London's October 2021 Art Scene: 15 Must-See Exhibitions and Events
In October 2021, London is vibrant with a variety of exhibitions and events during Frieze Week. Anicka Yi unveils a new work at the Turbine Hall in Tate Modern. At 180 Studios, the exhibition 'Lux: New Wave of Contemporary Art' showcases 12 digital artists, including Hito Steyerl and Es Devlin. The National Gallery presents 'Poussin and the Dance,' highlighting the dance themes in Nicolas Poussin's art. The ICA features 'Nine Nights,' which delves into Black futurism. Serpentine Galleries host discussions with Hans Ulrich Obrist and exhibit works by Hervé Télémaque. On October 14, Gallery HOP! will include over 50 galleries, featuring Mark Rothko at Pace. The Royal Academy's Summer Exhibition presents Njideka Akunyili Crosby, while the Barbican Center highlights Isamu Noguchi. Tate Britain honors Paula Rego, and the British Museum exhibits 103 Hokusai drawings. Whitechapel Gallery presents Theaster Gates's 'Clay Sermon.'
Key facts
- Anicka Yi's Turbine Hall commission at Tate Modern in October 2021 uses unorthodox materials and multisensory activation.
- Lux: New Wave of Contemporary Art at 180 Studios runs October 13 to December 18, 2021, featuring 12 digital artists.
- National Gallery's 'Poussin and the Dance' is the first exhibition dedicated to Nicolas Poussin's dance imagery.
- ICA London presents 'Nine Nights,' an audiovisual exploration of Black futurism by Gaika, GLOR1A, and Shannen SP.
- Serpentine Galleries host Hervé Télémaque and a design-focused show during Frieze Week.
- West End Gallery HOP! on October 14, 2021, includes over 50 galleries in Mayfair, St James's, and Soho.
- Royal Academy's Summer Exhibition 2021 features Njideka Akunyili Crosby, Michael Armitage, and David Adjaye.
- Ron Mueck: 25 Years of Sculpture at Thaddaeus Ropac is the artist's most comprehensive gallery survey.
- Barbican Center's Isamu Noguchi retrospective is the first in Europe in 20 years, with over 150 works.
- Tate Britain's Paula Rego retrospective is the largest of her 60-year career, with over 100 works.
- British Museum displays 103 Hokusai drawings from 'The Great Picture Book of Everything,' never before published.
- Whitechapel Gallery's Theaster Gates exhibition 'Clay Sermon' spans two decades of his work.
- South London Gallery's 'Phantoms of Surrealism' examines women's roles in British Surrealism in the 1930s.
- Camden Art Centre presents first UK solo shows for Phoebe Collings-James and Adam Farah.
- Design Museum opens 'Aurora' on October 20, 2021, an interactive installation on sustainable living.
Entities
Artists
- Anicka Yi
- Olafur Eliasson
- Kara Walker
- Sophie Taeuber-Arp
- Yayoi Kusama
- Es Devlin
- Carsten Nicolai
- a'strict
- Hito Steyerl
- Nicolas Poussin
- Gaika
- GLOR1A
- Shannen SP
- Hervé Télémaque
- Hans Ulrich Obrist
- Manthia Diawara
- Formafantasma
- Anab Jain
- Mark Rothko
- Pamela Rosenkranz
- Gina Fischli
- Njideka Akunyili Crosby
- Michael Armitage
- Jade Montserrat
- Hew Locke
- Rita Keegan
- Alvaro Barrington
- Frantz Lamothe
- Bärbel Lange
- Marie-Rose Lortet
- David Adjaye
- Phyllida Barlow
- William Kentridge
- Ron Mueck
- Isamu Noguchi
- Paula Rego
- Katsushika Hokusai
- Theaster Gates
- Yoko Ono
- Sheila Legge
- Claude Cahun
- Ithell Colquhoun
- Diana Brinton Lee
- Phoebe Collings-James
- Adam Farah
Institutions
- Tate Modern
- Tate Britain
- National Gallery
- Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA)
- Serpentine Galleries
- Serpentine South
- Serpentine Sackler
- Royal Academy of Arts
- Thaddaeus Ropac gallery
- Barbican Center
- British Museum
- Whitechapel Gallery
- South London Gallery
- Camden Art Centre
- Design Museum
- 180 Studios
- Pace
- Sprüth Magers
- Superflux
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom
- Turbine Hall
- Tate Modern
- Mayfair
- St James's
- Soho
- Hanover Square
- Cork Street
- Dover Street
- Trafalgar Square
- Chicago