We’re determined to avoid the dreary trap of January blues—that soul-sapping mix of weather, work, and the nagging thought that we ought to be a shinier, better version of ourselves this year. At Tat, we say embrace the person you are right now—the one who’s found themselves here, seeking culturally stimulating things to do. Three cheers for you! Even if you don’t actually do them, curiosity is the spice of life—a muscle worth flexing and keeping in shape. So dive in, spark your interest, and see where it takes you—even if it’s nowhere at all.
Lygia Clark: The I and the You. Sonia Boyce: An Awkward Relation Exhibition, Now - 12th January, Whitechapel Gallery, 77-82 Whitechapel High St, London, E1 7QX
This Autumn, Whitechapel Gallery presents two exhibitions especially conceived to be in dialogue with each other. Lygia Clark: The I and the You and Sonia Boyce: An Awkward Relation explore pivotal moments in the artists’ careers, where each began experimenting with participatory practices. Although separated by time and geography, and working in different cultural and socio-political contexts, the artists share a deep interest in addressing and shifting the relationship between artist, artwork and audiences, often inviting direct engagement with their works, including touch, manipulation, even inhabitation. By pairing the two artists in this way, audiences are invited to reflect on both the similarities and differences in their works and approaches while also providing a meeting point for different art histories and cultural contexts to meet.
Jack Kabangu: Barndommens Drømme (Childhood Dreams), Now - 12th January, Saatchi Gallery, Duke of York’s HQ, King’s Road, London, SW3 4RY
BEERS London presents Barndommens Drømme (Childhood Dreams) by Jack Kabangu in collaboration with Saatchi Gallery. Here the African/Danish artist explores the inaccuracy of memory and the opacity of dreams. Kabangu’s work is naturally investigative of psychological states, which is countered by his gutsy, gestural, freeform approach to artmaking. With his instantly recognizable style and a recurrent face/visage motif, Kabangu’s work is meant to speak to inexpressible desires and primordial human emotions. For millennia, artists and thinkers have explored similar themes. Herodotus wrote about dreams; the ancient Greeks believed dreams foretold the future; and the history of art is populated with centuries of religious paintings (be they interpreted literally or metaphorically); to the Surrealists who preoccupied themselves with the subconscious.
Stuck at home and put to work by her spoiled Step-Sisters, Cinderella’s life is dreary and dull. Everything changes when she helps a mysterious woman out... With a bit of magic, she is transported into an ethereal new world – one where fairies bring the gifts of the seasons, pumpkins turn into carriages, and true love awaits. This enchanting ballet by The Royal Ballet’s Founder, Choreographer Frederick Ashton, is a theatrical experience for all the family this Christmas.
An online showcase of drawings by Jason Line NEAC. Spanning over thirty years, these works include still life, interiors, and portraiture, demonstrating the artist's unwavering commitment to working from observation. Whatever the subject matter, his use of charcoal has always been precise while retaining an expressive painterly quality.
Discover the enchantment of ballet with this sparkling festive treat for the whole family and join Clara at a delightful Christmas Eve party that becomes a magical adventure once everyone else is tucked up in bed. Marvel at the brilliance of Tchaikovsky’s score as Clara and her enchanted Nutcracker fight the Mouse King and visit the Sugar Plum Fairy in the glittering Kingdom of Sweets. Peter Wright’s much-loved production for The Royal Ballet, with gorgeous period designs by Julia Trevelyan Oman, keeps true to the spirit of this festive ballet classic, combining the thrill of the fairy tale with spectacular dancing.
Be inspired by stories of collaboration, creativity and rebellion when you visit Women in Revolt! Art and Activism in the UK 1970-90. Touring from Tate Britain, this major survey of feminist art celebrates the women who challenged and changed the face of British culture. Discover the powerful and often provocative work of over 100 artists and collectives forged against the backdrop of seismic social, economic and political change over two decades. Women in Revolt! Explores key themes and issues, such as the Women’s Liberation Movement, maternal and domestic experiences, Punk and independent music, Greenham Common and the peace movement, the visibility of Black and South Asian women artists, Section 28 and the AIDS epidemic. Showcasing painting, drawing, sculpture, performance, film and photography alongside archival materials – with many artworks on display as part of this tour for the first time since the 1970s – this timely and urgent show is one not to be missed.
This display brings together those works by Hepworth not ordinarily on permanent display in the Kettle’s Yard house, along with a painting by Alfred Wallis (1855 – 1942) that was previously in Hepworth’s collection and works by two contemporary artists (Ann-Marie James, born 1981, and Catherine Yass, b. 1963) who Hepworth’s sculpture has inspired. Archive material in the display includes letters that document the friendship between Hepworth and Ede and demonstrate their respect for each other’s particular talent in placing and presenting artworks despite not always seeing eye-to-eye.
