Photography Exhibitions London September 2019

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This is a Photography Art Exhibitions in London post from our archives. Click link to see the latest London Photography Exhibitions. For some exhibitions to see online during the lockdown see our latest post which has a list of some good online photography exhibitions.

Photography Exhibitions London September 2019

Photography exhibitions in London this September feature a palette of rich and opulent blues, gold gilding and dark blacks in a new show. The much anticipated Lina Iris Viktor free display has just opened at Autograph in Shoreditch. Meanwhile in Mayfair, another new show has just opened. That is at Hamiltons and features the one-time most sought after photographer in the world. Richard Avedon: Portraits includes work from two quite rare portfolios from Richard Avedon’s oeuvre.

While some exhibitions are just starting, others are about to end. More specifically, this weekend is the last opportunity to catch the Cindy Sherman retrospective at the National Portrait Gallery. There are more details on that show, including exact dates further down this post.

Meanwhile work by South Africans, Berni Searle work and Thabiso Sekgala can still be seen at Richard Saltoun and the Hayward Gallery. The Saltoun show also includes work from a South African fine artist.

The group exhibition Urban Impulses: Latin American Photography from 1959 to 2016 continues in Soho at the Photographers’ Gallery. You can also catch some emerging talent at the Photographers’ Gallery this September. The TNT is open until the start of next month. More details on these photography exhibitions in London September 2019 can be found further down the page.

As well as this post we have a regularly updated London Photography Galleries list. That list compliments this post on London Photography Exhibitions so is also worth a peek. It contains information such as opening times and maps for the London photography exhibitions.


Lina Iris Viktor: Some are Born to Endless Night – Dark Matter

Just opening!

Lina Iris Viktor: Materia Prima

Viktor is a British-Liberian artist who works with conceptual art and performance art. She has a a multi-disciplinary approach to her work. Her practice unites photography, performance and abstract painting together with gold gilding. The dark canvases or ‘light-works‘ which she creates have embedded layers of light. These layers of light are decorated with symbols as well as intricate patterns. Her work provokes contemplation on the socio-political and historical preconceptions surrounding ‘blackness’.

For Lina Iris Viktor, black is the proverbial ‘materia prima. This is evident from the 60 works on display over two galleries at Autograph in Shoreditch. As well as the expected signature 24-karat gold, rich and opulent blue hues and, deep and dark matte blacks feature. The works, employing this restricted palette, explore ‘race’, history and ownership. These themes are studied in the in a context of the, so called, dark continent — Africa.

Some Are Born to Endless Night — Dark Matter unites pieces from several works in the Lina Iris Viktor ouevre. The Dark Continent and Materia Prima as well as A Haven. A Hell. A Dream Deferred. feature. There is also a sculpture on show from Black Botanica, together with the Black Ark installation. This much anticipated display is curated by René Mussai.

Autograph gallery is at Rivington Place in Shoreditch. The Shoreditch High Street London Overground station as well as Boxpark Shoreditch are just a few minutes’ walk. Liverpool Street station is also close; less than 1000 metres. Autograph hold regular photography displays. They aim to enable the public to explore identity, representation, human rights and social justice.

Just opened!
Free entry
Autograph, Shoreditch. Map:
Until Saturday, 25th January, 2020.
More information: Autograph.
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Richard Avedon: Portolios

Just opening!

Richard Avedon | The Most Sought after Photographer in the World | 4 Minute Minidoc

Avedon was an American fashion and portrait photographer who needs no introduction at all. His big break came in 1944 when he was endorsed by the Director of Art at Harper’s Bazaar Alexei Brody. He soon became the chief photographer at Harper’s Bazaar. Over his prolific career, which spans over 50 years, his portraits ranged from those of ordinary citizens, such as truckers, miners and factory workers, to the elite and government. His sitters for a series of large format photographs included Marilyn Monroe and Dwight D. Eisenhower as well as Andy Warhol. Avedon himself has been an influence for many photographers including Annie Leibovitz and Hiro.

In Richard Avedon; Portfolios, Hamiltons exhibit work from two rare Avedon portfolios. That is La Passante du Siècle and Made in France. The former is from Avedon’s 1950’s Harper’s Bazaar days while Made in France was published in 2001. Hamiltons Gallery is in Mayfair, close to Grosvenor Square and only a short walk from Green Park tube station.

