Archives: Exhibitions

About

The Sun and The Moon: Art Inspired by the Celestial is a major exhibition exploring how the two most powerful phenomena in the sky have inspired creativity, curiosity, and belief throughout human history and across different cultures. Occupying two floors of the Gallery and spanning nine major exhibition spaces, the show presents artworks, installations, and objects that reveal how artists have responded to the Sun and the Moon. The exhibition features the works by established artists, by emerging talent and archival material throughout.

The exhibition unfolds as a journey through a complete 24-hour cycle, moving from dawn through daylight, into the depths of the night. The exhibition includes two major installation works: Helios, a monumental sculpture of the Sun created by artist Luke Jerram, and Massless Suns and Dark Suns by teamLab, an immersive installation that will envelop visitors with spheres of light.

The first four chapters of the exhibition focus upon the Sun. The journey begins with Dawn which reveals how the Sun and the Moon were integral to early belief systems and mythologies. A second chapter, The Sun Rising, reflects on time, seasons, and rituals. The exhibition continues with Zenith where we look at how artists respond to the sun at its highest and its relationship to our bodies. Setting Sun follows, with a focus on transformation, including a section about tarot and a presentation of Nancy Holt’s film Sun Tunnels.

At the halfway point of the exhibition, we present Helios by Luke Jerram. This enormous reproduction of the sun as a globe in a double-height gallery features a collage of over 400,000 photographs of the surface of the sun.

The second half of the exhibition focuses upon the Moon. Evening considers the Moon’s enduring fascination for artists and introduces us to some of its qualities and influence. The room features Saad Qureshi’s large-scale split moon is presented, suspended in the space. Walking on the Moon focuses on the cultural impact of the Apollo missions and the lesser-known stories behind space exploration, including the contributions of craftswomen and designers who helped make the missions possible. At its centre is Moon Landing, a collaborative work by Margo Selby and composer Helen Caddick.

The penultimate chapter, Midnight, delves into the Moon’s long association with folklore, magic, dreams and the ‘witching hour’. The exhibition concludes with the Darkest Hours, featuring Massless Suns and Dark Suns and Massless Sun and Surface of the Sky by the internationally renowned teamLab. This immersive installation will invite viewers to reflect upon the majesty of the universe in which we live.

