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Looking to soak up some culture in the capital? We’ll keep you updated with the art exhibitions in London which are cancelled, postponed and proceeding as planned.
The Best Art Exhibitions in London: What’s Officially Cancelled?
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![TRATE]()
TRATE: Technicolour Malaise
15 Bateman Street
Canadian artist TRATE (who works under an enigmatic alias) is set to showcase his third London exhibition at Soho gallery 15 Bateman Street, an evocative and vibrant collection of his signature large-scale figurative paintings.
In light of the current situation, the exhibition will be available to view via virtual studio tours taking place on the 9th-12th April, whilst personal virtual tours can also be booked. aliastrate.com
Image: TRATE, Tender Disfiguration
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![Sunset on the River, Turner]()
Turner and the Thames: Five Paintings
Turner’s House
Turner and the Thames: Five Paintings features a selection of rare oil sketches seldom seen by the public, all depicting scenes close to his house near the Thames – from Isleworth to Windsor. The paintings were all created from Turner’s boat, which he acquired while living in Isleworth so he could record first-hand impressions of the river, an inspiration for Turner throughout his life. Unusually, the five pieces in this exhibition – which are on loan from Tate – are painted in mahogany veneer, and it’s thought Turner may have made them using parts of recycled furniture. The house is an artwork in itself too, having been designed by Turner for him and his father to live in back in the 1800s.
With the temporary closure of Turner’s House, the exhibition is sadly no longer open to the public. turnershouse.org
Photo: J.M.W. Turner, Sunset on the River
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![Picasso, Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe' after Manet]()
Picasso and Paper
The Royal Academy of Arts
The RA advises leaving up to two hours for perusing this huge exhibition, and it’s easy to see why. Featuring over 300 works – including quick doodles and Femmes à leur toilette, a gigantic collage of over five metres – it showcases a huge range of Picasso’s paper-based creations, from his childhood cut-outs of birds and dogs (confirming the artist’s precocity and mastery of proportion, aged 9) to studies of work by Manet and Delacroix. By Dina Nagapetyants.
This exhibition is temporarily closed; tickets purchased can be refunded via the website. royalacademy.org.uk
Image: Pablo Picasso, Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe’ after Manet I, Mougins, 26 January – 13 March 1962. © RMN-Grand Palais (Musée national Picasso-Paris) / Marine Beck-Coppola.
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![John-Bigge-Composition]()
British Surrealism
Dulwich Picture Gallery
Prepare to be spellbound by this dreamlike exhibition of surrealist art, featuring the works of over 40 renowned artists, from Lucian Freud to Leonora Carrington, Francis Bacon and Paul Nash. A comprehensive exploration of surrealist art in Britain, discover the outlandish with a showcase of spectacular sculptures, paintings, prints, photography and etchings from 1783 to 1952.
Gallery director, Jennifer Scott stated: ‘In response to increasing concerns around the impact of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and in order to protect the health and wellbeing of our visitors, staff and community, we have made the decision to close Dulwich Picture Gallery and its grounds until further notice.’ dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk
Image: John Bigge, Composition, 1936, Photo: Ferens Art Gallery: Hull Museums, © The Estate of John Bigge
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![Andy Warhol]()
Andy Warhol
Tate Modern
Delve into the fantastical world of Andy Warhol at the Tate Modern’s highly anticipated 2020 retrospective. From his iconic pop images dedicated to Marilyn Monroe, to the Ladies and Gentlemen series (exhibited for the first time in 30 years) and an array of unseen pieces, this is an eclectic must-visit exhibition for Warhol enthusiasts world-wide.
All Tate Galleries across the UK are temporarily closed, hence this exhibition is shut until further notice. tate.org.uk
Photo: Andy Warhol, Marilyn Diptych
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![Tutankhamun]()
TUTANKHAMUN: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh presented by Viking Cruises
Saatchi Gallery
Discover ancient Egyptian treasures and fascinating world heritage artefacts at the Saatchi Gallery’s latest exhibition, TUTANKHAMUN: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh, which marks the 100th anniversary of the unearthing of the ancient Egyptian Pharaoh’s tomb.
The Saatchi Gallery is temporarily closed. A message via the website regarding the TUTANKHAMUN exhibition states: ‘Please be assured we are working with our ticketing partners to ensure those who purchased tickets for sessions between 18 – 31 March are automatically refunded as soon as possible. Ticket bookings from 1 April onwards will be refunded after this date if the exhibition remains closed. We thank you for your support and patience during this time.’
Photo: Gilded Wooden “Ostrich Hunt” Fan/IMG
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![Beatrix Potter, Hygrophorus Puniceus]()
Mushrooms: The Art, Design and Future of Fungi
Somerset House
If you thought there couldn’t possibly be an entire exhibition dedicated to the mighty shroom, think again. Somerset House is set to host a one-of-a-kind showcase exploring and celebrating fungi in all its wondrous forms, featuring the work of more than 40 renowned artists, designers and musicians including artist Cy Twombly, beloved author Beatrix Potter and composer John Cage.
