As a photographer, you view life through your own personal lens. Perfecting your work and discovering your style as you explore life through your camera is crucial to reaching your full potential and becoming the professional photographer you want to be. However, taking the time to explore the work of others will allow you to see different perspectives and styles that you might wish to employ or emulate yourself. But where do you go to explore said work?
Attending a photography exhibition in London is an excellent way to broaden your horizons, discover new work and see how others utilise composition, concepts and lighting. There are plenty of photography exhibitions in London to explore this autumn. In this guide, we’ll take a look at 8 unmissable photography exhibitions in London that are happening now or right around the corner:
- Behind The Boosh: Photography by Dave Brown
- ATLAS AT30
- Reimagined Landscapes
- Ernest Cole: A Lens in Exile
- Fragile Beauty: Photographs from the Sir Elton John and David Furnish Collection
- Energy: Sparks from the Collection
- Abi Morocco Photos: Spirit of Lagos
- Asafe Ghalib: Queer Immigrants
If you’re ready to explore new themes, lives, and experiences, let’s take a closer look at the stunning photography exhibitions in London listed above.
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1. Behind The Boosh: Photography by Dave Brown
- Dates: 10-13 October 2024
- Price: Free to attend
- Location: Behind The Gallery, 2 Hoxton Street, London, N1 6NG
- Learn More: You can learn more about the exhibition and plan your visit at https://www.behindthegallery.com.au/pages/behind-the-boosh-20
Behind The Boosh celebrates 20 years of the cult classic show, The Mighty Boosh, through a touring exhibition of images taken by cast member Dave Brown. There will be an artist talk and Q&A on 12 October at 12:30pm.
The exhibition will showcase a number of fan-favourite shots as well as some never-before-seen photographs taken by Brown during the show's filming between 2004 and 2007. Last year, the exhibition toured in Sydney and Melbourne, where Brown said he was thrilled to meet so many "Boosh babies", young and old.
2. ATLAS AT30
- Dates: 19 September - 16 November 2024
- Price: Free to attend
- Location: Atlas Gallery, 49 Dorset St, London W1U 7NF
- Learn More: You can learn more about the exhibition and plan your visit at https://www.atlasgallery.com/exhibition/atlas-gallery-30-years
Celebrating 30 years of the Atlas Gallery in London, this exhibition will "showcase the creativity and dedication that have defined Atlas Gallery over the past 30 years", featuring never-seen-before pieces from a wide range of artists including Nick Brandt, Julia Bostock and Hiroshi Sugimoto.
The commemorative event will also include a number of special features such as book signings and collector evenings.
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3. Reimagined Landscapes
- Dates: 13 September - 10 November 2024
- Price: Free to attend
- Location: The Photographers' Gallery, 16-18 Ramillies St, London W1F 7LW
- Learn More: You can find more information and purchase your tickets at https://thephotographersgallery.org.uk/whats-on/reimagined-landscapes
Reimagined Landscapes showcases the work of Cyrus Mahboubian, Qiu Yangzi, and Gohar Dashti in collaboration with Hamed Noori, as they delve into themes of cultural identity, home and displacement.
Through photo collage techniques, Dashti and Mahboubian alter their landscapes, creating environments where "the sense of belonging is fragmented yet maintains its intrinsic beauty".
4. Ernest Cole: A Lens in Exile
- Dates: Now until 12 October 2024
- Price: Free to attend
- Location: Autograph Gallery, Rivington Place, London EC2A 3BA, UK
- Learn More: You can learn more about this exhibit and book tickets at https://autograph.org.uk/exhibitions/ernest-cole-a-lens-in-exile
This exhibition presents the work of South African photographer, Ernest Cole, documenting New York City during the height of the American civil rights movement.
Renowned for his powerful photographs capturing the brutality of apartheid, Cole left South Africa in 1966 and became stateless two years later.
5. Fragile Beauty: Photographs from the Sir Elton John and David Furnish Collection
- Dates: Now until 05 January 2025
- Price: £22
- Location: V&A South Kensington, Cromwell Rd, London SW7 2RL
- Learn More: You can learn more about the exhibition and plan your visit at https://www.vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/fragile-beauty-photographs-from-the-sir-elton-john-and-david-furnish-collection
Spanning from the 1950s to today, this exhibition will display photographs from Elton John and David Furnish's private collection, curated by Duncan Forbes, the V&A's head of photography, Newell Harbin, director of The Sir Elton John Photography Collection, and Lydia Caston, the V&A's exhibition project curator.
Featuring portraits of jazz musicians Miles Davis and Chet Baker, and actress Marilyn Monroe, more than 300 prints from over 140 photographers will be showcased to the public, making up the V&A's largest temporary photography exhibition to date. Images will be curated into eight themes, including fashion, reportage, celebrity, and the male body.
6. Energy: Sparks from the Collection
- Dates: Now until 18 May 2025
- Price: Free to attend
- Location: V&A South Kensington, Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL
- Learn More: You can learn more about the exhibit and book your tickets at https://www.vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/energy-sparks-from-the-collection
From hidden technologies to photographic subjects, this exhibition draws attention to "the diverse kinds of energy in photography".
In this way, Energy: Sparks from the Collection will explore the ways that light and energy are memorialised within a still image. Whether it's sunlight passing through a lens, the flash of an artificial lightbulb, or the travelling glow of long-exposure city lights, every photograph needs some kind of energy to bring itself to life.
7. Abi Morocco Photos: Spirit of Lagos
- Dates: Now until 29 March 2025
- Price: Free to attend
- Location: Autograph Gallery, Rivington Place, London EC2A 3BA, UK
- Learn More: You can learn more about the event at https://autograph.org.uk/exhibitions/abi-morocco-photos-spirit-of-lagos
Curated by Lagos Studio Archives and Bindi Vora, this exhibition captures the rich style and spirit of Lagos during the 1970s through the lens of Abi Morocco Photos, a highly-regarded photographic studio in Lagos that offered versatile portraiture to Lagosians from the 1970s to 2006.
This exhibition is part of the Lagos Studio Archives project, an ongoing cultural preservation project by Karl Ohiri and Riikka Kassinen, which is seeking to preserve the culture and legacy of Nigerian photography.
8. Asafe Ghalib: Queer Immigrants
- Dates: Now until 25 October 2024
- Price: Private viewings by appointment
- Location: Ubicua Gallery, 72 Charlotte St., London W1T 4QQ
- Learn More: You can learn more about the event at https://www.ubicuagallery.com/exhibitions/queerimmigrants
Utica Gallery is hosting a private exhibition by award-winning Brazilian artist Asafe Ghalib, who has been based in London since 2013. Using photography to explore the queer experience, Ghalib's "work embraces rebellion in order to reclaim their identity and history".
This is a private exhibition, meaning appointments have to be made before visiting. Contact the gallery to arrange a private viewing:
- Email: info@ubicuagallery.com
- Telephone: +44 7554195100
Wrapping up
No matter what type of photographer you want to become, visiting photography exhibitions is an outstanding way to discover new styles, learn how to improve your own art, and find inspiration. And with new collections and photography competitions popping up every month, there's no shortage of exciting works to discover.
Weekdays are generally quieter for most exhibitions, but you can book timeslots in advance online for all of them to guarantee admission. Why not make a day of it with a friend and visit a few in succession, stopping by at some local independent pubs to discuss your thoughts on each exhibition. All in the name of research, of course.
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Hire locations for your next photoshoot with Tutti
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