Featured artists include: Harry Adams, Bunmi Agusto, Rabia S. Akhtar, Else Alfelt, Thelma Ayre, Roya Bahram, Álvaro Barrington, Su Blackwell, Marj Bond, Carol Bramley, Gill Button, Christiane Baumgartner, Gareth Cadwallader, Helen Caddick, Marguerite Carnec, Leonora Carrington, Patrick Caulfield, Bernard Cheese, Billy Childish, Rune Christensen, Isobel Church, Cecil Collins, Ithell Colquhoun, Russell-Hawkes Company, Jaclyn Conley, Mark Connolly, Jack Coutu, Sophie Crockett, Martyn Cross, Jem Finer & Jimmy Cauty, Raqs Media Collective, Malcolm Dakin, Tom Davidson, Shezad Dawood, Ellie Davies, Elisabeth Deane, Evelyn De Morgan, Susan Derges, Frank Bernard Dicksee, Peter Doig, Valentine Dobrée, Sam Douglas, S. Drinot, Ben Drury, Evelyn Dunbar, Marcel Dzama, Dan Hillier, Darcey Fleming, David Shrigley, Dindga McCannon, Dora Maar, George Méliès, George Turner, Douglas Gray, Kay Gasei, Sky Glabush, Maro Gorky, Gali Yalkarriwuy Gurriwiwi, Kimberley Gundle, Tom Hammick, James Heath, Barbara Hepworth, Jamie Hewlett, Dan Hillier, Akiko Hirai, Francis Edwin Hodge, William Hogarth, Sigrid Holmwood, Nancy Holt, Thomas Hooper, Henry Hudson, Blair Hughes-Stanton, Maqbool Fida Husain, Yinka Ilori, George Jardine, Klaus Janson, Luke Jerram, Sunju Jin, Jitish Kallat, Orla Kane, Jai Khanna, Owain Kirby, Marcos Kueh, Sanmu Kunisada, Jim Lambie, Audrey Large, Christopher Le Brun, Elizabeth Loveday, LunaTronix, Alexander Mackenzie, Sekai Machache, Lucy Mahon, Anders Scrmn Meisner, Dave McKean, Oliver McConnie, Richard McVetis, Henrietta Hoyer Millar, Andrew Millar, Aleksandra Mir, Joan Miró, Kate Montgomery, Henry Moore, Anna Sampson, Ben Edge, Anwar Saeed, Anwar Jalal Shemza, Carolein Smit, Sophie Smorczewski, Monica Sjöö, Ellis O’Connor, Fumie Onuki, Zak Ové, Shanti Panchal, Katie Paterson, Carl-Henning Pedersen, Rusty Peters, Álvaro Petritoli, Otto Piene, William John Charles Pitcher, Freya Pocklington, Carol Puruntatameri, Saad Qureshi, Arthur Rackham, Paula Rego, Bridget Riley, Sam Riley, Martha Rosler, Michael Rothenstein, John Russell, Annelie Solis, Ilma Savari (Ugiobari), Margo Selby, Muzae Sesay, David Shrigley, Anwar Jalal Shemza, Sophie Smorczewski, Carolein Smit, Stanislav Filko, Su Blackwell, Sue Thatcher, Sunju Jin, Susan Derges, Suzanne Treister, Syotatsu Ekaki, Terry Frost, teamLab, Thelma Ayre, John Titchell, Suzanne Treister, George Turner, Paula Turmina, Elisabeth Vellacott, Joe Webb, Whatshisname, Joseph Wright of Derby, Lian Zhang.

Curatorial project partners include: Royal Museums Greenwich, The Salisbury Museum, The Atlantis Bookshop.

Supported by headline sponsor Cazenove Capital.

About

Join us for our brand new series of tutored life drawing classes! The Saatchi Gallery Learning team will guide you in discovering your own drawing style, introducing a range of approaches from traditional to more experimental techniques. 

Each session we will be attended by a different model to draw from, so that you can be inspired by a diverse range of bodies. We will explore artist research, and provide guided prompts to get into the flow. Book a ticket now to attend your session. 

These classes are open to all levels, and will run 6.30PM – 8.30PM. All materials will be provided. There will be a 10-minute break in the middle of the session; participants can bring water bottles and light refreshments (however, please note that no alcohol is permitted during the session). 

Due to the presence of nude models, this class is 18+ without parental consent. If you are 16 or 17 and would like to attend, you must have written permission from a parent or guardian. Anyone under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

About

Join us for art after dark!

On selected Fridays, Saatchi Gallery Lates will offer workshops, guided classes and creative activations along with access to major exhibition The Sun and The Moon: Art Inspired by the Celestial.

Lates tickets include:

• Entry to The Sun and The Moon: Art Inspired by the Celestial
• Entry to all current Ground Floor Shows
• Bar open to 8:30 pm (with cocktails crafted by Sip Social)
• Classes, workshops and creative activations, with basic materials and guidance from the Learning Team provided, plus special guests

Friday 19 June – Solstice Straw Workshop

Create your very own straw hat with Lucy Hook-Child, drawing inspiration from sun wheel patterns, a traditional folkloric craft associated with Summer Solstice. 

This Lates workshop is one of many activities on offer as part of our Summer Solstice Festival weekend. Find out more and book tickets here.

Friday 10 July – Life Drawing: Stretch & Sketch 

Celebrate the sun’s life-giving, energising qualities with a yoga-inspired life drawing workshop by POC-led 2B Or Not 2B Collective. In this clothed life drawing session hosted by Zehra Odunayo, experienced yoga practitioners will explore flowing poses, sun salutations, and more while you draw. 

