We look ahead at the best London art openings in September, organised by category and opening date. We hope you find it handy for planning ahead. Useful? Missing something? Please let us know and we’ll tweak the format in future instalments.
Regulus 1828, reworked 1837 Joseph Mallord. William Turner 1775-1851. Accepted by the nation as part of the Turner Bequest 1856. Source: Tate Britain
Must See
September is going to be a roaring month for blockbuster exhibitions: of our top 10 Autumn exhibitions in London, most of them are happening this month. Expect Turner, Constable and even… LEGO.
10 September: Late Turner at Tate Britain — Part of our top 10 Autumn exhibitions in London. £15/£13.10, until 25 January
12 September: Jasper Johns: Regrets at the Courtauld Gallery — See a haunting series of 10 paintings and drawings inspired by an old photograph of Lucian Freud posing in Francis Bacon’s London studio. £6/£5, until 14 December
18 September: Ming: 50 Years That Changed China at the British Museum — Discover the golden age in China’s history. On display, unique and spectacular objects from that time, most of them have never been on show outside China before. £16.50/£13, until 5 January
18 September: National Open Art at Somerset House — See emerging artists showcasing their talent in the 18th edition of this art competition. Expect paintings, drawings, original prints, photography, wall hung installations and computer generated art. Free, until 25 October
19 September: Astronomy Photographer of the Year at the Royal Observatory — Displaying the mesmerising winning entries in this year’s international competition, this exhibition takes you into space. Free, until February 2015
20 September: Constable: The Making of a Master at the V&A — Part of our top 10 Autumn exhibitions in London. £14/£12 until 11 January
25 September: Constructing Worlds: Photography and Architecture in the Modern Age at Barbican — See how much the work of 18 photographers from the 1930s until the present day changed our perception of architecture and its surrounding space. £12/£10, until 11 January
27 September: Anselm Kiefer at the Royal Academy — Part of our top 10 Autumn exhibitions in London. £14/concessions available, until 14 December
Carl Clerkin, Broom, 2013. Source: Pitzhanger Manor House & Gallery
Architecture & Design
September also means London Design Festival: we’ve selected the festival highlights, as there will be more than 300 events to choose from. Plenty of exhibitions are taking place connected to the festival, so here’s our pick:
8 September: John Lewis: How We Live Today at Design Museum — To celebrate the 150th anniversary of London’s famous department store, the museum dedicates a pop-up exhibition to John Lewis. £12.40/£9.30, until 21 September
10 September: Crafting Narrative at Pitzhanger Manor House & Gallery — Explores how contemporary designers and makers use objects to tell stories. Free, until 19 October
10 September: Designers in Residence at Design Museum — The annual exhibition that showcases new design talents and their innovative projects. This year’s designers are James Christian, Ilona Gaynor , Torsten Sherwood and Patrick Stevenson-Keating. The theme is disruption. £12.40/£9.30, until 1 February
12 September: Plus Minus at The Book Club — Experience the process of act and design through the work of three contemporary designers on show. The private view is on Thursday 11 September. Free, until 16 November
13 September: Alan Kitching at London College of Communication — The exhibition provides an insight into the creation of the AK Collection with sketches and type from Alan’s letterpress workshop, archival material from Monotype and posters designed by each of the five designers. Free, until 16 October
13 September: Space and Light at Sir John Soane’s Museum — Once described as a ‘master of space and light’, Sir John Soane’s Museum celebrates its originator with a pop-up exhibition on the theme. On display are works by Paul Schütze, Ab Rogers, Sebastian Bergne and Tiipoi. Free, until 11 October
13 September: The Law of Kipple at 52C Whitmore Road – Artist Dan Tobin Smith invited the public to donate kipple, i.e. useless objects they didn’t use any more. He then covered the floor of his studio, arranging them chromatically: find out what it looks like. Free, until 21 September
13 September: High Street High Line organised by Camden Collective – Artists and designers take over a number of Camden’s vacant rooftops and create a new high line for the duration of the festival. Free, see website for more information