Peek inside their costume workroom and witness where designs come to life. Then, relax with a Bellini in our bar while trying your hand at sketching your designs. The Royal Opera House stage has showcased some of the most iconic costumes in design history, from the enchanting animals of the ballet, The Tales of Beatrix Potter to the striking red dress worn by Maria Callas in Tosca. This 75-minute event begins with a brief introduction to the history of costume design, highlighting the different ways ballet and opera costumes are created. Guests are invited to tour their costume workroom, where theirr talented costume team brings to life an array of otherworldly and captivating designs. The tour also includes a rare visit to our pattern room, access to their costume reference books, and a walk through their ever-evolving costume store. The guided tour portion of this event lasts approximately 30 minutes.
They have been selected from the Devonshire Collections at Chatsworth in Derbyshire, one of the most significant collections of art and artefacts worldwide, and cared for by the Chatsworth House Trust charity. This exhibition is exclusive to the National Galleries of Scotland and will not travel elsewhere. Enjoy stunning drawings by, among others, Albrecht Dürer, Hans Holbein the Younger, and Sir Peter Paul Rubens, alongside no less than eleven works by Anthony van Dyck, and nine by Rembrandt.
Celebrate the start of 2025 by giving (back) with EARNT.
EARNT is a new platform where brands, consumers, and causes unite with purpose, benefiting one another. The platform was launched with a simple idea: people will go to extraordinary lengths to gain exclusive access and VIP treatment from their favourite brands, restaurants, and performers. Why not direct this energy toward something more meaningful? Attend a beach clean, volunteer at a food bank, or plant trees, and you become a brand VIP.
This January and February, EARNT is partnering with exclusive brands to encourage people to volunteer their time for good causes—at a time that suits them. In return, participants gain access to exclusive events, products, and experiences. Just a few hours of work with charities like AgeUK, Sal's Shoes, or State Talking could earn rewards such as:
A complimentary extra night at the Grand Hotel Belvedere
Champagne on arrival and a bespoke EARNT dessert at Louie restaurant
A 40% discount at Forivor
...and many more brands and unique EARNT Thank Yous.
In 2025 the National Galleries of Scotland will commemorate the 250th birthday of beloved British artist JMW Turner with a once-in-a-lifetime, free exhibition. For the first time, visitors will marvel at over 30 Turner watercolours from Dublin. Turner in January, Ireland's Vaughan Bequest from the National Gallery of Ireland at the Royal Scottish Academy building will be a one-off special take on the keenly-awaited and much-loved annual tradition. Spanning the breadth of Turner’s career, visitors can roam through sweeping seascapes, dramatic landscapes and spectacular cities, many displayed in their original frames. As part of this special partnership, the Turner works from the Scottish national collection will go on display at the National Gallery of Ireland allowing visitors in both Scotland and Ireland to connect with works from the Henry Vaughan Bequest they don’t often get to see.
This January, Studio Ashby invites you to shake off the winter gloom with an evening of Mahjong. Gather around the table, learn the basics of this centuries-old game, and enjoy a night of laughter and light competition in a beautifully curated setting. Whether you’re a novice or just curious, embracing the season with something new is the perfect way.
Welcome to MimeLondon, an occasional series of curated international physical and visual theatre. Like their previous, long-running venture, London International Mime Festival, MimeLondon will promote work that's edgy and unusual, created and performed by exceptional artists. As well as performance and film, the season offers a range of specialist workshops led by experts in their fields. In the present, artistically risk-averse climate they thank all their venue partners for their enthusiastic support in bringing the excitement of new forms and experiment to London audiences.
In the quaint suburban community of Stillwater, a mysterious shack springs up from the dust, and the inhabitants are nowhere to be seen. As speculation abounds, new residents, Sihle and Bonolo are recruited by their neighbourhood to be the face of a campaign to demolish the shack in this biting satire of community politics. A Good House is a thrilling and comedic new work, from writer Amy Jephta, about a couple who discover the limits of good neighbourliness and what is required to fit in. Directed by Nancy Medina (Trouble in Mind, National Theatre), A Good House is a co-production with Bristol Old Vic in association with The Market Theatre, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Introduction to Watercolours (Mon 18:00), Online Course, V&A, 13th January – 17th February, 6 - 8 pm
Each week you will build on developing your watercolour painting skills during live tutorials with Leo Crane. These sessions are complemented by specially-commissioned videos, showcasing the watercolour techniques used in creating various paintings. Using the Teams environment, you can share your work for individual tutor feedback and with the rest of the class, while in our ‘open studio’, you can ask for guidance or get to know your classmates better. Each session is recorded so you can re-watch or catch up whenever you have the time.
Decorative Arts – Alexander Palace, 14th January, 10:30 am, BADA, The Army & Navy Club, 36 Pall Mall, London SW1.
The KCWC has invited the BADA Friends to this fascinating lecture to brighten up the month of January. Cynthia Coleman Sparke will introduce the group to the interiors of the favourite home of the last czar and czarina – Alexander Palace. As a granddaughter of Queen Victoria, the last Empress of Russia was deeply influenced by English taste, a preference she chose to express in the royal retreat at Tsarskoe Selo far from the grandeur of St Petersburg.
With 500 exhibitors, TLTF is the UK’s premier platform for fashion fabrics, apparel accessories, print studios and vintage garments. Held at the Business Design Centre twice a year, it’s an unmissable event for all industry professionals.
