What to do, see, (and shop) in London this fall
a bit of art, architecture, design and fashion
I would like to start by saying that they are SO many amazing exhibitions and things to do in London this fall (doesn't matter that the main art week is over , there is still so much) and I simply don't have time to cover all of them but here is what I did manage to see and think it's absolutely worth it.
From exhibitions:
George Rouy: The Bleed, part I. at Hauser& Wirth.
It's a MUST. It's hard to believe the artist is only 30 years old. His artistic language used in exploring the human figure is so mature. It's distorted, it's raw but atmospheric. I loved it.
On view until December 21
Oscar Murillo: A balancing act between collapse and spirit at David Zwirner
This solo is comparable to his amazing solo I saw in NY a couple of years ago. I especially enjoyed curation on the second floor with white fabrics ( curtains if you will) having in front of the windows creating a background for paintings instead of classic wall installation. I also love the free hanging canvas covered in doodles and little writings.
On view until November 16
Anna Weyant: Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolves? at Gagosian
—we all patiently waited for this show. I have to say I wasn't enjoying the glass frame covering each piece ( yes, all the works are behind glass), but I was happy to study her work from up and down anyway.
Did you know that this painting is of Geraldine Guyot, the wife of Alexander Arnault ( muffle child of LVHM founder Bernard Arnault)? She is also the founder of Destree, a beautiful fashion brand ( honestly, I'm a fan).
On view until December 20.
Natalia Gonzalez Martin: Table Manners at Hannah Barry Gallery
This show feels almost emotional for me. I discovered Natalia's profile on Instagram sometime before covid and thought she was brilliant. Stupid me, I wasn't comfortable buying art that much back then, and I only reached out to her after founding Artistellar. But at that time, her career was already taking off, and there was no chance of working together. And now it's basically impossible to get a piece ( won’t even talk about working together). Anyhow, I feel like her work is only getting better -this show was truly beautiful, a contemporary version of religious iconography but with a juicy twist.
On view until November 16
*Side note: I have a whole bunch of artists like this that I 'missed out on.' ( might do a Substack on that)
From design and architecture ( and also history)
Eltham Palace
I can highly recommend visiting Eltham Palace if you've never been. Sure, the location is slightly less convenient then anything happening in central London but on the other hand when you are there you will feel like you are in an oasis of a the English countryside whilst you are just a stone's throw form the city.
In the 1930s, Stephen and Virginia Courtauld acquired this (almost) Medieval ruin and restored it into a modern mode. It is now an Art Deco treasure. The blend of architecture and design is so interesting. My favourite part was the entrance hall.
From fashion:
Clerkenwell Vintage Fashion Fair
This might be slightly less relevant because it only takes place every other month or so, but it's definitely worth putting it in calendars if you are a vintage fashion lover. Clerkenwell vintage fashion fair presents a curated selection of about 60 traders from and beyond London. Every stall has a different niche; you can find stalls with designer pieces (e.g. An entire stall dedicated to Chanel jackets - never seen a selection like this before), designer/no-label jewelry and bags, letter jackets, cowboy boots, and fur coats. This was my first time attending, and honestly, I was very impressed. London has never been my favourite place for vintage shopping for some reason. I think it's because there is a lot, and the majority is overpriced, and I just simply haven't found my favourite store yet. Most prices at the fair were fair, and vendors were open to bargaining. And as I said, the curation of certain stalls was amazing, so inspiring to browse even without shopping.
These were my favourite stalls.
The next Clerkenwell Vintage Fashion Fair takes place on November 24, and you need a ticket to attend.
And that’s all for today!
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