A wonderful selection of works in a modern, spacious exhibition space – Donatello: Sculpting the Renaissance feels like a very special moment indeed. Bringing Donatello To South Kensington I didn’t realise what a special exhibition this one was until I saw it. I had some time before a theatre press night to go to the […]
A lovingly curated exhibition makes evident the wit and skill of Simon Pettet: gifted potter and sometime partner to Dennis Severs. Combine it with theatrical experience Simon’s Story for best effect. Dennis Severs And Simon Pettet If you live in London and haven’t yet visited Dennis Severs’ House, I have one question for you: why […]
A small exhibition at the National Gallery on beauty and satire, The Ugly Duchess raised more questions for me than it answered, but did at least get me thinking. The Ugly Duchess: Beauty And Satire In The Renaissance I do love a one room exhibition at the National Gallery, but haven’t been for a while. […]
The largest exhibition to date in the UK of work by Alice Neel, this exhibition at the Barbican celebrates an artist who did things her own way. Warning: some images below NSFW. Alice Neel I very much enjoyed learning more about Alice Neel in Alice Neel: Hot Off the Griddle, the current exhibition at the […]
A group exhibition at No. 20 Arts in Islington challenges us to question our perceptions. Bright colours, a range of materials and messages of hopefulness herald the season in Spring Again, Spring Ahead. Spring Again, Spring Ahead It’s a pleasure to once more be at No. 20 Arts in Islington. This gallery in a former […]
Continuing my exploration of Tate exhibitions of female sculptors, Maria Bartuszová’s works in plaster combine the solid and the ephemeral in pleasingly natural forms. Maria Bartuszová I wrote recently when I went to see Magdalena Abakanowicz: Every Tangle of Thread and Rope about the Tate’s efforts to exhibit the work of female sculptors. Why sculptors […]
Peter Doig’s recent works show why he is such an important contemporary painter. This small Courtauld Gallery show gives space to the complexity and uniqueness of his art historical and personal references. Peter Doig Long-time readers know that the Courtauld Gallery’s exhibition space is one of my London favourites. The main reason is that it […]
This exhibition on abstraction by female artists aims to widen our understanding of this important mid-Century tendency in art. How wide it casts its net in achieving this is both its strength and its weakness. Action, Gesture, Paint “Don’t boil the ocean” is something my former boss used to say. Meaning that if you try […]
An informative and thoughtfully-curated exhibition at the Museum of London Docklands, Executions does not shy away from London’s bloody past. Executions As an exhibition, Executions basically does what it says on the tin. It’s about executions. Specifically in London. Centuries of bloodshed and violence, baying crowds and those making money off them. Places that seem […]
The first visual arts exhibition by the Kakilang festival team, State-less 無國界 confronts visitors with art that delves into the specificities of place and home, but also the commonalities of human experience. State-less 無國界 Kakilang festival is in full swing! Regular readers will remember my review of HOME X some weeks ago, a global event […]