Friday 24 July – Life Drawing: First Woman on the Moon

Get creative and celebrate the women behind space travel, inspired by Margo Selby and Helen Caddick’s Moon Landing, with a this costumed life drawing session. Drag performers Goo and Frankie Heartless will pose with themed costumes, props and gestures for participants to draw. 

Friday 21 August – Make-Your-Own Carnival Headdress

Join us for a vibrant, hands-on workshop where you’ll design and create your own carnival headdress fit for Notting Hill Carnival, guided by artist Blossom Concepts. Known for their bold designs, Blossom Concepts fuse rich colours, intricate craftsmanship, and botanical elements to create show-stopping costumes that embody creativity, cultural pride, and pure joy. 

Friday 4 September – Tarot Card Crafting

Explore the history of tarot cards dating back to the oldest surviving set – the 15 decks of the Visconti-Sforza Tarot, painted in the mid-15^th century – and then practise your printmaking techniques to design your own tarot deck. This session will be led by Marianna Zoumpliou, a linocut artist inspired by magic and folklore.

More info and additional dates coming soon! We recommend booking your Lates tickets in advance to avoid disappointment. 

The Sun and The Moon Lates are supported by Cazenove Capital.

About

Botanical art and photography from around the world will be presented at Saatchi Gallery this summer as the annual RHS exhibition returns for a sixth year. Staged across three galleries, the best in contemporary botanical art and photography is presented by exhibitors from across the world. This year sees former medal winners returning alongside first-time exhibitors.

Showcasing an incredible diversity of botanical subjects from the vibrant wild plants that emerge after wildfires in northwest England, to the colourful mushrooms that grow in Japan – fungi seen growing on woodland walks in Cornwall, to the abundant wildflowers of protected nature reserves of Jeju Island off the coast of Korea and the endangered endemic limestone fynbos found only in South Africa’s Grootbos, to the knotty roots of well-loved garden-grown varieties at home – there is an abundance of illustration and photography to intrigue and delight.

This year’s photography exhibition presents a series of portfolio works exploring plants, gardens and natural landscapes, with photographers using close observation and technical skill to reveal the character, detail and diversity of the plant world. Subjects range from intimate studies of succulents and sunflowers to wider views of gardens and natural habitats from across the UK and beyond.

All of the artworks submitted have undergone a meticulous reviewing process by an expert judging panel and assessed on aesthetic appeal, scientific accuracy and technical skill. Once on display, the artists compete for an RHS medal – Gold, Silver-Gilt, and Bronze, as well as a ‘best in show’ award, namely Best Botanical Artwork, Best Botanical Art Exhibit, Best Portfolio Photography Exhibit, Best Single Image and Judges Special Award.  The public will once again have the opportunity to vote in the People’s Choice award via the RHS website.

The Show contributes to a long legacy of botanical art collecting and display by the RHS, and complements the work of the RHS Lindley Collections, which holds more than 30,000 botanical paintings and heritage photographs.

Free entry for RHS and Saatchi Gallery members, on production of a valid membership card (pre-booking not required). Ticket holders for The Sun and The Moon also get free entry (valid on the same day only). 

About

About

Boredom-busting art and activities inspired by our current major exhibition, The Sun and The Moon! Explore the exhibition, and then let your creative juices flow with this series of accompanying workshops. Suitable for children of all ages and led by Saatchi Gallery’s Learning team.

13 June – Surreal Collage Creations

Surrealism was a visual art and literature movement founded in Paris in the 1920s by André Breton which involves bringing things together that don’t usually go together, like melting clocks or fluffy cups! In this session you will use collage to create your own surrealist art. 

20 June – Wooden Art Workshop

The history of painting on wooden furniture is a testament to the enduring art form that has evolved over centuries. In this session we will take inspiration from artists who paint on wooden objects like Tatsuya Kawai to create our own wooden object art.

