Pamela Phatsimo Sunstrum’s visual storytelling delves into the complexities of identity, colonial legacies, and self-determination. Collaborating with set designer Remco Osório Lobato, Sunstrum creates minimalist, skeletal film […]
In Conversation: Personal Narratives in Contemporary Art
Zarastro Art’s artist panel held in London in October 2024 featured Eilen Itzel Mena, Imogen Marsteller, and Mercedes Balle, offering participants a unique opportunity to engage with three exceptional women artists, each sharing their distinct approaches to storytelling through art.
Human Presence: Francis Bacon at the National Portrait Gallery
Francis Bacon’s work delivers a raw, haunting exploration of human existence. Human Presence at London’s National Portrait Gallery invites viewers into his intense world through over 55 striking portraits, tracing his artistic evolution and challenging us to confront the fragile nature of identity. Visitors are drawn into Bacon’s unsettling style, beginning with Head VI (1949), […]
Michael Craig-Martin at the Royal Academy of Arts: Beyond the Graphic and the Mundane
Michael Craig-Martin, a major figure in British art, blends pop, minimalism, and conceptual influences with humor. His retrospective at the Royal Academy of Arts features early experimental pieces, vibrant large-scale paintings, monumental sculptures, and a dramatic site-specific installation. The retrospective begins with early conceptual works that are minimal yet complex, featuring pieces like Box That […]
Frieze London 2024: Overview, Market Pulse, and What to See
Overview Frieze London 2024 features 165 galleries from 43 countries in a sleek new layout that encourages deeper exploration. The redesigned tent in Regent’s Park maintains a lively buzz, with galleries emphasizing visually appealing paintings and intimate sculptures over daring avant-garde pieces. Paulina Olowska at Pace Mona Hatoum at White Cube Eduardo Sarabia at Maureen […]
London’s Powerful New Memorial: “The Wake” by Khaleb Brooks
London has unveiled its first memorial to the victims of transatlantic slavery, designed by interdisciplinary artist and activist Khaleb Brooks. “The Wake,” a 7-meter-high bronze cowrie shell sculpture, will be installed on the banks of the River Thames in East London, demonstrating the history of the transatlantic slave trade and the resilience of its victims. […]
Frieze Sculpture 2024: New Works and Diverse Voices at Regent’s Park
Curated by Fatoş Üstek for the second year in a row, Frieze Sculpture 2024 returns to London’s Regent’s Park, featuring 27 works—including 18 new pieces—from 22 artists, including Yoshitomo Nara, Theaster Gates, Leonora Carrington, and Zanele Muholi. “This year’s Frieze Sculpture features daring and experimental artistic approaches,” Üstek states. “It carves a place for playful […]