14 September: Wallpaper: Artist’s Interior Worlds at London Print Studio — This exhibition focuses on contemporary wallpaper designers and fine artists using the medium as an expressive form. Free, until 1 November
13 September: Not This at Shoreditch Town Hall — 63 designers from outside the UK challenge the requirements of design practice. Free, until 17 September
19 September: Knitwear: Chanel to Westwood at London Fashion and Textile Museum — On display, vintage fashion knitwear from the 20th century, from the timeless 1920s Chanel jersey to the eccentric designs of Vivienne Westwood and Julie MacDonald. £8.80, until 18 January
24 September: Ostia Antica at Estorick Collection — This exhibition brings together the art of two very different eras: fragments of ancient statuary and mosaic from Ostia Antica (a large archaeological site located close to Rome) and the abstract sculpture and painting of Umberto Mastroianni. £5/£3.50, until 21 December
Need more inspiration? See Top 10 Things To Do During London Fashion Week SS15
Source: Moleskine
Drawing
4 September: Jack Bilbo at David Zwirner gallery — See an exhibition dedicated to the life and artistic work of Bilbo. A self-taught artist, and a legendary bohemian, he was known for his larger-than-life persona. Free, until 4 October
6 September: Moleskine City Stories in Covent Garden — Take part in a live sketch event lasting for just one day. Mingle with experienced sketchers and take part in a learning session. Free, 11.30am-5.30pm
17 September: Carl Randall at Berloni gallery — See a decade of portraits and places by award-winning British figurative painter Carl Randall, in a synoptic exploration of Modern Japan. Free, until 15 November
17 September: Jerwood Drawing Prize at Jerwood Visual Arts — A total of 51 works by 46 artists are on display, celebrating the talent of both young talents and established practitioners. Free, until 26 October
25 September: The Nakeds at The Drawing Room — Starting from the enigmatic artistic figure of Egon Schiele, this exhibition explores the concept of the naked body and its various expressions. How to represent love, shame, solitude and sexual yearning? Free, until 29 November
Source: Tribal Art London
Fairs
5 September: New Artists Fair at The Old Truman Brewery – On show, a wide variety of artists covering all types of artwork, both originals and prints at prices ranging from £20 to £1,000. Mingle with the artists who will be available to chat, join the opening reception on Friday 5 September (6pm-9pm). Free, Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 September 12pm-6pm
10 September: 20/21 British Art Fair at Osborne Samuel gallery — The long-established Mayfair gallery hosts a fair showcasing both new talents from The Royal College of Art and well-known artists. Free, until 14 September
10 September: Tribal Art London Fair at The Mall Galleries — This fair focuses on quality tribal art from around the world, mostly pre-dating 1930, together with photography and contemporary art from Africa. Themed lectures will take place during the duration of the fair. Free, until 13 September
13 September: Art Deco Fair at Eltham Palace and Gardens — This two-day fair is a chance to browse vintage treasures and visit the opulent Art Deco palace in Greenwich. £10.20/£9.20, until 14 September
26 September: The London Book Art Fair at Whitechapel Gallery — The gallery’s annual showcase of thousands of artists’ books, catalogues, monographs, zines, rare publications and brand new releases. Taking over the entire Gallery for one weekend, there will be free events connected to the fair, too. Free, until 28 September
30 September: Antiques Fair at Battersea — Three times a year in the beautiful surroundings of Battersea Park, the Decorative and Antiques Textile Fair takes place. This time it focuses on fairground and circus artefacts. £10, until 5 October
London-y
5 September: Jenny Pockley: London’s Story at Sarah Myerscough gallery — This artist’s main focus is on cityscapes, usually taken from a far perspective. Expect atmospheric photographs that look like a spider-web pattern of light. Free, until 27 September
14 September: Sir Alan Cobham’s Flying Circus at RAF Museum — Discover the life of this pioneering aviator, who was the first one to fly from London to Cape Town and back as well as from London to Australia and back. He is famous for making aviation accessible and popular throughout the world. Free, until 11 September 2015