Just opened!
Hamiltons, Mayfair. Map:
Until Wednesday, 13th November.
More information: Hamiltons.
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Thabiso Sekgala: Here is Elsewhere

Thabiso Sekgala was a South African photographer who changed the way that the world saw South Africa during his very short life. Having grown up after the first free election in South Africa, he then went on to documented the nation’s so-called ‘born-free generation‘.

Here is Elsewhere is Thabiso Sekgala’s first solo exhibition here in London. This show, in the Hayward Gallery’s HENI Project Space explores the themes of home and belonging as well as displacement. That is through a curated selection of around 50 Sekgala works. His career-defining series Homeland (2009-2011), in particular, features heavily in this solo show. That series chiefly catalogues life in the territories created for black South Africans by the apartheid government.

The Brutalist Hayward Gallery is close to the Waterloo Tube Station and on the South Bank. It’s a short walk from The Strand so you might consider combining the gallery visit with a Theatreland trip.

Free admission
Hayward Gallery, Southbank. Map:
Until Sunday, 6th October.
More information: Hayward Gallery.
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Made Routes: Mapping and Making

Closing soon!

Berni Searle interview – Contemporary Art Society

No fewer than two South African artists feature in the Richard Saltoun gallery exhibition Routes: Mapping and Making. Lens-based artist Berni Searle presents work alongside art from Vivienne Koorland. Berni Searle works with the moving image as well as photography. Significantly, her work often explores the South-African socio-political legacy. Spices, such as paprika, are used in her work which alludes to apartheid era racial assignments.

By the way, two Berni Searle photographs have just been acquired for Manchester Art Gallery.

Richard Saltoun is in Dover Street in Mayfair and an equally short walk from Green Park or Bond Street stations. Huxley-Parlour is also quite close.

Closing soon!
Richard Saltoun, Mayfair. Map:
Until Thursday, 26th September.
More information: Richard Saltoun.
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TPG Talent (TNT)

The Photographers’ Gallery, in Soho, showcase eight artists’ work. The group were all chosen from the TPG New Talent (TNT) mentoring programme. The programme itself is open to any emerging, UK-based photographers and artists. The featured artists are Rhiannon Adam, Chiara Avagliano, Alberto Feijóo, Adama Jalloh, Seungwon Jung, Alice Myers, Giovanna Petrocchi and Miguel Proença. Overall, the group cover a wide range of genres. That is the full gamut from documentary to experimental art.

The Photographers’ Gallery is in Soho and only a short walk from both the Oxford Circus underground station and bus stops on Oxford Street.

Photographers’ Gallery, Soho. Map:
Until Sunday, 6th October.
More information: Photographers’ Gallery.
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London Photography Exhibitions September 2019

Vivian Maier: Colour Photographs

Closing soon!

Vivian Maier, intensely guarded and private, was not know for her photographic work during her life. She was a prolific street photographer, though her work was only discovered in 2007 (not long before her death). That is when a massive hoard of 100,000 negatives from her storage locker was auctioned off. John Maloof, a history enthusiast discovered the negatives and started sharing them, generating significant interest. This subsequently lead to the creation of the 2013 documentary Finding Vivian Maier.

Huxely-Parlour present some of Vivian Maier’s lesser-known colour work. Huxley-Parlour (then Beetles & Huxley Gallery) hosted a Vivian Maier exhibition in 2015. That exhibition featured prints made from Vivian Maier’s extensive black and white negative archive. Many of the colour prints on display are being shown in the UK for the first time.

Closing soon!
Huxley-Parlour Gallery, Mayfair. Map:
Until Saturday, 14th September.
More information: Huxley-Parlour Gallery.
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Photography Exhibitions London September 2019

Cindy Sherman

Closing soon!

