Sure, the Tate’s great, the Hayward is wonderful and the National Gallery is a delight. But not all art in London is big and overwhelming, lots of it smaller, more experimental, more intimate. That’s where the city’s smaller, commercial galleries come in. Want giants of nineteenth century art? Feminist icons? Experimental youngsters? Weird conceptualism, twisty abstraction? You can find all of it in the galleries, and all of it is free. So here are the smaller shows we’re most excited about this autumn, and if you can’t wait, here are the ten best shows you can see right now.
The late and genuinely great Elaine Sturtevant made a name for herself with wittily subversive recreations of famous artworks, copying works by Jasper Johns and Andy Warhol from memory. This show features her recreation of Claes Oldenburg's 'The Store', a work that Claes Oldenburg himself really, really hated.
Sturtevant is at Thaddaeus Ropac. Sep 8-Oct 3. Free. More details here.
One of the leading performance artists of her generation, Imhof has become known for fusing poetry, heavy metal and dance into hypnotising, sombre happenings. Works here include paintings, film and sound.
Anne Imhof is at Sprueth Magers. Sep 23-Dec 23. Free. Details here.
Xenomorphic sculptures and photograms by the Romanian-born artist riffing on death and the domestic.
‘Andra Ursuţa: Joy Revision’ is at David Zwirner, Sep 12-Oct 29. Free. More details here.
American artist Jay De Feo spent eight years painting 'The White Rose', a monumental canvases caked in layer up layer of paint, which weighed over 2,300 pounds by the time it was finished. Friend and fellow artist Bruce Conner documents the paintings eventual completion and removal from De Feo's home in this heady, psychedelic 1967 film.
'Bruce Conner: The White Rose' is at Thomas Dane Gallery, Sep 20-Nov 12. Free. More details here.
Powerfully political and often deeply beautiful feminist art from this icon of twentieth century painting. This show focuses on a group of works from the 1980s, featuring orange and ochre dancers inspired by prehistoric paintings.
'Nancy Spero: Dancers and Goddesses' is at Frith Street Gallery, Sep 23-Nov 5. Free. More details here.
This exciting young American filmmaker makes work exploring ideas of race, social justice and familial relationship, mixing together archival footage and new footage.
Garrett Bradley is at Lisson Gallery, 23 Sep-29 Oct. Free. More details here.
This show is a celebration of one of the twentieth century's great portraitists, Alice Neel, who documented intimate, everyday New York life with luscious colours. Here, the gallery is pairing together paintings by Neel of the same sitter.
'Alice Neel: There's Still Another I See' is at Victoria Miro, Oct 11-Nov 12. Free. Details here.
Amy Sherald came to public attention when she was selected to paint Michelle Obama's official portrait, and this exhibition will showcase more of her bold, super-colourful portraits of Black people at rest and leisure.
Amy Sherald is at Hauser & Wirth, Oct 12-Dec 23. Free. More details here.
Orozco's new work uses plant printing techniques to create a vibrant visual diary of the indigenous plant life of Acapulco, Mexico City and Tokyo.
Gabriel Orozco is at White Cube Mason's Yard, Oct 12-Nov 12. Free. More details here.
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