Art at UCL, Japanese special
I hadn’t clocked University College London as much of an art destination until recently: sure, the campus between Euston and… Read More
Paul’s Art Stuff
Most days Art Critic Paul Carey-Kent spends hours on the train, traveling between his home in Southampton and his day job in London. Could he, we asked, jot down whatever came into his head?
Paintings on the Radio
It may not sound logical, but not only are there many interesting podcasts that talk to artists, but radio can… Read More
Obsessions, Old and New
I’m not sure you have to be obsessive to be an artist, but plenty of artists have made bodies of work that are naturally described that way. The best-known examples tend to be individually produced:
On with the Not-So New
It’s not entirely out with the old in the gallery world. Here’s a choice of ten free-to-visit London shows which… Read More
Art of Glass
The old distinctions between ‘art’ and ‘craft’ have reduced sufficiently in recent years that ceramics and textiles can now be… Read More
Art for Christmas?
A seasonal tradition has developed of showing works small and affordable enough that they could plausibly make gifts. Flowers Gallery have the longest-running current exhibition with such a premise: this is the 39th year of ‘Small is Beautiful’
Now we’re all phytophiles…
Jane Hayes Greenwood: still from Silvery River, 2021 Recent years have seen an enhanced respect and attention for plants, consistent… Read More
Radical Art at the Royal Academy
There’s still plenty of time to see this winter’s edition of the RA Summer Show, which runs on past Christmas…. Read More
London’s No. 1
People quite often ask me what galleries I recommend. For the last few weeks, and quite possibly the next few… Read More
A Trip to Newbury
It had never occurred to me to spend a day in Newbury – until I heard about Jemima Brown’s project there. Actually, a tour of that and the associated locations makes for a fascinating day out.
Art of Darkness
Some of the best shows on now are presented in darkness…
Covidous Drawings
Drawing has an immediacy suited to responding to current events, so – although the entry and judging process naturally takes… Read More
Painting at Frieze London
Painting is always the dominant medium in art fairs, and despite all the talk of NFTs and new media, that… Read More
Frieze Masters is back
Enough of the crowding and superficiality of Frieze London’s opening day, this year I opted for the more measured pace… Read More
Sculpture Outside the Gallery
There’s plenty of sculpture lying around outside in London now: not just the permanent stuff dotted about or combined into… Read More
On the Up in St Leonards
I grew up in St Leonards-on-Sea, the 19th century addition to Hastings. The two towns suffered a 50 year decline… Read More
Liv Fontaine: The Performance of Drawing
Performance art had an increasingly high pre-pandemic profile, but the curtailment of live events affected that – and even in… Read More
Four Reasons to Visit Van Gogh’s House in Stockwell
2021 marks 50 years since it was discovered that he had a room in the three-storey Georgian house near The Oval
The Art on the T-shirt
There’s a logic to putting art on a T-shirt: comparatively cheap, no need to find wall or floor space, avoids the business of installation (unless you count getting dressed) and allows you to show your collection out and about… I have a few examples which are fun to wear. Here are some which quite often get asked about: sometimes, I’m stopped in the street…
The Storm behind the Calm: John Nash at Eastbourne
John Nash (1893-1977) tends to be remembered as the less radical younger brother of Paul, a first rank illustrator as well as a longstanding Royal Academician adept at the subtle transfiguration of landscapes, particularly in watercolour.
Art Decentred – Bournemouth and Sheffield
Lockdown reduced the tendency to travel to London, and it looks as if some of that decentralising shift may be… Read More
Alexander James Hamilton: Art into Action into Art
Many artists are deeply engaged with environmental themes, Alexander James Hamilton however is exceptional in the depth of his commitment.
Art Meets Poetry
Poetry was good in lockdown, being better suited to the screen than most literature or art. That makes it timely that two ambitious London shows currently combine art with poetry
Banksy versus the classics
Walking round an auction house the realities of market prices never cease to amaze me. At Christies recently, for example,… Read More