Contemporary art in London

Maria Cherkasova, a student on our “I Want Into the Art World!” program, writes about London

London is full of art. Every one of the world’s most famous galleries has a presence here, and the museum collections are extraordinarily rich.

And that’s not the half of it: contemporary art is waiting for you in the parks, too. A Kusama pumpkin was recently installed in Kensington Gardens, and right there beside it is a sculpture by Gerhard Richter. Its polished surface catches the sun, and those famous stripes sit beautifully in the landscape.

🟡 The installation is on view in Kensington Gardens until 27 October 2024.

A great deal of attention goes to women’s art — or more precisely, to art made by women.

At the Tate Modern gallery you can currently see Now You See Us — the story of British women artists’ struggles and successes on the road to recognition in the art world, starting in the 17th century. Even though Angelica Kauffman was among the founders of the Royal Academy of Arts, the art world was effectively closed to women. Traditionally they were permitted botanical painting, miniatures and embroidery.

🟡 The exhibition at Tate Modern runs until 13 October 2024.

September isn’t especially crowded with events, but October brings another edition of Frieze. The best galleries bring living classics and rising talent. Last year I was captivated by Paula Rego — painting full of energy, and even embroidery that unfolds as a story with a whole cast of figures.

🟡 The fair runs until 13 October 2024 in The Regent’s Park.

I was taken aback by the frankly decorative works of Damien Hirst.

Anselm Kiefer — I’m thrilled to get to see the work in person.

And of course, beyond the classics and the rising stars, London has room for young artists too. One of the galleries on Portobello Road put together this selection: the artists are young and little known, but you can clearly see the trend toward handmade work.

The halls of the famous Slade School of Fine Arts are hung with student work. Work like this always charges me up with its lightness, fearlessness and inventiveness. Incidentally, it was the Slade School that first began admitting women, back in the 19th century.

The British art market is so appealing that Russian galleries seize every chance to show their artists here.

Recently the Serene gallery brought its residents over from Lugano: Polina Osipova with her charming art objects, and Olya Austreikh’s painted sketches. My favorite was Martin Kovalenko — crisp draftsmanship, a strong hand and surrealist motifs.

Here’s another sketch, this time from the opening of the Society of Women Artists exhibition. The society has existed since 1855 as a response to the discrimination women faced at the Royal Academy of Arts. In all those years it has supported women artists’ work and held annual exhibitions. To join, you have to pass a selection process and take part in three exhibitions. The art here is mostly high-level fine art.

Exhibitions of members’ work are held once a year, in summer.