27 June – Make Your Own Zine

In this workshop we will get to know the work of illustrative artists who feature in The Sun and The Moon, like Hannah Fran and Kay Gasei. We will consider stories to illustrate from many different cultures including Greek mythology and Japanese folklore. Participants will be guided through the process of making their own zine full of their illustrations.

4 July – Sculpture: Shape & Form

For this session, we take inspiration from the works of Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore and explore their process of creating sculptures – from initial drawings to final creations. Participants will be shown simple carving and sculpting methods and how to combine different materials.

11 July – Abstract Blue

Sekai Machache is a Zimbabwean Scottish multidisciplinary artist. Machache explores her Zimbabwean heritage through spirituality, Scottish identity, and the African diaspora. Blue is an important theme within her abstract work. In this session we will explore how she works, and you’ll create your own abstract art, steeped in blue.

18 July – Arcana in Ink: Tarot Printmaking

In this session, we will explore the history of tarot cards dating back to the oldest surviving tarot deck: the Visconti-Sforza tarot printed in the mid-15^th century. We will explore how magic has informed culture over the centuries, and the role that celestial bodies play in governing our fate. Participants can use printmaking to create their own tarot card artworks. 

Admission is free with a suggested donation of £5. Pre-register your session(s) to avoid disappointment! 

About

Join us for a weekend of performances, guided workshops, seasonal refreshments and creative activations, all celebrating the summer solstice alongside access to our major exhibition The Sun and The Moon: Art Inspired by the Celestial. 

Your ticket includes:

• Performances, workshops and creative activations
• Themed drinks and refreshments on offer
• Entry to The Sun and The Moon: Art Inspired by the Celestial
• Entry to all current Ground Floor shows

What’s on Offer: 

Friday 19 June (6.30pm – 9pm)

• Solstice Straw Workshop: led by the Gallery Learning team and artist Lucy Hook-Child, drawing inspiration from the traditional folkloric craft of sun wheel patterning. Lucy has a BA (Hons) in 3D Design Crafts and is a member of Straw Craftsmen. She has been researching and working with straw since 2023 after discovering that Corn Dolly Making and Straw Work are on the Heritage Crafts Red List of Endangered Crafts.
• Performance by artist Bryony Ella: Stand of the Sun – a solstice ritual for the melting metropolis – is a unique storytelling experience emerging out of My Body is a Sundial, the artist’s sculptural work on display as part of The Sun and The Moon. Written and directed by Bryony Ella, the event features a live performance by Alleyne Dance, lighting by Rachel Sampley and a musical score composed by Bumi Thomas

Saturday 20 June

• 8.30am – 9.30am: Morning yoga – gentle invigoration with sun salutations and an energising flow. Arranged in collaboration with Varley, who are generously providing participants with yoga mats for grip, cushioning, and comfort throughout the session plus a gift bag to take home
• 9.30am – 11am: Coffee break to refuel and recharge with Redemption Roasters
• Afternoon: Performances and activations centred around celebrating the sun and its life-giving power
• 6.15pm – 7pm: Sound bath with Aesop – Alis Rocca of Arise Wellbeing will host a sound bath session with higher-frequency crystal tones to celebrate peak light. The experience will feature aromatic Aesop formulations to enhance luminosity, replenish the skin and uplift the senses

Sunday 21 June

• 8.30am – 9.30am: Morning yoga, gentle invigoration with sun salutations and an energising flow. Arranged in collaboration with Varley, who are generously providing participants with yoga mats for grip, cushioning, and comfort throughout the session plus a gift bag to take home
• 9.30am – 11am: Coffee break to refuel and recharge with Redemption Roasters
• Afternoon: Drop-in tarot artist offering readings to curious participants
• 6.15pm – 7pm: Sound bath with Aesop – Alis Rocca of Arise Wellbeing will host a sound bath session with grounding, earth-toned Gongs and Himalayan bowls to honour the solstice. The experience will feature aromatic Aesop formulations to enhance luminosity, replenish the skin and uplift the senses.

