LONDON — The U.K.’s vibrant contemporary art scene converges in the capital once again for the fifth edition of London Gallery Weekend, taking place 6–8 June 2025. With participation from over 125 galleries citywide, the event has become a defining moment for the London art calendar, spotlighting emerging talent, major debuts, and bold new programming.
Event co-directors Jeremy Epstein and Sarah Rustin described the initiative as a timely intervention for the city’s cultural landscape. “It is forging critical cross-sector initiatives to address the challenging climate we are faced with,” they noted.
As the expansive programme unfolds, several landmark “firsts” define this year’s edition—from debut solo shows and new gallery participants to posthumous retrospectives and experimental performances.
Solo Debuts: New Voices Step Forward
At lbf contemporary in Fitzrovia, artist Gaia Ozwyn presents Incantations to a Vague Borderland (until 19 June), a sculptural installation featuring celestial paintings crafted from oil and concrete. A former NHS doctor and Royal College of Art graduate, Ozwyn returns to London fresh from a residency at the G.A.S Foundation in Lagos.
Nearby, Serolod opens her first solo exhibition at Almine Rech (until 26 July). Reality is Relative reflects on Einstein’s theories and digital paradigms through her distinctively hued oil paintings, following prior group exhibitions in Greece and New York.
New Representations: Galleries Introduce Rising Artists
International powerhouse Hauser & Wirth showcases its newly signed artist, Michaela Yearwood-Dan, in No Time for Despair (until 2 August). The Mayfair exhibition includes a monumental 11-metre abstract painting and ceramics centered on queerness and femininity. A public conversation with curator Ekow Eshun will accompany the show on Friday evening.
Modern Art features two recent additions to its roster: Dutch sculptor Mark Manders, exhibiting at the St James’s location, and British painter Francesca Mollett, whose abstract canvases can be found in Old Street (until 19 July).
Stephen Friedman Gallery presents Rooted in Memory (until 26 July), the first U.K. exhibition dedicated to the late Jaune Quick-to-See Smith. The showcase includes her final Tierra Madre paintings, marking the gallery’s inaugural presentation since assuming representation of her estate. Smith was the first Native American artist honored with a retrospective at the Whitney Museum in 2023.
New Entrants: Galleries and Artists Make Their Debuts
South London’s William Hine makes its London Gallery Weekend debut with new ceramics by Rae-Yen Song. Her work—rooted in Asian diasporic identity and Daoist philosophy—marks her first commercial solo in the city (until 19 July).
Cork Street newcomer Kearsey & Gold presents Filippo Antonello: Aufheben (until 5 July), featuring unconventional ink-and-bleach works on velvet and denim. The gallery, which only recently established a permanent space, also offers a studio visit with British multimedia artist Dillwyn Smith as part of the live programme.
International Introductions: Artists Cross Borders
Leonardo Drew brings new wall sculptures and mixed-media works to Goodman Gallery (until 28 June), paralleling his first institutional solo at South London Gallery.
At JD Malat Gallery, Han Ji Min debuts in Europe with Time Alone (until 14 June), a contemplative collection of oil paintings shaped by the artist’s East Asian heritage and minimal aesthetic.
Historic Perspectives: Retrospectives and Milestones
East London’s Public Gallery hosts Dotty Attie: 40 Years (until 28 June), a retrospective of the American feminist pioneer’s career-spanning works, including her celebrated grid paintings and critical interventions into the art historical canon. It is Attie’s first solo exhibition in the U.K. and the gallery’s inaugural participation since expanding earlier this year.
Performance Art: Immersive and Political Experiences
Ilaria Vinci brings a mix of sculpture and sound to Alice Amati in Fitzrovia (until 5 July), with a live performance on Friday morning featuring bassist Matt Stefanyszyn.
In a stark contrast, conceptual artists Emmanuel Massillon and Allen-Golder Carpenter present The Cost of Confinement at Harlesden High Street (until 13 July), where Carpenter will live inside a replica prison cell for 72 hours. The performance critiques systemic incarceration in the U.K. and U.S., with proceeds supporting reform initiatives in both cities.
Closing Celebrations: West London Hosts a Communal Finale
The weekend will conclude with a rooftop gathering atop the former Rolls-Royce factory in Acton. Organized by Harlesden High Street alongside five other West London galleries, the celebration includes screenings, music, a BBQ, and a bar to toast the close of the capital’s largest contemporary art event.
With a citywide map of bold premieres and critical reflections, London Gallery Weekend 2025 reaffirms the capital’s status as a global nexus for contemporary art—spotlighting innovation, inclusivity, and reinvention at every turn.
