The energy around London’s art scene in October is hands down due to Frieze, the fair that single handedly transformed October into blockbuster season in the city’s art world. It’s a cultural tsunami where every night there are a ton of shows. October has barely begun and there already major shows on like Painting at the French Riviera at the Royal Academy to Martine Syms at Sadie Coles HQ. The following list includes fairs, shows, events and cool stuff not to miss. A hardy immune system is recommended.
The 90s: Art and Fashion, edited by Edward Enninful. Courtesy of Tate.
The 90s: Art and Fashion at Tate Britain
Curated by Edward Enninful – formerly of i-D, Vogue and now ee72 – this is the big blockbuster meeting point between art and fashion with clothes by McQueen and Galliano hanging next to photos by Juergen Teller, Vinca Petersen and David Sims, sculptures and installations by a ton of YBAs,
Oct 8-Feb 14
Tate Britain
Mira Schor at Mimosa House
The iconicSchor has been profiled in the pages of Twin in the past, and this major show with site specific is well deserved. Her paintings fuse a fascination with language and meaning with deep feminism and aesthetic abstraction. Don’t miss.
There is a luscious sensitivity to Scottish artist Graham Little drawings and paintings, which document his fascination with 1970s and 1980s fashion magazines. Though contemporary, this work is timeless and never fails to thrill.
PV Oct 8 6-8pm; On show Oct 9 – Nov 14
Alison Jacques
Cork St
Mark Leckey / Nicole Wermers @ St Chads Projects
St Chads is the best project space gallery in London. Based in the shed and garage of a former hospital temporarily inhabited by artists near Kings Cross, their shows are always always always good. This two headline shows are guaranteed fire.
The number of fairs hovering around Frieze and Frieze Masters is growing. This year is the first outing for Fair Play Art Fair (Oct 15-18) at 1 Marylebone where artists like Seana Gavin and Tim Noble are manning their own booths, the glamorous boutique fair the London Invitational at the Rosewood (Oct 16-18) and the new free Paraiso Latin American art fair is rocking up to Ambika3 (Oct 15-18). Also worth visiting are old favourites, Minor Attractions in the maze-like rooms of the Mandrake Hotel (Oct 13-17) and the 1:54 Fair at Somerset House focusing on art from Africa and its diaspora.
Somerset House studios seems to sweep up all the best artist, musician, performers and digital talent in London. This three-day showcase of live performances and installations by their residents is a case in point. Book while tickets are still available
This unmissable programme of artist films is back (and if you cant make it in person all is viewable online too until October 30). This year are films from galleries showing at the fair were chosen by curators and academics May Adadol Ingawanij (University of Westminster), Nicole Yip (Spike Island) and Claire Jackson (Tramway, Glasgow) so expect a strong taste of moving image now.
You cannot walk without tripping into exhibitions in the West End – particularly on Oct 12 and 13. Here are some not to miss:Pope L at Modern Art; Charles Atlas at Champe Lacombe; Paul Pfeiffer and Glenn Ligon at Thomas Dane; Timur Si Qin at Albion Jeune all on October 12. Then on the TuesdayRirkrit Tiravanija at Pilar Corrias; Cindy Sherman and Lorna Simpson solo shows at Hauser & Wirth and Firenze Lai at White Cube Mason’s Yard.
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