Activities and offerings are subject to change. More updates coming soon. Book your ticket now to avoid disappointment! 

About

Curated by BSMT Gallery, States of Transition, a new body of work by Perspicere, continues his meticulous exploration of the human condition through thread. Each piece is built by wrapping thread around nails, layer upon layer, colour upon colour, until a photo-realistic portrait emerges from thousands of intersecting lines.

Perspicere, Latin for “to see clearly” or “to see through”, subjects that very idea to scrutiny. Veil-like forms and shifting surfaces complicate the act of seeing, while the work itself changes depending on distance, reflecting the way perception is fluid and unreliable.

This new series turns toward the uncertain space between one state of being and another, between presence and absence, visibility and concealment. Meaning is not immediately given but gradually uncovered, inviting an active process of looking, questioning, and reconstructing what is seen. 

About

Spectral Interference is a solo exhibition by London-based painter Anna Liber Lewis, presented with Hannah Payne Art. Bringing together a new body of work, it marks a rupture from her earlier grid-based paintings, embracing abstraction as a site of risk, embodiment, and perceptual instability.

Across paintings of varying scale, Liber Lewis leaves behind the grid and earlier line work. Structure remains, not as a fixed system, but as a generative structure that can be disrupted, softened, or pushed to breaking point. The surfaces evolve through cycles of editing and return: worked into, scraped back, reactivated, and at times deliberately destabilised. Old works are revisited and altered, reflecting a willingness to give up control in pursuit of something more alive.

Central to this body of work is an interest in high-stakes painting and the tension between abstraction and figuration, structure and the body, control and risk. Influenced by artists including Helen Frankenthaler and Carroll Dunham, Liber Lewis approaches abstraction as a physical, confronting act, where the mark carries memory, effort, and jeopardy. Gesture operates as a record of decision-making, endurance, and doubt.

The exhibition brings together significant new and recent works, including Embodied Other, My GRB Afterglow, and Very Rare Picture of Earth II, alongside large-scale canvases shown publicly for the first time. It represents her most ambitious institutional presentation to date, following her inclusion in Unreal City: Abstract Painting at Saatchi Gallery in 2024. 

Artist walk-through with Anna Liber Lewis and Geir Haraldseth: Saturday 28 March, 1pm

Meet the artist in Gallery 1 for a special walking tour of the exhibition. Anna Liber Lewis will be in conversation with Geir Haraldseth, Senior Curator at the National Museum, Norway. Together, they will move through the exhibition, discussing the ideas and processes behind the work — from gesture and material to risk, revision and the evolving language of abstraction. Should you wish to attend, please RSVP here.

Images courtesy of the Artist and Hannah Payne Art. Photography by Benjamin Deakin. 

About Hannah Payne Art
Hannah Payne Art is a nomadic gallery platform working between Oxford and London, supporting emerging and mid-career artists through ambitious exhibitions, institutional collaborations and dialogue-led programming. The gallery champions artists at pivotal moments in their careers, fostering the development and presentation of new work through thoughtfully curated exhibitions and partnerships.

About

A tender show with no malice, no demands, anger nor political agenda. Just little birds with little words spoken softly. Why blue? The truth is, I don’t know. I didn’t consciously think about it… Perhaps I was “feeling blue” and that made me see blue… perhaps because blue is such an everyday colour that we see, and yet one so deep at times, we could get lost in it. 

Perhaps I just love the colour…

And why the kiss…? Because something magical lives in that immediate connection, sometimes so magical that it can live in our hearts and minds for a long, long time.

I wanted to catch that moment.

To hold that kiss, that first touch, to immortalise it to more than memory. The hope, the future, the past, and the present, created like all my sculptures, made to be touched. To be felt under the hand. 

From big hands to little sticky fingers; I don’t mind. 

I made these sculptures with human intention. 

I make them for human touch. 

I make them for everyone. 

Kiss the Birds is an exhibition presented by STASH. 

Please not that this exhibition will close at midday on Sunday 7 June.