London’s art scene is hoping to revive with the fast established biggest gallery weekend event in the world, the London Gallery Weekend. The annual, free for public event promoting art galleries in the capital of United Kingdom returns more robust than ever this year. For the 2022 edition, following the inaugural edition's success last year, London Gallery Weekend is broadening its reach by including a swathe of new galleries from all over London. The new participants announced for this year include Addis Fine Art in Fitzrovia and Annely Juda Fine Art in Mayfair; Corvi-Mora and greengrassi in Kennington; Seen Fifteen, a contemporary photography space-based in Peckham, South East London; and several galleries based at Cromwell Place in South Kensington. Also, new art galleries from across the city have enrolled to take part in the initiative. Together they will offer an exciting programme of exhibitions and public openings scheduled for the weekend of May 13-15, 2022.

The three-day London Gallery Weekend will focus on one area each day: starting with central London on Friday, followed by South London on Saturday, and culminating on Sunday with galleries in the East End.

In central London, early highlights of the gallery programme include an exhibition of works on paper by Ukrainian avant-garde artist Kazimir Malevich and a presentation of Japanese tea bowls by Raku Kichizaemon XV at Annely Juda Fine Art, a newcomer to LGW. Another new LGW arrival, IONE & MANN, will show an intimate and poignant series of paintings by Spanish artist Bárbara Alegre. Canadian artist Jeff Wall will have an exhibition at White Cube Mason’s Yard; Timothy Taylor will stage an exhibition of paintings by Alex Katz, and Thaddaeus Ropac gallery will present Rosemarie Castoro’s first UK solo exhibition. At Waddington Custot, Hans Hartung’s abstract photography exhibits for the first time in London. Others being showcased include Lonnie Holley, El Anatsui, Rachid Koraïchi, and Alexis Peskine. Hauser & Wirth will stage solo exhibitions by Larry Bell and Luchita Hurtado, while Michael. Werner Gallery will present Per Kirkeby - Geological Messages. Finally, Goodman Gallery will present Egyptian artist Ghada Amer’s first exhibition in London in over 20 years. Sadie Coles HQ Davies Street will host four Indian galleries that together will present a special collaborative exhibition of work by contemporary Indian artists, timed to coincide with the anniversary of Indian independence.

Jeremy Epstein, Director, and Founder of London Gallery Weekend, states in an official statement, “For this year's LGW, London’s galleries have programmed an extraordinary range of ambitious exhibitions, providing a representative cross-section of the capital’s very distinctive, dynamic gallery scene. Our mission this year is to deepen our community’s engagement with the public through an expanded list of galleries encompassing west London, alongside a stand-out programme of public events that include performances, talks, exhibition tours, and children’s activities.”

Early highlights from galleries in south London include a solo exhibition of new paintings by Baltimore-based artist Cynthia Daignault and a collaborative project by Brian Griffiths and Frank Kent at Sid Motion Gallery. LGW newcomer greengrassi will show a solo exhibition by Italian artist Catherine Biocca. At Cooke Latham Gallery, artist Rafał Zajko presents an inquiry into the ongoing violence and suppression of LGBTQI+ communities in Poland, first-time participating gallery Corvi-Mora will show a solo exhibition of work by young Ethiopia-born, Milan-based painter Jem Perucchini, and indigo+madder will present an exhibition of works by Shailee Mehta and Caroline Wong.

In east London, Maureen Paley presents new works by Jane and Louise Wilson. Soft Opening will show new sculpture by London-based artist Rhea Dillon while, at Kate MacGarry, Francis Upritchard presents a series of rubber-like Balata and bronze sculptures. DADA Gallery will show a photography exhibition featuring Cameron Ugbodu, Nuits Balnéaires, and Daniel Obasi; while returning galleries Union Pacific and mother's tankstation present solo exhibitions by Philip Seibel and Yuri Pattison, respectively. Songs for living (2021), a large-scale video installation and collaboration by Korakrit Arunanondchai and Alex Gvojic will be on show at Carlos/Ishikawa; and new participant Doyle Wham, the UK’s only gallery to focus on Africa's contemporary photography scene, presents the first solo exhibition outside South Africa of the artist, photographer, and stylist Trevor Stuurman.

(Text by Vatsala Sethi, Asst. Editorial Coordinator (Arts))