Tabish Khan, the @LondonArtCritic, picks his top 5 painting exhibitions to see in London in the New Year. If you’re after more shows, check out his top museum shows where all remain open to visit.
Maria Berrio: The End of Ritual @ Victoria Miro
There’s so much to see in Maria Berrio’s large-scale paintings filled with different characters, including many wearing traditional Japanese masks and plenty of fun inclusions of cat masks. The texture needs to be seen in person as it’s all painted on Japanese paper, so each piece has a fantastic layering and a subtle roughness. Until 18th January.
Conrad Jon Godly: Renaissance @ JD Malat Gallery
These are phenomenal paintings of mountains, made with thick gestural strokes that you could scoop up in your hands. I’ve always admired his style and in this latest series he’s trying out new colour palettes and I love how he captures both the beauty and monumentality of these mountains. Until 18th January.
Iain Faulkner: A Man Alone … @ Pontone Gallery
I like a bit of photorealism done well and Iain Faulkner nails it with these atmospheric paintings of mostly a man looking out over beautiful lakes with us. It’s a beautiful homage to Caspar David Friedrich’s “Wanderer above the Sea of Fog”. Until 11th January.
Nicholas Hatfull: Afters Forking @ Josh Lilley
There’s a reason they say paintings need to be seen in person to appreciate them and Nicholas Hatfull’s exhibition is a prime example. When these lush paintings are seen in person you can appreciate the layering, the gestural strokes and how the unpainted canvas adds to the composition. He’s a real painter’s painter. Until 10th January.
This is a great mix of landscape paintings from historical pieces to contemporary ones that range from traditional styles to bold and surreal takes on the genre. It was also my first time visiting the space since it opened in Fitzrovia and I enjoy discovering new spaces. Until 11th January.
All images copyright the gallery and artist. Niso photo: Studio Adamson.
