Sunshine, Hysteria, and the Unconscious
I Can Cry if I Want To by Ariane Heloise Hughes
My favourite shows to see in London this January 🌷
Whether you’re perfecting your 5-9 routine or already breaking your new year’s resolutions, here are some exhibitions that will make you want to brave the cold this January.
The Goodness of the Heart No°5 by Héloïse Chassepot
Conscious Unconscious, Pippy Houldsworth Gallery
Viewing Trees by Zoe McGuire
Pippy Houldsworth Gallery presents a group exhibition of new paintings that explore the meaning of desire. The show delves into themes such as memory and fantasy, as each artist creates captivating compositions that feel almost immersive. Featuring works by Zoe McGuire, Héloïse Chassepot, Katarina Caserman, Saskia Colwell, Li Hei Di, and Alexis Soul-Gray.
The show runs until February 4th.
No. XXV We Once Sought Refuge There by Lina Iris Victor
Let the Sunshine In, Pilar Corrias
With luminous portraits by Lina Iris Victor and earthly compositions by Kat Lyons, Pilar Corrias welcomes in the new year by offering viewers a glimmer of hope. The contemporary art gallery’s latest group show features paintings, photography, sculpture, and works on paper. Taking its title from the 1969 song by American vocal group The 5th Dimension, Let the Sunshine In reflects on uncertainty while embracing new beginnings, channeling optimism for the future.
The show runs until February 18th.
Gorgoneion by Michelle Nguyen
Hysteria, Gillian Jason Gallery
Gillian Jason Gallery brings together works by 12 women artists in a group exhibition that focuses on women’s health. Hysteria calls attention to the misdiagnosis gap in women’s healthcare, highlighting how gender bias continues to fail women who seek medical treatment. Featuring works by Zarina Khan, Tolu Magbagbeola, Michelle Nguyen, Cosima Ross, Olivia Valentine, and many more.
Using powerful imagery and collage techniques, Pakistani artist Zarina Khan depicts silhouettes of female figures, exploring themes of sexual violence and censorship. Similarly, Michelle Nguyen reimagines the story of Medusa through symbolic images, as she contemplates ideas of vulnerability. Hysteria seeks to address uncomfortable truths, sparking an important conversation around systemic bias.
The show runs until February 18th.
Bloodflowers by Elsa Rouy
(It’s My Party) I Can Cry if I want to, Guts Gallery
Guts Gallery kicks off the new year with a brilliant group exhibition co-curated by Ariane Heloise Hughes and Ellie Pennick. (It’s My Party) I Can Cry if I want to focuses on the bittersweet motifs of birthdays, complete with cake, nail polish, and tears. The show embraces the grotesque, as many of the artists depict unsettling scenes of consumption. Featuring works by Ariane Heloise Hughes, Xu Yang, Victoria Cantons, Vilte Fuller, Elsa Rouy, Olivia Sterling, Juno Calypso, and more.
The show runs until February 2nd.
My Own Reflection by Lily Kemp
Taking Flight, Taymour Grahne Projects
Untitled 4 by Lily Kemp
On view in Notting Hill, Taymour Grahne Projects showcases mythical paintings by London-based artist Lily Kemp. Kemp’s figurative works are rich in colour, featuring picturesque landscapes and ethereal figures. Taking inspiration from mermaids and aquatic creatures in Chinese mythology, Kemp examines depictions of mermaids through a queer lens, exploring ideas of existence and sense of belonging.
The show runs until February 18th.
Mother, Mother…, Times Have Changed by Chibuike Uzoma
Chibuike Uzoma: To Kick a Stone, Simon Lee Gallery
Simon Lee Gallery presents a solo exhibition of new paintings by Nigerian multidisciplinary artist Chibuike Uzoma. The exhibition also includes a sound piece by Joāo Orecchia and a moving image work by Edward Owens. Each painting acts as an optical illusion, exploring the agency of the viewer. Employing lettering, and minimalistic backdrops, Uzoma looks beyond intentionalism, and encourages the viewer to attribute meaning through their own interpretation.
The show runs until February 25th.