The Royal Academy Show: Art Made and Exhibited Now

The Royal Academy is home to immense artistic activity and is steeped in history. The Great Spectacle and the Summer Exhibition are both on from 12 June to 19 August at the RA.

The 'Summer Exhibition' at the Royal Academy has exhibited every summer for the past two hundred and fifty years old. As the world has changed dramatically, so too has the art that makes it into the galleries of the Royal Academy for the Summer Exhibition. Paintings, sculpture, drawings and architectural designs by household names are displayed alongside work by first-time exhibitors. The Summer Exhibition is a high-profile platform for both established and lesser-known contemporary artists.

This year, Grayson Perry RA and his committee of fellow artists have handpicked over 1,300 artworks in an array of mediums. The exhibition extends across the RA's newly-expanded cultural campus, with prints on display in The Sackler Wing of Galleries and a “room of humour” in the new Ronald and Rita McAulay Gallery featuring David Shrigley and Martin Parr. The art extravaganza even spills out into the streets of London’s West End with an installation of over 200 flags designed by Royal Academicians.

The Great Spectacle is staged to coincide with the Summer Exhibition of 2018 and is a survey of its history. The exhibition will remember important moments and celebrated figures in the Royal Academy's history. Graduates and teachers, Sir John Soane and J. M. W. Turner:  influential painters, Constable and Stubbs: friendly rivals,  Gainsborough and Reynolds: and unique pieces donated by collectors such as Taddeo Tondo, a marble relief by Michelangelo.

The RA Summer Exhibition and Great Spectacle allows us to retrace our artistic roots and through an array of mediums in an ever-changing art world. We don’t know what the future of art is but we can find a slice of art heritage in our galleries.

In celebration of the summer season at the Royal Academy, we've rounded up a selection of contemporary art available here at Alfies.

Wooden sculpture, c1960s, signed. Available from Robinson Antiques

Nike of Samothrace bronze sculpture, c1960s, available from Cupio Gallery

Large sculptural bronze vase, signed Nuro. 1980s. Available from The Moderns

Contemporary painting. Available from Thomas Fine Art  

Titled The Four Grey Ladies, 1982 water colour and gouache painting by R P Lister. Available from John Cserny Fine Arts

The Great Spectacle and the Summer Exhibition are both on from 12 June to 19 August at the RA.


Written by Titika Malkogeorgou

Art Night, 2018

Art Night 2018 on Saturday 7th July

Untitled. Image courtesy of Art Night London

Hayward Gallery. Image courtesy of Art Night London

Battersea Power Station. Image courtesy of Art Night London

Art Night 2018 is London's largest free contemporary art festival. This year it falls this weekend, Saturday 7th July, from 6pm to 6am.  Each year the festival partners with a leading art gallery and curator, focusing on a different area of London to discover its unique identity, culture and architecture though a variety of art forms.

The focus of this year's festival is transforming the Thames riverbank between the South Bank and Battersea Power Station, via Vauxhall and Nine Elms, showcasing iconic and off-the-beaten venues with artworks and pop up performances in over sixty locations.  All 12 events in the programme are curated by the Hayward Gallery and are free and open to all without tickets. Please note that all of the 50 plus events in the Art Night Open are free, but that a small number are ticketed. The programme will feature a range of contemporary art, ranging from immersive multimedia installation and visual reality to interactive experiences, special screenings and live music.

Inspired by one of the biggest art events this summer, then look no further and come and visit us here at Alfies where you will find a wonderful array of fine art, paintings, prints, sculpture, decorative pieces and more waiting to be discovered..

A lesson in wasted morals, oil on canvas, early 19th  century. John Cserny at Alfies.

An abstract painting by James Arnold Martin, contemporary, British. Mark Eaton at Alfies.

Large silver hollow lidded pendant, 12th century, Afghanistan. Marko Pollo at AlFayez, Alfies.

16th century Iznic border tile. Ottoman, Turkey. Antique Choices at AlFayez, Alfies Antique Market.

