Tabish Khan, the @LondonArtCritic, picks his top 5 East London exhibitions to see in London. If you are looking for more exhibitions, check out his previous top 5.
Hoa Dung Clerget: The Trung Sisters at SLQS Gallery
Leaning on the fact that there’s a strong link between the Vietnamese diaspora and nail salons, Hoa Dung Clerget has created large-scale works using the materials of nail art to mirror the patterns of nail art allied with symbols from her heritage. She ties this to the story of the Trung sisters, female military leaders who resisted the neighbouring Chinese empire, as told in a catchy 7-minute musical film.
Until 21st February.
Means of Reproduction at Emalin
Want to get your hands on some art merch? There are t-shirts on the walls, items in a vending machine, and, instead of walls, we have beer crates where artworks hang, or what appears to be a dismembered leg is housed. There are also more traditional works, including the surrealist gothic paintings of Aleksandra Waliszewska. Until 19th February.
I Still Dream of Lost Vocabularies at Autograph ABP
All the artists in this show examine politics, history, and erasure through innovative means. Sabrina Tirvengadum recreates lost family albums using AI, Qualeasha Wood portrays digital screens with multiple tabs and selfies in a tapestry, and Jess Atieno uses archived postcards and images from British colonialism in East Africa. Every artist in this exhibition has a fantastic narrative behind their work. Until 21st March, free.
Lloyd Corporation: The Vital Difference at Carlos/Ishikawa
The wall is covered in transparent donation boxes. They are all based on leaflets the artist duo have received, ranging from serious topics such as freedom for Palestine and stopping knife crime to more personal requests and some that may be scams. I like that visitors can place money in each box. They were all empty when I visited on opening day, and the key is in the lock, so people could also withdraw any donated funds. Until 7th March.
CONDO 2026 hosting Margot Samel at The Approach
This is a great pairing of two very different artists who were friends. The late Leroy Johnson was a social worker, and his sculptures are made from objects he found on his daily commute in Philadelphia. They are paired with Olivia Jia’s hyper-real trompe l’oeil paintings in a striking contrast. Until 21st February.
