Five reasons why you can’t miss Connaught Village Art Month

Now, this is how you launch an event! Kicking off a month’s worth of cultural happenings, this early morning conversation investigates the value of art in contemporary society. Chaired by our very own arts and culture editor, Eddy Frankel, it’ll delve into why supporting small galleries is so vital, and how larger galleries and artists feed into our day-to-day lives. He’s joined by Sukai Eccleston, (founder and director of CasildART Contemporary) Nancy Durrant, (culture writer, broadcaster and podcaster, Helen Parker (Founder of EVERYONE Agency), Tony Heywood (Horticultural installation artist), and George Mingozzi-Marsh, (co-director of Brooke Benington and Founder and Director of Amici). Catch it at Kendal Street Kitchen on October 1 from 9.30am to 10.45am, where pastries and hot beverages will be served. Tickets are free but can be booked in advance.  

Immerse yourself in gloriously hallucinogenic paintings by Dean Fox at ‘Scene VI: Dean Fox’, taking place at Matt Carey-Williams. Meanwhile, ‘Freedom in Multitudes’ at CasildART, in collaboration with The 1897 Gallery, will feature artists whose practices address themes of fluidity and freedom conceptually through free-flowing depictions of Black bodies and cultures. Furthermore, C. Atherley will be exhibiting a selection of botanical photographs by Carrie Lees, displaying her unique combination of traditional methods and contemporary imagery. 'Chroma-Viscosity II’ at Rob and Nick Carter is an AI-generated film, based on the 'Painting Photographs' series, offering an immersive digital experience that will help you see photography in a totally different light – through evolving digital formats.

Kana Tsumura is rapidly making her mark in the contemporary art world for her images that draw inspiration from dreams, memories, reflections and hallucinations. Enter her world at the mesmerising ‘Life in Still Life’ show at Dorothy Circus where classic still life images look like they’re frozen in particular snapshots of time. That’s not all though, as the same gallery will host ‘Nateepol: Love in 3020– A Thousand Ways to Love Yourself’, showcasing an exciting emerging talent from Thailand. Multidisciplinary artist Nateepol explores themes of self-love and human connections through the new show and is most noted for his romantically colourful acrylic paintings. 

Hosted in collaboration with illustration agency EVERYONE, the ‘Something for Everyone’ pop-up store is a colourful space featuring illustrated prints from 15 artists. This includes  Robert Hunter, Stevie Gee, Al Murphy, Cécile Dormeau and Chrissie Abbot, whose works you can view and purchase right there and then. Explore a curated selection of fine jewellery and exceptional antiques, such as a Fabergé egg and Josephine Baker’s personal desk, alongside unique jewels if you feel like splashing the cash. And finally, Purple Ski will be exhibiting artwork from Emma Kenny in an exclusive pop-up. 

Offering something for everyone, Connaught Village Art Month will keep you entertained with a rich offering of different disciples and styles. Whether you’re an aficionado or simply looking to explore, this festival is the perfect opportunity to diversify your art knowledge. And what better setting is there than the tree-lined streets of Connaught Village? And once you’ve had your fill, you can discover traditional pubs, independent shops and charming local restaurants, all in one spot. 

Find out more about Connaught Village Art Month 2024.