Korakrit Arunanondchai, Solo presentation / Booth Fiac, 2013. Courtesy the artist and C L E A R I N G, New York, Brussels. Source: ICA
Painting
1 September: Indian Summer at Albemarle gallery — This exhibition presents a range from artists from India as well as artists inspired by India. The gallery supports the Delhi-based International Institute of Fine Arts (IIFA). Free, until 23 September
4 September: The Secret Art Prize 2014 at Curious Duke Gallery — Winner of the Prize Mohammed Sami shows his winning work alongside the 10 runners up, including winner of the soon to be announced People’s Choice Award. Expect a focus on street art and emerging talents. Free, until 4 October
4 September: Lincoln Townley at The Riflemaker Gallery — Following the success of his memoir The Hunger, the artist presents some of his painting which he sees as visuals from the book. Free, until 7 September
6 September: Louis Wain & The Summer Cat Show at Chris Beetles gallery — See the works of legendary and eccentric Edwardian artist Louis Wain (1860-1939) who, at his most productive, painted 600 images of cats a year. Free, until 27 September
11 September: Hynek Martinee at Parafin gallery — Probably the title of the exhibition will help you to understand its content: Every Minute You’re Closer To Death. Expect hyperrealist paintings that may remind you of Salvador Dali. Free, until 11 October
11 September: Nor Your Usual Portraits at Subway Gallery – The gallery presents 85 years old artists Lora Verner’s debut paintings exhibition. On show, 33 acrylic on canvas that will remind you of Picasso’s most famous portraits. Free, until 27 September
12 September: Mela Yerka at Maria Stenfors gallery — The artist mixes powerful portraits of 19th century women and surreal landscapes. In synthesis, it’s all a matter of exploration. Free, until 18 October
12 September: Pio Abad at Gasworks gallery — The first solo exhibition of this Filipino artist in London features modern reproductions of historical artefacts and objects that marked the history of Philippines. Free, until 16 November
16 September: Reassembling the Self at GV Art Gallery — This exhibition is centred on the representation of the condition of schizophrenia. It brings together art, science, psychiatry and individual histories in an exploration of self, perception and the fragility of human identity. Free, until 11 October
18 September: Athier: Improbable Possibilities at Ayyam Gallery — The British-Iraqi artist presents a series of paintings that are mixed with theoretical physics. Expect a series of geometrical shapes within a coloured background. Free, until 31 October
19 September: U at The Unit gallery — A collective of talented painters on display at the gallery. Expect a variety of theme and techniques, the results of which are definitely worth a visit to the gallery. Free, until 18 October
24 September: Beware Wet Paint at ICA — A group show of individual paintings by artists for whom painting forms a single strand within a multidisciplinary practice. £1, until 16 November
25 September: Witches & Wicked Bodies at the British Museum — Part of our top 10 Autumn exhibitions in London. Free, until 11 January
26 September: Kai Althoff at Michael Werner gallery — The French-born artist currently lives and works in New York. For his first show with this gallery, Althoff presents a new body of work comprised mostly of paintings and drawings. Free, until 15 November
Photography
Julie Blackmon Garage Sale, 2013 © Julie Blackmon
2 September: Charity Exhibition After at Menier Gallery – An inspirational portrait photography exhibition organised by the Anthony Nolan charity to coincide with the charity’s 40th anniversary celebrations and Blood Cancer Awareness Month. The series by Stephen Pennells explores the journeys that 18 blood cancer patients faced after a bone marrow transplant. Free, until 6 September
3 September: Omar Ba at Hales Gallery — This exhibition marks the 25th anniversary of the photographer’s death, who was one of the most significant names in the history of black photography during the 1980s. Free, until 4 October
4 September: Julie Blackmon:Homegrown at Photographers’ Gallery — This photographic series explores the harmony and disarray of everyday life. This is examined against the backdrop of American culture and the impact of consumerism; her style is inspired by 17th century Dutch painters. Free, until 26 October
4 September: Art No Cube in Shoreditch– Illustrator and artist Levitan puts his own mark on other people’s Instagram photos, on the streets around the gallery. Free.
