The best exhibitions this week in London, from Shanti Panchal to Jodie Carey (May 30 to June 6)
Do you disappear into the National Gallery for an afternoon, pop by some of the independent galleries in Marylebone, explore East London’s exciting offerings, or wander around the Tate?
Look no further every week: here’s our pick of five extraordinary exhibitions to see in London right now.
Shanti Panchal: Endurance
This week it’s London Gallery Weekend (LGW). Over three glorious days, more than 130 galleries across London put on events – including performances, curated tours and talks – open exhibitions, and celebrate art. It means that this week’s best exhibitions are all shows that are taking part in the festival – and there are so many great options that haven’t been squeezed onto this short list. For more standouts, check out our full list of LGW picks.
Indian-British artist Shanti Panchal uses portraits of strangers – from others artist, to NHS workers and waiters – to reflect on resilience and interconnectedness in cities. One of the highlights of Endurance, a survey of his exquisite paintings taken from 1989 to 2022, is a large-scale watercolour commissioned by Art on the Underground, which features Black Cultural Archives, Brixton Windmill, and the Tate Modern.
As part of LGW, Panchal will be giving a tour of the exhibition on June 1, at 4pm.
Grosvenor Gallery, to June 2; londongalleryweekend.art
Euan Uglow
Leading British figurative painter Euan Uglow (1932-2000) is best-known for his nude human figures and distinct still life paintings. Here, 25 of his works, brought together from both public and private collections, will be on display – all reflecting his pursuit of clarity.
Still life artist Robert Dukes will be discussing Uglow’s work on May 31 at 5.30pm.
Hazlitt Holland-Hibbert, to July 19; londongalleryweekend.art
Gérard Schneider
The works of Swiss-French painter Gérard Schneider (1896-1986), a leading figure in the Lyrical Abstraction art movement, are a delight for the eyes, as giant brushstrokes in bright colours twist and turn across his canvases. In this survey of works taken from 1956 and 1981, we see his style, and focus, evolve over the years.
Cardi Gallery, to July 20; londongalleryweekend.art
John Baldessari: Ahmedabad 1992
American conceptual artist John Baldessari (1931-2020) played with photography, collage, painting and texts and was inspired by a wide range of sources – from film culture to Marcel Duchamp to Ludwig Wittgenstein – to make his absurdist works. Ahmedabad 1992 is a special series, made during a residency in India.
Sprüth Magers, May 31 to July 27; londongalleryweekend.art
Jodie Carey: Guard
Jodie Carey’s extraordinary sculptural installations often ask questions about material memory and the environment. Here, she continues her exploration of these themes in 150 sculptures, which reflect on evolution, the stubbornness of the natural world, and the way human beings imbue plants with meaning.
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As part of LGW, Jodie Carey will be speaking to Joseph Constable, Head of Exhibitions at the East Sussex De La Warr Pavilion, on May 31, at 12pm.
Edel Assanti, to August 23; londongalleryweekend.art