Tonight

Tonight, Tuesday 13 July, from 6 - 8 pm join the James Hyman Gallery for the Nouvelle Vague private view of photographer Raymond Cauchetier. Iconic new wave photographs will be on display at 5 Savile Row.

Not far off, the Flower East Gallery on 21 Cork Street will be holding a coinciding private view for British Sculptor Phillip King.

Complimentary drinks will be held at each, no need to RSVP, you can stroll right in.

My Pick for This Week's Events

Wednesday 2 June, Dutch artist Renzo Martens’s provocative film Episode III – Enjoy Poverty (2009, 90 mins) will show at Tate Modern at 6:30 pm in association with Wilkison Gallery and UCL’s Centre for the Study of Contemporary Art. This film examines the representation of Congolese poverty in relation to humanitarianism, photojournalism and contemporary art, and the way these arts compliment and contradict poverty itself. Post-colonial suffering is a huge theme in contemporary art, and in effect brings in money, but is it ethical? The underlying question ‘who owns poverty?’ will be discussed following the screening by Renzo Martens and two guests from UCL’s Department of Art History. 5£ (4£ concessions) Booking is recommended 020 7887 8888.

This Wednesday from 6 - 9 pm, the art community of Wesbourne Grove will be celebrating the launch of the 'First Wednesday' of the Month scheme. Similar to the First Thursday scheme of East London, the galleries and boutiques of West London invite you to enjoy a glass, or 2, of wine while you socialize admist fine art and its connoisseurs. To view a map of the participating galleries go to http://www.fadwebsite.com/wp-content/uploads/FW_Map_Final_Hi_res.jpg

Thursday 3 June, should be a night dedicated to gallery hopping as it is the first Thursday of the month and many galleries in East London stay open late for viewing and wine sipping (6 – 9 pm). Vyner St, a hidden and usually dark street off Mare is a Mecca of art galleries, home to Wilkison Gallery & Vegas Gallery, and gets packed every first Thursday of the month as arty-goers indulge in art and conversation. Be sure to stop by Degreeart.com Gallery at 12a Vyner St for the opening night of a group paint show, and if you’re interested in their 6 – 7 pm drinking/opening reception simply RSVP with elinor@DegreeArt.com as the first hour is subject to a guest list.

Not far off on 7 Bethnal Green Road, Hales Gallery will be hosting the opening night for artist Richard Slee from 6 – 9 pm. Slee is one of Britain’s leading contemporary ceramic artists (also showing at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum) whose work is done which such precision, tact and creativity that you’ll just have to see for yourself.

And a stone throw from there, the Old Truman Brewery (91 Brick Lane) will be host to the Free Range private view from 6 – 10 pm. The brewery will turn into a show of graphic design, product design and of fashion, as graduates from across the city showcase their work. Email me at arleneolvera87@gmail.com for an invitation.

Friday 4 June, Lee’s renovated flagship store in Carnaby will be holding a ladies night from 5 – 8 pm with free make overs, goodie bags from Toni&Guy and drinks. Sorry guys, head down to the pub while your girl gets pampered down in tipsy town.

As for art shows, the Riven Gallery at 9 Langton St SW10 0JL will be holding the opening for their latest exhibition, A Culture of Humanity. The event will take place from 6 – 9 pm and you must RSVP with Janine Fletcher jfletcher@rivengallery.com.

Now, if you find yourself closer to Kennington, head down to the second-venue exhibition of Mateo Lopez’s Made to Measure at Gasworks. The opening of this exhibit will take place from 6:30 – 9 pm and will be a night of interactive art between the artist and guests. Refer to Tuesday 1 June for more info.

Saturday 5 June, Sketch Gallery at 9 Conduit St W1 will be having an opening reception from 2 – 4 pm for their latest film installation Off Ground He which presents footage across 16 screens.

If you work, live or study in Elephant & Castle, you’re invited to the Elephant Portrait Booth at the Blue Container (London College of Communication) to take a fun free portrait to take away with you. The portraits can be for individuals or groups, and is part of the Elephant Vanishes project that wants to records changes taking place in the area.

Carnaby Street Summer of Love Festival will kick off on Saturday at 12:30 pm for a two-day event with bands and DJs performing in different stores. For more info on the line up and promotions, go to http://www.carnaby.co.uk/events/events_item.cfm?id=237 . There will be free 60s inspired make overs for the ladies at PIXI as well as free food and drink at participating restaurants.

Sunday 6 June, Carnaby Street Summer of Love Festival, see Saturday 5 June for more info, or visit http://www.carnaby.co.uk/events/events_item.cfm?id=237

Monday 7 June, Air Gallery at 32 Dover St will host the opening night of Robert Eadie's Painting exhibition from 6 - 9 pm. RSVP is necessary for this view so check the website http://www.roberteadie.com/ and let 'em know you're coming.

Tuesday 8 June, will see the opening and private view of How We Became Metadata group show at the University of Westminster (309 Regent St. W1 2UW) from 6:30 – 8:30 pm. The invitation can be found at http://instituteformodern.co.uk/2010/8th-june-private-view-how-we-became-metadata.

Anthony Reynolds Gallery at 60 Marlborough St will host the private view for Turner Prize winning artist Mark Wallinger from 6 - 8 pm. No RSVP necessary.