16 September: Bob Willoughby at Beetles and Huxley — The gallery dedicates an exhibition to one of the most wanted photographers of the 1950s. Willoughby documented the making of famous Hollywood movies and the life of cinema’s jet set. Free, until 4 October
19 September: Rotimi Fani-Kayode at Tiwani Contemporary – See the revolutionary work of this 1980s African artist, who radically changed the history of black photography. His photographic portraits explore complex personal and politically-engaged notions of desire, spirituality and cultural dislocation. Free, until 1 November
Xavier Mascaró, Departure, 2009-2011
Sculpture
3 September: Departures: Xavier Mascaró at Saatchi Gallery — The Spanish artist exhibits sculptural works that are inspired by the symbolism and iconography of boats. See his experimentations with traditional casting techniques. Free, until 5 October
9 September: Mike Nelson selects from the V-A-C Collection at Whitechapel Gallery – Contemporary installation artist Mike Nelson curates this sculptural exhibition, that reproduces the setting of an art studio. Artworks by Brancusi, Giacometti and Althamer will be on display. Free, until 30 November
12 September: Richard Stone at Kristin Hjellegjerde gallery — A solo exhibit that mixes 19th century’s Romanticism sculpture with current tendencies. Free, until 12 October
22 September: Sculptors Papers from the Henry Moore Institute Archive at Whitechapel Gallery — See paper documents and discover stories behind radical proposals for public sculptures in London. Free, until 22 February
26 September: The Art of the Brick — replicas of famous artworks made from LEGO, at the Truman Brewery. Adult tickets from £14.50, until 4 January
Source: Lisson Gallery
Video, Performance & Mixed Media
2 September: Whose Gaze Is It Anyway at ICA — This exhibition looks at the history of Arab pop culture through printed matter: posters, notebooks, diaries and book covers, as well as through film and video. £1, until 5 November
3 September: Urban Dialogues: Navigations at Red Gallery — Presented across a range of media, the works displayed explore faith, belief, migration and personal identity in our global intercultural present. Free, until 21 September
4 September: Tales from the Autumn House at The Belfry — This mixed media exhibition takes you on a sensory exploration, showcasing the vision of graphic artist and illustrator Renaud C. Haslan. Candlelit and filled with sound effects, he layers photography, graphic design, installation and poetry to form a multi-dimensional experience. Free, until 20 October
4 September: You Cannot Step Twice into the Same River – Join the opening of this new exhibition on Wednesday 3 September, on until 12 October. There will be an evening performance featuring artists Patrick Coyle and Holly Slingsby. Expect a theatrical performance and a river walk. Free, just turn up, from 7pm
5 September: Asymmetric Dance Class at Vitrine gallery — The eight artists exhibiting are alike in their expression of theoretical juxtapositions via surprising, and often opposing, combinations of materials. They explore themes of the relationship between reality and imagination. Free, until 27 September
6 September: Avatar at Halcyon Gallery — An exhibition by Indian artist Jagannath Panda and Russian artist Dashi Namdakov that weaves a tale of mythology, spirituality and religion. On display, both paintings and sculptures. Free, until 4 October
10 September: Mary Reid Kelley at Pilar Corrias gallery — The award-winning American artist presents a new piece of video art alongside props, drawings, and photographic portraits. Free, until 7 October
11 September: Madder at Griffin Gallery — A solo show featuring 2013’s Griffin Art Prize winning duo, Luke George and Elizabeth Rose. Working with archive materials and historically significant pigments, the couple have produced paintings that capture the physicality and versatile nature of madder pigments. Free, until 10 October
13 September: Pierre Huyghe at Hauser and Wirth — Explore humanity, nature and the animal world through the eyes of this French artist. Free, until 1 November
15 September: New Lights at Mall Galleries — This is a touring charity exhibition that supports artists from the North of England. On display, both established and emerging artists from the North of the country. Free, until 20 September
16 September: Nathalie Djurberg & Hans Berg at Lisson Gallery — The artists present a series of artworks that mix sculptural interventions, projections, neon, film and music. Expect an immersive and interactive installation. Free, until 1 November
16 September: Yayoi Kusama at Victoria Miro gallery — The Japanese artist presents a new series of sculptures and paintings, all dedicated to pumpkins. Free, until 20 November
17 September: Cerith Wyn Evans & Trisha Donnelly at Serpentine galleries — These two exhibitions start on the same day, featuring American artist Donnelly and space-responding sculptures by Evans. Free, until 9 November
17 September: Marina Abramovic at Lisson Gallery — This exhibition displays unseen works by the artist, featuring two important sound pieces, video documentation of the artist’s performances and photographs. Free, until 1 November
19 September: All That Matters Is What’s Left Behind at Ronchini gallery — The gallery displays a distinct group of young international artists with their individually identifiable abstract works. Artists include: Alex Clarke, Phoebe Collings-James, Ziggy Grudzinskas, Prem Sahib, Rebecca Ward and Jens Wolf. Free, until 8 November
19 September: Punk Rock and Roll Art Show at The Underdog Gallery — An exhibition featuring artworks inspired by the most famous rock ‘n’ roll stars. There will be a free-entry opening party on Friday 19 September. Free, until 26 September
27 September: A Game in Hell at GRAD — The exhibition explores the artistic and historical significance of the First World War in Russia. See a collection of materials from the past, many of which have never been displayed before. £5, until 30 November
Find more about what’s on in London, visit Londonist’s Museum & Galleries & Art & Photography pages.