Cindy Sherman from National Portrait Gallery

American photographer Cindy Sherman is probably one of the most influential figures in contemporary art. In particular, the American photographer is known for her conceptual portraits. She was making ‘selfies’ long before the term existed. Probably her most famous series is ‘Untitled Film Stills‘. Sherman challenges social stereotypes, dressing up in wigs together with vintage clothing, and putting herself in front of the camera. The series comprises 69 black and white images made between 1977 and 1980. Photograph Number 48 from the series features in the list of 20 Most Expensive Photos Sold at Auction. Sherman work appears no fewer than six times in that list. The most expensive being ‘Untitled 96 1981’, in third place. The chromogenic colour print was sold for $3.9 million by Christie’s in 2011.

The National Portrait Gallery offers a major retrospective of the Cindy Sherman work. Untitled Film Stills as well as more recent work will feature in the show. Some work is being shown in public for the very first time. In total more than 150 works coming from international public and private collection will be on show.

The National Portrait Gallery is on St. Martin’s Place. It is near to Leicester Square tube station. Charing Cross station is also just a short walk.


Closing soon!
Adult with donation (including Online Transaction Fee): £21.85 Tickets:
National Portrait Gallery, Westminster. Map:
Until Sunday, 15th September.
More information: National Portrait Gallery.
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Photography Exhibitions London September 2019

Nan Goldin

American photographer Nan Goldin is known for her lush colour photography work which often featuring LGBT-related themes. Reflected in her work is her uncompromised manner and style, portraying subjects in a candid way. According to Goldin, this reflects her desire ‘to leave a record of her life that no one can revise’. Goldin’s work was influenced Larry Clark together with Diane Arbus.

Tate Modern presents a slide show projection a well as framed prints from The Ballad of Sexual Dependency. The Ballad of Sexual Dependency was a visual diary which chronicled the struggle for intimacy and understanding within Goldin’s ‘tribe’.

The Tate Modern is on the South Bank of the Thames, and just a few minutes’ walk from St. Paul’s tube station. There is also always some interesting photography within in the Tate permanent displays. Although there is no admission fee to see the permanent collection, there is an optional donation.

Natalie Bell Building: Level 3 East, Tate Modern, Southbank. Map:
Until Sunday, 27th October.
More information: Tate.
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Robert Capa: D–Day in 35 mm

Magnum founder Robert Capa was considered the “greatest war photographer“. He was one of only four press photographers permitted to cover the American beaches on D–Day. His work as publish in LIFE magazine, June 1944. The Imperial War Museum presents ten photographs immortalising a day on which so much was owed by so many to so few.

The Imperial War Museum is on Lambeth Road and close to Elephant & Castle. It is also a short walk from Lambeth North underground station. The mainline as well as underground facilities at Waterloo are also within walking distance.

Imperial War Museum, Elephant & Castle. Map:
Until Sunday, 29th September.
More information: Imperial War Museums.
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Urban Impulses: Latin American Photography from 1959 to 2016

Urban Impulses is a group exhibition featuring the work of over 70 photographers. Included are Cuban photographer Alberto Korda known for his iconic image of Che Guevara, as well as Chilean Sergio Larraín.

Sergio Larraín is considered to be the most important Chilean photographer of all times and was a living legend of artistic photography. He was a Magnum photographer and globally recognised for his work in the 1960s, Chile’s finest lensman later became a recluse. His break came in 1958 when he won a bursary from the British Council, for an eight-month reportage project. He had already saved up for a Leica by working in a cafe. So, with the bursary he went to Britain and captured shots of the everyday, particularly in London. Just one year later he was invited to join Magnum by Henri Cartier-Bresson, himself being so impressed by the work. Larrain was endlessly experimental.

Photographers looking for inspiration might look to a letter written by Sergio Larraín. That was a letter to his nephew in 1982, giving advice on where to begin to become a photographer translated into English.

The exhibition is curated by María Wills together with Alexis Fabry. The Photographers’ Gallery is by Liberty of London, not far from either Oxford Street or Regent Street. The gallery has a great café as well as a print shop.

Exhibition Day Pass: £5/£2.50. Free from 17:00 daily.
Photographers’ Gallery, Soho. Map:
Until Sunday, 6th October.
More information: Photographers’ Gallery.
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Photography Exhibitions London September 2019

That’s it for this week’s Photography Exhibitions in London September 2019. Look out for still more Photography Exhibitions in London next week!

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Photography Exhibitions London September 2019
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