My Pick for This Week’s Events

On Wednesday 26 May, Riflemaker will hold a preview night for the film installation ‘Maze’ by Stuart Pearson Wright whose main characters include Keira Knightley. Being her first art film appearance, this is not a night to miss as this is a monumental step in the Hollywood, and now West End, actress’s career. The venue itself is worth a visit, as the small gallery in Soho is a renovated, you guessed it, riflemaker’s workshop from the 18th century. This gallery is known to throw intimate wine-filled preview nights with internationally recognized artists such as the London based Spaniard Jose-Maria Cano and the very young but successful English-Algerian Alice Anderson. So drop by 79 Beak St between 6 – 9 pm, and I guarantee you’ll be going back for more. UPDATE: Venue change: 1 BERWICK ST SOHO

On Thursday 27 May, I will be heading to the glamorous One Marylebone for the American InterContinental University Graduate Fashion Show. The event will kick off at 4:30 pm with a champagne and canapés reception, which will be followed by the fashion show itself. Once the graduate students showcase their London influenced works, more champagne bottles will be popped and a live string orchestra will celebrate their hard work and accomplishments. If that wasn’t enough to convince you, exclusive goodie bags will also be given out. So if you happen to be free from 4:30 pm to Midnight, RSVP with laura.leveson@edencancan.com to secure yourself a spot on the guest list.

Of course if you don’t have all evening to spare, you can still get your fashion and champagne kick by going to any Ted Baker store in and around London between 4 – 8:30 pm for their summer shopping party. For locations, please visit http://www.tedbakersummerevent.com/. If you end up in one of their Carnaby locations, you might as well stop by the Aqua store on 12 Fourbet's place as they are celebrating the launch of their store with complimentary drinks, fish and chips, and 30% off their clothes. The launch kicks off at 6 pm (-?) and is strictly guestlist so make sure to RSVP with portia@blow.co.uk.

And if none of those tickle your fancy, don’t worry there is a plan C, which is the MA textile design show ‘Unravel’ from 5 – 8:30 pm @ the MA Textile Design Studio, Chelsea College of Art and Design, 16 John Islip Street, London SW1P 4JU. Contact Ryan at mailto:r.wayne1@chelsea.arts.ac..uk for more details.

On Friday 28 May, the Chelsea College of Art & Design will be hosting the Foundation Show which will celebrate the achievements of their final year students. This exhibition and reception will be taking place from 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm. To receive an invitation to this private view, contact info@chelsea.arts.ac.uk, or just ask me and I'll forward you the invite. The events will take place at 16 John Islip Street, London SW1P 4JU. But if you happen to be around Carnaby, make sure to go to 38 Carnaby St to check out the very temporary pop-up bar, made entirely of denim, which celebrates the launch of my-wardrobe.com's on line Denim Bar. Guests will be greeted with a martini from noon - 8 pm.

On Sunday 30 May, go enjoy music and drinks at the Old Blue Last’s bi-monthly flea market from noon – 6:00 pm. Although the drinks at this event wont be free, you wont break the bank rummaging through the cheap bric-a-brac and clothes.

On Tuesday 1 June, the Camberwell Space (Camberwell College of Arts, Peckham Road, London, SE5 8UF) will hold the opening night of a two-venue exhibition for the Colombian artist Mateo Lopez. Unlike your run of the mill art show, Lopez chooses to use his exhibition space by overlapping the production and display of his work rather than just the end result. The opening event, from 5 - 7:30 pm, will be an interactive evening in which guests are invited to create their own art with some direction from Lopez himself. Of course wine will be provided to reach one’s inner most subconscious and help make the finest of raw art.

Thursday 11 March 2010

As usual, Thursday is booked with tons of great art shows..

Stephen Friedman Gallery presents Wayne Gonzalez- Private view 18:00 - 20:00 in Soho

My pick for tonight is the American artist Wayne Gonzalez's art show at Stephen Friedman Gallery. This gallery has great presentation, never failing to perfectly curate a show, and has shown the work of recognized world artists such as Yinka Shonibare. Although Gonzalez is back to the Stephen Friedman Gallery for a second solo exhibition, you can definitely expect something different and more abstract from the paintings he will be displaying tonight.

Studio 1.1 presents Damian Griffiths- Private view 18:00 - 21:00 in Shoreditch

Gimpel Fils presents Splitting in Two/ Downstairs Review: Part II - Private view 18:00 - 20:00

Thursday 4 February 2010

Thank God It's Thursday, and thank god I don't have work tomorrow! Why are all the good parties on Thursdays and not spread out across the weekend? Well, there are two good ones tonight, and I regret to say you'll have to sacrifice one for the other...

Beyond the Valley Store, 2 Newburgh St.

The super hip store in Carnaby is holding a preview day in celebration of the launch of their latest collection, "Dream Collision". This is a store that is known to throw a good party, and with all the pubs around, it wont be hard to find a spot for the after party!

Universal Colours Launch Party hosted by Vegas Gallery, 45 Vyner St., 17:00-??:??

Being the launch of an Art Magazine, I am naturally drawn to this event. I also have been to Vegas Gallery before for the opening of a show, and I really like the gallery and how the space is used. Not to mention that they're on a gallery street and the building that is home to Vegas Gallery is also home to other galleries that usually showcase on the same night, which calls for a good party whether you like it or not.

Universal Colours is relaunching the magazine that was first published in 1997 and has encouraged and supported diverse art from all over Europe and focuses on the subject of immigration. Their inspiring integrative idea of acclamation, and lack thereof, entwined with art is an innovative one that is doomed to succeed.

28 January 2010

Michael Landy: Art Bin at the South London Gallery. (Elephant & Castle)

Private View from 18:30 - 20:30

Too far? Well how about a Cat Walk Show at the V&A in South Kens?

Starting at 20:00, it gives you more time to get ready... Although, you might not want to miss the champagne reception at 19:30...

But if fashion isn't your thing and you have a piking interest in the fad that India has become, then the exhibit at the Saatchi Gallery in Sloane Square is not one to miss. From 18:30 to 21:00 fill up on wine and enlighten your world with Indian art. Namaste.