2022 - Issue 36
Showcasing artists and works that caught my attention.
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Images 1-2 = There’s a wide range of work in this strong debut show, proving you can still successfully open a gallery in a non-Fitzrovia postcode. I was particularly taken by the humorous and imposing sculptures from Benjamin Edwin Slinger (@BenjaminEdwinSlinger) and the gorgeous “ouroboros” paintings from Henry Kitcher (@henrykitcher) that creatively sidestep the challenge of accurately painting the colour of soil by painting with soil itself.
‘Souvenir’ at Bye Bye Gallery (@bye_bye_gallery) until 23 Sept
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Images 3-4 = All the artists in this group show feature in the final chapter of new book “The Story of Art Without Men” by Katy Hessel (@katy.hessel), who also curated this show. I haven’t read it yet, but you’ll probably know the names and the ones you don’t, you should. I especially liked the works by Njideka Akunyili Crosby (@NjidekaAkunyiliCrosby) and Deborah Roberts (@rdeborah191)
‘The Story of Art as it’s Still Being Written’ at Victoria Miro (@victoriamirogallery) until 01 Oct
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Images 5-7 = The delicate wooden frames and vertical symbols made me think these were Japanese, but both the landscapes and the artist (Emma cc Cook @__just__eccc__) are American, a fact hammered home by the top floor kitsch. I preferred the large patterned monotone works that look distinctly different up close than from a few feet back.
‘Pilgrim’ at Public Gallery (@public__gallery) until 24 Sep
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Images 8-9 = Nothing says “cartoonist out of time” like puffy white gloves. With a subversive nod towards animation infancy, Ezra Brown (@ezrabr0wn) depicts Happy the Clown experiencing a series of emotions that will clearly keep his therapist employed for years.
‘I Used to be Happy’ at Stolen Space (@stolenspacegallery) until 09 Oct
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Images 10-12 = A lot has been written about this Fitzrovia show that brings the shared gallery concept (common in New York) to the UK, but I went to see the work. I was drawn to the distressed figures from Elsa Rouy (@elsa.rouy) and Alya Hatta (@alyahatta) but there are upbeat, less ‘in-your-face’, works as well. Like a colour study from Haroun Hayward (@HarounHayward).
‘There Goes The Neighbourhood’ at Castor (@castor_gallery) / Indigo + Madder (@indigoplusmadder) until 01 Oct
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Images 13-14 = The sweeping gestural style of these landscapes-slash-portraits by Megan Baker (@meganmarybaker) is so distinct she could probably turn a tidy side profit by marketing a Photoshop filter that replicates her approach. A few works had wayward vertical elements I felt disrupted the effect, but I couldn’t get enough of the ghostly faceless figures. They should be haunting, but made me feel calm and serene.
‘Where The Ground Meets The Sky’ at Gillian Jason (@gillianjasongallery) until 01 Oct
PLUS — don’t forget to check What’s On so you don’t miss any of the great shows closing soon.