Art in the city, gallery, artists, east london
Hidden surprises: Where to find art in the heart of the city
By Zahra Shah
The idea of Art and Culture blending with the 9-5 of the city rat race is a hard one to imagine. The two don’t exactly mesh do they? But upon closer examination the city has some hidden surprises for the art loving city worker wondering how to spend lunchtime other than in the pub or in Starbucks.
I found the following places in the city of London that you should check out. They are places where you’ll find a mixture of traditional and contemporary exhibitions and even art classes. (Pictured: ’Blue City’ Tom Hammick - The Eagle Gallery)
The Barbican Art Gallery
The Barbican is the heart of the City of London’s culture. It is the place to go first for anything cultural in the City of London. The Art Gallery shows a range of art exhibitions, talks and screenings across different cultures and issues. Currently showing is a retrospective of the work of Helen Chadwick and a Mexican film season screening the likes of Y Tu Mama Tambien and Amores Perros. Check out their website for future listings.
Barbican Centre
Silk Street
London EC2Y 8DS
Tel:0845 121 6828
Opening Times: Mon, Tues, Thurs - Sun & Bank Holidays 10am - 6pm. Wednesdays 10am - 9pm
www.barbican.org.uk
Guildhall Art Gallery
Part of the Corporation London, the Guildhall Art Gallery is host to a collection of more than 4,000 works of art that range from portraits to landscapes of historic London. You’ll even find the odd contemporary artist showing their work there. If you’re lucky enough to be based in the city, the gallery offers free entry to those who either live or work there. Just give them proof of living or working in the city and they’ll give you a free admission card.
Guildhall
London
EC2P 2EJ
Tel: 020 7606 3030
Opening times: open between 10.00am and 5.00pm from Monday to Saturday and between noon and 4.00pm on Sundays
www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/guildhall_art_gallery
The Eagle Gallery
If contemporary art appeals to you, then the Eagle Gallery aims to promote the work of contemporary British artists. Established in 1991, the gallery hosts exhibitions, installations and artists’ publications. Artists showing their works there include the likes of Jane Bustin, Nicky Hirst and Callum Innes, as well as the more established artists such as Basil Beattie, Prunella Clough and Stephen Cox.
The Eagle Gallery
159 Farringdon Road
London EC1R 3AL
Tel: 020 7833 2674
Opening times: Wednesday to Friday: 11am - 6pm & Saturday: 11am to 4pm
www.emmahilleagle.com
The Stephen Lacey Gallery
Opened in 1992 the gallery consists of two exhibition spaces that host a range of artists, from touring exhibitions to solo and group shows. The type of work that you will find there includes the work of land based artists, contemporary abstract works, figurative, sculpture, works on paper, drawings, paintings, photography and prints.
Stephen Lacey Gallery
One Crawford Passage
Ray Street,
London EC1R 3DP
Tel: 020 7837 5507
Opening times: Tuesday-Friday 11-6. Saturday 11-2 or by appointment.
www.stephenlaceygallery.co.uk
Candid Arts Trust
The Trust hosts a range of exhibitions in its 6,500 sqft of gallery space. It is a place where you will find everything from degree shows to solo exhibition, as well the Trust’s own shows which include photography and performance art. The Trust focuses on assisting recently graduated artists and designers so this is the place to check out new, fresh and young art. If you’re feeling artistic yourself the Trust has developed a education programme which ranges from painting to drawing classes.
Candid Arts Trust
3 Torrens St,
London, EC1V 1NQ
Tel: 020 7837 4237
www.candidarts.com/candid_arts_trust.htm
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