Several new art exhibitions across London offer varied explorations of contemporary themes through distinct and evocative media, running into early 2027.
In Chelsea, artist Alex Margo Arden has curated an installation that reconstructs the private life of late singer Amy Winehouse using replicated personal items. The display includes objects such as Winehouse’s makeup, copies of Vogue, board games, and books, all sourced through auction records and archival materials. Arden’s exhibition situates visitors in an intimate, sometimes uncomfortable space, blurring the boundaries between admiration and intrusion. Items on view include ballet pumps left by fans after Winehouse’s death and a birthday card from Mark Ronson and Adele. The show, housed at the Nicoletta Fiorucci Foundation, delves into both the creation of a celebrity portrait through quotidian ephemera and an examination of society’s fascination with fame. It is scheduled to run until 23 January 2027.
At the Barbican Curve, Yuko Mohri has transformed the building’s physical deterioration into a responsive sound installation titled "In Concert." Utilizing leaking water from the venue’s aged infrastructure, the drips trigger percussion instruments, while sensors activated by mold and drafts control flickering lamps. This innovative work repurposes the venue’s ongoing maintenance issues into an immersive auditory experience, highlighting themes of decay and renewal. The exhibition is open until 24 January 2027.
Chinese artist Yuyan Wang presents "Pilgrims," a film installation inspired by a 2018 Chinese government initiative to deploy artificial moons to extend daylight hours. The work contrasts natural moths drawn to a light source with footage depicting industrial landscapes, machinery, and artificial illumination. Accompanied by synthesizer-based soundscapes, Wang’s piece contemplates the implications of a world without darkness, provoking questions about ceaseless productivity and human experience amidst technological advancement. An additional video in the crypt of Shoreditch Church depicts humanoid robot construction, suggesting concerns about an industrial future overrun by forgotten technologies. Wang’s exhibition continues at Emalin until 14 November.
Sculptor Rebecca Warren returns to the London scene after 16 years with "There Will Be Another You" at Maureen Paley gallery. Warren’s work features rough, unfired clay and bronze figures characterized by their imperfect, textured surfaces and distorted, exaggerated features. Her smaller sculptures resemble a subversive take on rococo ceramics, while the larger bronzes evoke a blend of influences from Henry Moore, Alberto Giacometti, and Robert Crumb. The exhibition’s raw and unconventional aesthetic challenges contemporary trends in decorative ceramics and runs through 12 December.
Lastly, South African artist William Kentridge presents "A Nicely Built City" at Goodman Gallery, revisiting themes of urban decline in Johannesburg through charcoal drawings, sculptures, and his hallmark animated films. The latest work portrays the city in further decline, featuring imagery of a gas explosion, environmental blight, public unrest, and personal despair. The recurring character Soho Eckstein symbolizes detachment amid turmoil. The exhibition, open until 7 November, continues Kentridge’s tradition of theatrical, politically charged art that explores social and emotional intricacies, though it may appeal primarily to those familiar with his previous work.
Together, these exhibitions highlight a diverse spectrum of contemporary artistry that engages with personal histories, environmental concerns, societal pressures, and urban decay across a range of media and narrative styles.