MAYFAIR ART WEEKEND 2019: A WEEKEND OF FREE ART AND EVENTS
The Mayfair Art Weekend returns 28-30th June, presenting a dynamic programme of exhibitions, events, live performance, workshops, talks and tours across Mayfair & St James’s. The event celebrates the diverse offering of this historic cultural district where the worlds of art, fashion and luxury converge. Joining the line-up this year are Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac, Hauser & Wirth, Gagosian and Victoria Miro, who will host exhibitions of internationally recognised artists, ranging from modern masters to contemporary art.
This year sees several firsts for Mayfair Art Weekend, with new galleries for 2019 including Waddington Custot, Galerie Max Hetzler, Contini Contemporary, Unit London, D Contemporary, Lyndsey Ingram, Prahlad Bubbar, BASTIAN Gallery and Cardi Gallery. The Gallery HOP! launches the weekend with special evening viewings and events from 6-8pm on Friday 28 June.
This year, the Mayfair Art Weekend will host ‘MAW Live’ at the Cork Street Galleries; an engaging events programme that includes talks, creative workshops and panel discussions. In addition to the programmed events, the MAW LIVE space will provides a place for visitors to relax and a meeting point for artist-led tours of exhibition highlights.
As readers will know, this year marks the impressive 200th anniversary year of the Burlington Arcade and to coincide with this, Unit London will present a large sculptural work by contemporary British artist, Philip Colbert of a cartoon-style lobster - a familiar motif in his work - will be installed at the entrance of the arcade. Make sure you pass by to see it!
“I am looking forward to the sixth Mayfair Art Weekend when galleries open their doors for three days of free events, exhibitions and talks. This will be a great opportunity to see and experience some of the best London galleries and contemporary artistic talent, demonstrating that our city is open to ideas, innovation and creativity.” - Justine Simons, Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries
Makiko Nakamuro, Moonlight-Ghosts Spirits Angels, courtesy of John Martin Gallery
Modern & Contemporary Masters
Visitors can view work by the world’s best artists from the 20th and 21st centuries.
Exhibitions will feature mid-century masters such as Georges Braque, Joan Mitchell and Raymond Hains in Abstract or Not at Olivier Malingue.
Waddington Custot presents paintings by Jean Debuffet and Cy Twombly in Writings on the Wall - an exhibition exploring the influence of ancient and contemporary graffiti on fine artists’ practice.
Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac’s exhibition, Alvaro Barrington Artists I Steal From, includes the work of modern iconoclasts such as Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat which celebrates the artistic heroes of Venezualian painter and rising star, Alvaro Barrington.
Louise McNaught, Consume Courtesy of The Royal Overseas League
Socially and Politically Engaged Art
A number of exhibitions address contemporary political themes and social issues.
D Contemporary’s Approaches - an exhibition exploring the artist’s perspective on the major political and societal changes that Britain faces in 2019.
The Mayor Gallery’s exhibition, The Pécs Workshop, takes the theme of censorship, presenting a group of five Hungarian artists based in the cultural town of Pecs; Ferenc Lantos, Károly Halász. Károly Kismányoky, Sándor Pinczehelyi, and Kálmán Szijártó, that have found diverse and inventive ways to express powerful messages in the face of the constrained social, cultural, and political realities of their time.
Penny Slinger Penny as Shakti Photo by Nik Douglas, 1976 © Courtesy Richard Saltoun Gallery, London
Female Artists and Gallerists
This year’s programme features an outstanding female presence, including leading female gallerists, curators and artists.
At Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac, Global Director Dame Julia Peyton Jones has curated an exhibition of exceptional women artists including Elizabeth Peyton, Mary T. Smith, Emma Amos, Elizabeth Murray, and Charline von Heyl.
Richard Saltoun will present their first exhibition of work by British born, LA based artist Penny Slinger who creates surrealist photographic works from a feminst perspective.
There will be a celestial installation by French-Morrocan artist Latifa Echakhch on view at Kamel Mennour Gallery.
Lyndsey Ingram Gallery will showcase Anne Marie James, who creates abstract artworks grounded in a historical context exploring classical texts, ancient objects and museum artifacts.
Mimosa House will premiere the artist Zoe Williams’s new moving image work, Sunday Fantasy, which uses the language of fantasy to play with and subvert dominant power structures through a queer and female lens.
Zoe Williams’ Sunday Fantasy, 2019, film still detail, co-directed by Amy Gwatkin, courtesy of the artist and Antoine Levi gallery, Paris. Commissioned by Mimosa House and supported by Arts Council England.
Other Events to Look Forward To
An artist breakfast and talk by Penny Slinger at Richard Saltoun Gallery.
An artist brunch and live painting with Louise McNaught at The Royal Over-Seas League.
A marble sculpture workshop with Italian artist Michelangelo Galliani’ at Contini Contemporary.
The Royal Academy of Arts will offer a guided tour of the RA Schools Show on Saturday 29th June, which features two of their graduating artists and a special pop-up display of works by students from the BRIT School.
Neale Howells, I’m Right Upon You, 2018, Acrylic, oil, pastel and pencil on wood © Neale Howells. Courtesy of John Martin Gallery
Art in the Heart of Mayfair
Launching for the second year running from 10-24th June, the district will host a fortnight of activity, entitled Art In The Heart of Mayfair that will amplify the area’s creative heritage through a series of fashion, art and cultural initiatives and artist-led collaborations. Galleries, fashion houses, luxury hotels, members clubs and restaurants are invited to curate their own cultural experiences, working in collaboration with contemporary artists, continuing in the district’s tradition of showcasing the best of art and the artisanal.
Artist designed flags throughout London’s West End: International renowned artist Sir Michael Craig-Martin CBE RA, has been commissioned to design flags that will be on display throughout Bond Street. Craig-Martin is noted for fostering the talent of the YBAs (Young British Artists) in his role as Emeritus Professor of Fine Art at Goldsmiths in London.
A leading British architect will be invited to design a series of flags to adorn Piccadilly in partnership with the London Festival of Architecture.
Art installations on Bond Street: World-leading fashion and fine jewellery brands will collaborate with artists of their choice to create exclusive and unique ‘one-off’ art inspired window installations throughout the fortnight. Last summer’s event saw brands such as Louis Vuitton, Fenwick of Bond Street, Hermès, Smythson and Jimmy Choo celebrate the rich heritage of Art in Mayfair, and this year is set to be an equally exciting and affluent line-up.
Please visit the website for more info: www.mayfairartweekend.com
Cover image: Endless, Chapel Nature 2, 2017. Mixed media, gold leaf and resin on canvas, 100x150 cm / 39.4x59.1 in. Courtesy of Contini Contemporary