An English landscape with figures, oil on canvas, 19th century. John Cserny at Alfies.

Mid century painting  'Exhausted Nanny'. Diplomat Treasures International at Alfies 

Abstract at Alfies

Abstract Art is one of the most popular and enduring art movements with many gravitating towards the style for the space away from reality that it provides. Whilst abstract styles can be seen in some of the world's earliest cultures, the movement started to gain popularity in the 19th Century, with the 20th Century being considered its peak and producing many of the artists and works we associate with the art form today.

Whilst the departure from reality that this style of art often depicts can be slight, partial or total, the movement can generally be characterised by a few key traits. Firstly, abstract art makes no attempt to represent reality. Objects, figures and landscapes are usually simplified. Colour and form are often explored. Some reoccurring themes are block colours, geometric shapes, and use of texture. Abstract art has often been defined as artists painting what they feel as opposed to what they see.

Wassily Kandinsky is generally credited with painting one of the first recognised completely abstract works, and is still considered one of the movement's leading artists to this day. Just a few popular artists that are considered to be leaders within this style are Jackson Pollock, Piet Mondrian, Mark Rothko, Willem de Kooning and Robert Delaunay.

With a large variety of art to be seen around Alfies, we knew there would be some interesting abstract pieces on offer. Here are just a few of our favourite:

'Running Man' painting, oil on board, 1980s. Available from Robert McKoy Fine Arts

A Joseph Weiss signed painting with Hebrew inscription on the back, oil on canvas, 1950s. Available from i Fine & Contemporary Art

'Large Abstract Study' painting by Derrick Latimer Sayer, mixed media on paper, contemporary. Available from Thomas Fine Art

A Portrait by Steve McCahn (student of Leon Kossoff), oil on canvas, contemporary. Available from Diplomat Treasure International

'Sylvette' a lithograph signed by Picasso, 1954. Authenticated by Bonhams. Available from i Fine & Contemporary Art

Abstract painting of a stained glass window, watercolour, 1980s. Available from Robert McKoy Fine Arts

Piero Fornasetti

Piero Fornasetti was an Italian designer of the 20th Century who worked prolifically and some say obsessively throughout his lifetime, having created more than 11,000 items in his career and more than 500 variations of the same face.

Whilst being talented in many areas including painting, sculpting, engraving and interior decorating, the Fornasetti style that is famous today is a very distinct one. Fornasetti is known for his witty figurative illustrations, surreal tweaks to the otherwise mundane, and often whimsical nature. Designs are often black and white with lots of shading, occasionally with a splash block colour or accents of gold or silver. 

Common themes among his designs include astrology, mythology, architecture and of course Lina Cavalieri, the opera singer whose face he fell in love with. Possibly some of Pieros most recognisable work, he went on to use Lina's face in at least 500 designs including depictions of her as a goddess, as animals and even sporting a moustache in one, combining all his original inspirations with his muse.

In recent months we have spotted a number of original Fornasetti designs around Alfies and here we show you some of our favourite...

A Fornasetti 'Farfalle' table lamp, 20th Century. Offered by Cupio Gallery

A Fornasetti Alsation umbrella stand, 20th Century. Offered by Cupio Gallery

A pair of Fornasetti 'cameo' table lamps, 20th Century. Offered by Cupio Gallery

A pair of Fornsetti ash trays in stands, 20th Century. Offered by Martin Rooney

A Fornasetti paperweight. Offered by Cupio Gallery

A Fornasetti dish, 20th Century. Offered by Cupio Gallery

A Fornasetti dish, 20th Century. Offered by Cupio Gallery

Matisse in the Studio

Matisse in the Studio is currently taking place at the Royal Academy of Arts, offering you the chance to step into the artists studio. The exhibition promises to be more engaging than the usual with the aim to give a real insight into the mind of one of modern arts icons. The space has been filled, just like his original studio, with the treasured objects collected by the artist on his travels around the world, which proved to be a profound source of inspiration. This event offers the viewer a rare opportunity to see original Matisse works intermingling with his collection to provide a rich portrait of the artists private world.

