The Inaugural Bazaar Art Walk: A London Gallery Weekend
On Thursday night, May 30, 2024, Harper’s Bazaar celebrated the start of London Gallery Weekend in style by inaugurating their specially curated route through the city centre. Like Damian and Alison, you too can follow Bazaar’s curated art trail this London Gallery Weekend. Take on an abundance of art shows with their carefully mapped-out route as a guide.
With more than 120 exhibits taking part in London Gallery Weekend, the challenge is choosing which to fit in. Bazaar is on hand to help: they have curated a route through the city’s centre taking in three stellar shows, which visitors can wander between in their own time, and see bodies of work by a trio of different artists who are united by their bold, boundary-bending approach.
The shows include Vicken Parsons’ “Time” at Cristea Roberts Gallery, Danica Lundy’s “Boombox” at White Cube Mason’s Yard and Robert Rauschenberg’s “Roci” at Thaddaeus Ropac.
Pictured below, Damian and Alison take a photo of their reflection through art at Robert Rauschenberg’s “Roci” art show, which runs at Thaddaeus Ropac until June 15.
In 1984, the American graphic artist Robert Rauschenberg embarked on a seven-year quest to foster cross-cultural understanding through art, particularly in communities with limited freedom of creative expression.
Drawing on the connections he made with artists, artisans and prominent figures, Rauschenberg amplified stories from places including China, Cuba and Chile through innovative use of materials and form. Showcased for the first time since 1991, the work is as arresting as it is politically powerful.
London Gallery Weekend is open to the public from May 31 – June 2, 2024. View more photos from the event in our Gallery.
The evening began with a champagne reception at Cristea Roberts Gallery and a private view of Time by Vicken Parsons, the artist’s first UK show for four years.
Bazaar’s editor-in-chief Lydia Slater welcomed guests alongside Sergio Momo, the CEO and founder of Xerjoff Perfumes, whose aromas scented the gallery space as well as the beautiful maps and hand-held paper fans gifted to attendees, illustrated by the feminist artist Petra Borner.
Bazaar’s acting deputy editor, Helena Lee, hosted an illuminating conversation with Parsons and the designer Roksanda Ilin before guests, including Bianca Jagger, Damian Lewis, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Lubaina Himid made their way to White Cube to take in the vibrant, complex paintings of Danica Lundy’s Boombox.
Guests made their way through a drizzly Mayfair to the final gallery. The evening came to an end in the elegant surroundings of Thaddaeus Ropac, where the crowd enjoyed the powerful canvases of the late American graphic artist Robert Rauschenberg.
Then it was upstairs to Thaddaeus’s private apartment for cocktails inspired by Xerjoff scents and conjured up by the master mixologists of The Emory, served alongside delicious Cornish crab tacos and truffle and porcini pancakes.
The last standing were rewarded with beautiful bouquets of sweet peas and white lilies from the tables, spilling into the streets of London like very glamorous bridesmaids.
Source: Harper’s Bazaar