Somerset House has closed its public exhibitions and events until at least 1st May. somersethouse.org.uk
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![HERSTORY]()
HERSTORY
Maddox Gallery
Commemorating International Women’s Day, Maddox Gallery is hosting a female-led exhibition, HERSTORY, showcasing the works of budding and established female international artists. Aiming to shift the conversation surrounding women in art, the significant exhibition will feature artworks from the likes of Instagram art sensation Sophie Tea, American visual artist Beau Dunn, painter Lily Kemp, and multidisciplinary artist Lauren Baker, to name but a few.
A message from the gallery via Instagram reads: ‘As market leaders in showcasing the very best in modern and contemporary art, we will continue to champion emerging and established artists from around the world. Now is a time for social and corporate responsibility as we ensure we can continue to function in a rapidly changing world. Effective immediately, our galleries will be open by appointment only to assist in the measures encouraged by the World Health Organisation, NHS and the Government.’ View the HERSTORY exhibition catalogue from home via maddoxgallery.com
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![Gilded cage or glass ceiling]()
The Enchanted Interior
Guildhall Art Gallery
Delight in the works of over 50 established artists in The Enchanted Interior, an artistic exploration of the historic impression of women in ‘enclosed and ornate spaces’. A fusion of paintings, photography, film and more, from the Pre-Raphaelites to present day examine the concept of the ‘gilded cage’ in this thought-provoking exhibition.
Guildhall Art Gallery is closed to the public until at least 1 May 2020, however the major exhibition is available to view via the gallery website and social media platforms through a series of images and curator-led virtual tours. cityoflondon.gov.uk
Photo: Albert Moore, Pomegranates, 1866, Guildhall Art Gallery, City of London
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![John Offenbach]()
JEW: Photographs by John Offenbach
The Jewish Museum
John Offenbach’s photography explores the nature of what it means to identify as Jewish today. From religious to secular, rich to homeless, criminal to lawful, 34 individuals are brought together to show the diverse faces of Jewish people from myriad walks of life, presented through striking, large-scale portraits. In regards to the exhibition’s startling title, Offenbach faced initial resistance, but insisted ‘A large part of the project was to re-own that word – it shouldn’t be seen as an insult’.
The Jewish Museum London is closed to the public until further notice. jewishmuseum.org.uk
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![ABBA: Super Troupers The Exhibition]()
ABBA: Super Troupers The Exhibition
The O2
Take a chance on journeying out to the O2 to enter the world of the chart-topping Swedish pop sensation, narrated by BBC broadcaster, writer and activist Gemma Cairney. Showcasing instruments, film, behind-the-scenes photographs and – of course – spectacular ’70s costumes, the exhibition traces the band’s personal and professional history, lending each of their iconic eight albums an immersive room. An innovative take on the well-known ABBA story, it also explores the wider socio-political backdrop against which ABBA’s music was released.
A message via the website reads: ‘Following the UK Government’s advice regarding the rapidly evolving COVID-19 pandemic, and in line with the wider closure of The O2, ABBA: Super Troupers The Exhibition has extended the suspension of the exhibition until 26th April 2020.’ abbasupertroupers.com
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![Sunil Gupta]()
Masculinities: Liberation through Photography
Barbican Art Gallery
This major photo exhibition explores how masculinity is experienced, performed, coded and socially constructed through the medium of photography and film, from the 1960s to today. Featuring work from over 50 international artists, from the star-studded likes of Richard Avedon and Robert Mapplethorpe to younger, lesser-known talents like Sam Contis, it highlights the way photography and film have played key roles in shaping today’s perceptions of masculinity.
The Barbican is temporarily closed until further notice with all events transpiring until Friday 1 May 2020 cancelled or postponed. barbican.org.uk
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![Michael Clark]()
Michael Clark
Barbican Art Gallery
A radical figure in Britain’s cultural history, choreographer and dancer Michael Clark is noted for his fusion of the classical and contemporary, form punk to ballet. This exhibition presents film, photography and material from Clark’s practice, together with his legendary collaborations across visual arts, music, fashion and film. The exhibition was commended by the 2019 Sotheby’s Prize for innovation and curatorial excellence.
The Barbican is temporarily closed until further notice with all events transpiring until Friday 1 May 2020 cancelled or postponed. barbican.org.uk
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![When Brands Take a Stand]()
When Brands Take a Stand
The Museum of Brands
Head to Notting Hill’s consumer-concerned treasure trove of a museum, The Museum of Brands for the launch of a brand-new exhibition this March. When Brands Take a Stand is set to bring together the most talked-about, ground-breaking and inspirational brand and advertising campaigns which have aimed to support the likes of diversity, environmentalism, health and human rights.
The Museum is now temporarily closed until further notice. museumofbrands.com
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![Electronic: From Kraftwerk to The Chemical Brothers]()
Electronic: From Kraftwerk to The Chemical Brothers
The Design Museum
Whether you’re a fan of electronic music or not, you’re bound to be captivated by this entrancing exhibition dedicated to the genre. From Jeff Mills to Jean-Michel Jarre, Kraftwerk and The Chemical Brothers, The Design Museum’s Electronic exhibition explores the genre’s origins, future and the way in which the technology and design industries have given rise to its development.
The Design Museum has temporarily closed its doors. Electronic: From Kraftwerk to The Chemical Brothers has been postponed until further notice. Ticket holders can visit the website for more information. designmuseum.org
Photo: Luke Dyson
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