Matisse went through a number of phases and styles during his career, producing a very diverse body of work, some of which can be seen below:

Paysage à Collioure

Madonna and Child

Moroccan Cafe

Brook with Aloes

Drawing from the exhibition ourselves, we took a look around Alfies at just a few of the many Matisse inspired works...

A garden scene signed by D Bereny, 1950s. Offered by John Cserny Fine Arts

Portrait of a lady by Peter Collins, 1950s. Offered by Robert McKoy Fine Arts

A lake scene, oil on board, 1930s. Offered by i Fine & Contemporary Art

'Metal Under Stress' by Joan Hewitt, 20th Century. Offered by Thomas Fine Art

Norh African street scene, oil on canvas, 1950s. Offered by Robert McKoy Fine Arts

Matisse in the Studio is exhibiting until 12th November 2017. Tickets can be purchased here.

Daniel Raphael: New Gallery Opens on Church Street

The Daniel Raphael Art Gallery is a new addition to the Church Street family at No. 26 across the road from Alfies. The gallery opened last week, Friday 10 March, with their launch exhibition featuring works from six contemporary artists.

Daniel is the youngest trader on Church Street, having recently graduated from the University of Bristol with a view to pursuing a dream in the art world. One of the main aims of the gallery space, is to provide a platform for interactive, thought provoking and original exhibitions. The space will display both the works of well-established  and emerging artists, helping new artists establish themselves in the art world.

The location at number 26 is also comprised of several studio spaces, which are available to rent on a monthly basis - the gallery boasts WiFi and an outdoor garden/patio area, as well as all the usual amenities such as kitchen and bathroom. This combination of studio and gallery space provides artists with the unique opportunity to work and exhibit in the same environment. 

Below are some examples of work you will find on display in the exhibition, all from up and coming artists.

 The Girls, by Audrey Dangoor.

Black Water Reservoir, 2017. By Victoria Young Jamieson.

Hampstead Pond Early Spring. By Simon Hatchard Parr. 50 x 60 inches.

Blackwater Reservoir, by Madeleine Gardiner. 100 x 100cm.

Daniel Raphael Art Gallery
26 Church Street, London, NW8 8EP
www.danielraphael.co.uk

Facebook/Instagram: @danielraphaelart

Spring Into Alfies - 'Dutch Flowers'

Spring has finally started to blossom. The flowers are blooming, the sun is shining, and the days are growing longer. At Alfies spring is our favourite season, and we are excited to visit the National Gallery as it celebrates spring too with a new exhibition, honouring Dutch floral artists, showing from 6 April to 29 August, 2016.

A Still Life of Flowers in a Wan-Li Vase by Ambrosius Bosschaert the Elder, 1609-10

The exhibition runs alongside the wonderful flower shows currently showing at Chelsea and Hampton Court and is the first display on this scale in over 20 years. Originating from the early 17th century to its peak in the late 18th century 'Dutch Flowers' delves into the floral still life paintings by renowned artists such as Ambrosius the Elder Bosschaert, Jan van Huysum, and Paulus Theodorus van Brussel, and celebrates their exquisite works and attention to detail, showing the interest around the time in horticulture and the 'phenomenon of tulip mania in the Dutch Golden Age', as quoted by the National Gallery.

At Alfies we are proud to have our own fine art gallery on our first floor. Have a look at our beautiful collection of Dutch and floral paintings we have on offer:

Mid 20th century oil on board, signed M. Norman, available from Mark Eaton

Mid 20th century large oil on board, signed poppies still life, available from Mark Eaton

Red roses, mid 20th century, oil on canvas, available from Mark Eaton

An early 20th century signed still life of flowers, available from John Cserny Fine Arts

An early 18th century Dutch painting of the Admiral Cornelis Tromp, oil on panel, available from John Cserny Fine Arts

 

A late 19th century Dutch school still life, available from Robert McKoy Fine Arts

Roses in Bowl oil on board, available from Mark Eaton