Tabish Khan the @LondonArtCritic picks his top exhibitions to see in late June. Each one comes with a concise review to help you decide whether it’s for you. All of last week’s top picks are also still open to visit.
Kojo Marfo: Dreaming of Identity @ JD Malat Gallery
Drawing inspiration from traditional Akan fertility dolls from his native Ghana, Kojo Marfo has created a series of diverse portraits based on the people he’s met. Pulling out the humanity in each sitter it’s a wonderfully positive show where the floor has been given a makeover so that it blends in with the figurative paintings. Until 17 July.
Jaclyn Conley: In a new field @ Skarstedt
Beautifully executed paintings of figures create a contemporary US history through groups of figures. Wooden sections are added on works to give them more depth and the use of colour in these works to define each form is spectacular. Until 16 July.
Robert Rauschenberg: Night Shades and Phantoms @ Thaddaeus Ropac
Metal paintings include both abstract gestures and skeletons upon the surface that shimmer and change as you walk in front of them, capturing the reflection of gallery visitors and making them part of the artwork. It’s as if the works only come to life when they are being viewed. Until 31 July.
Tai-Shan Schierenberg: Figuring the landscape @ Flowers, Cork Street
Open water, a powerful waterfall or a raging fire – these stirring paintings show a reconnection with nature, as many of us have experienced in the past year. There’s also an irony here as we often use cars to get there and an open fire may feel like it’s getting back to nature, when it’s actually burning a large part of it. Until 10 July.
Jerkface: Villainy @ Maddox Gallery
Prepare for a saccharine dose of nostalgia as The Simpsons, The Flinststones and icons from our childhoods all pop up in the art of Jerkface – and you can’t miss the giant doughnut hanging above the gallery entrance. Removing eyes and mashing up characters it’s a playful first UK solo show for the anonymous artist. Until 15 July.
Shani Rhys James | Hunan-ynysu : Self Island @ Connaught Brown
Big thick brushstroke bring flowers to life and give emotional depth to the figures in the work of Shani Rhys James. The works were all painted in lockdown and the hollow looks of the figures capture a palpable sense of isolation in works that need to be seen up close to appreciate their layered textures. Until 1 July.