This exhibition of new works by Jake Grewal (b.1994, London) will be the artist’s first institutional exhibition in London. Primary to this exhibition will be a new panoramic painting, which marks Grewal’s most ambitiously scaled work to date. The curved canvas, almost six metres in length, gives substantial movement and momentum to Grewal’s core thematics, expanding his painterly explorations of transformation and time.
This online art history course invites you to immerse yourself in the world of carpet history over twelve fascinating weeks. Long established as indicators of wealth and good taste, hand-knotted carpets have furnished the most important and the humblest dwellings. Learn about the history of carpets from their world-class experts wherever you are, whenever suits you: watch lectures live or view the recording later in your own time. You can experience the full breadth and depth of the V&A's collections with 24 hours of study over 12 weeks.
This winter, join them for art after dark with a combined ticket to see their major exhibitions – As We Rise: Photography from the Black Atlantic – a compelling exhibition of photographs from African Diasporic culture selected from the Wedge Collection – and Anastasia Samoylova: Adaptation – the first major survey of contemporary American photographer Anastasia Samoylova.
With its annual celebration of emerging filmmakers and the art of short filmmaking, the London Short Film Festival (LSFF) returns for its 22nd edition across London’s most iconic screens and venues, alongside arts and community spaces and a community-hopping mobile cinema bus. Continuing its legacy as the UK’s leading short film festival, LSFF will once again bring together the best of independent, boundary-pushing short films and new voices in cinema from around the globe. This year’s festival includes an eclectic line-up of 30+ programmes showing over 200 new short films from the UK and worldwide, plus 30 more cutting-edge Special Events, a full Industry offer, and more. This year’s festival theme, Spaces, will explore the creative, social, and political landscapes of the spaces they inhabit and the cost of their loss – from cinemas and social hubs to social and political third spaces, those vital gathering places that define their collective experience and foster community.
'Drawing the Portrait' with the Stephanie Mills, 18th & 19th January (2 days workshop), 11 am - 4 pm, The Gallery at Green & Stone, 251 - 253 Fulham Road, London, SW3 6HY
In this workshop, attendants will be taken through the fundamentals of portraiture drawing, working from one model and holding a sustained pose for two days. Using the method of comparative measurement, they will cover the various stages of drawing a portrait from the initial first marks focused on the larger proportions and gesture, the importance of shapes in capturing a likeness, value arrangement, form modelling, and finishing the drawing with consideration given to topics such as edges and line weight. Attendants will be toning their paper with charcoal powder and can work with graphite and/or charcoal on their drawings. Stephanie will work alongside attendants rather than give a group demonstration to maximise model and one-to-one tuition time.
Inside No. 9 Stage/Fright, 18th January - 5th April, Wyndham's Theatre, Charing Cross Road, London, WC2H 0DA
Expect the unexpected as the acclaimed BBC TV series comes to life on stage, weaving its signature web of twisted tales and black humour. From the eerie to the absurd, Inside Number 9 - Stage/ Fright combines comedy and horror with a dramatic script that will leave you guessing until the very end. Familiar characters and stories will mix with brand-new material by the genius of creators Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith, who will also perform in the production as they bring their unique brand of storytelling to the West End for a strictly limited season.
Tiptoe Retreat - two stylishly designed, sustainable woodland ‘tree cabins’ with a sauna, set along the River Till and opening in Northumberland in January - is thrilled to announce its new Bread Therapy workshops, ‘Knead to Unwind’, led by renowned author and bread maker, Pauline Beaumont. These workshops offer a unique opportunity to discover the transformative power of bread making amidst the idyllic surroundings of Tiptoe Farm. Pauline Beaumont, celebrated for her book, Bread Therapy: The Mindful Art of Baking Bread, brings her expertise and passion for the therapeutic aspects of baking to these workshops. Her book has inspired readers worldwide, offering a blend of practical recipes and reflective insights into how baking can nurture both the mind and body.
Waywaad Collective Presents: Always Been Here, 19th January, Ritzy, Picture House, Brixton Oval, Coldharbour Ln, London, SW2 1JG
This programme is a journey across London and across the different streets, scenes, homes and third spaces that they and those who came before they have created. Part celebration, part rallying cry, these shorts demonstrate the creativity and talent of Black queer people. In the face of the increasing commodification of Black queer culture, growing gentrification and ‘regeneration’ which seek to steal their culture from them while pushing them out, this programme serves as a reminder that they must intentionally carve out spaces (exclusively, when possible) for their community and continue to fight for the people and places they love. Curated by Waywaad Collective. WAYWARD is a collective made up of 5 black/mixed black, trans-anti-disciplinary artists working across archival, curatorial, performance and visual creative mediums, dedicated to breaking into ‘what might be’.
The Decorative Fair Winter Edition, 21st - 26th January, Evolution London, Battersea Park, London, SW11 4NJ
The Decorative Fair has rightfully earned its strong reputation as the UK’s must-visit event for interior designers. It showcases every discipline of antiques, fine and decorative art, and 20th-century design, dating from the 1700s to the 1970s, at a wide range of price points. The Fair is a destination event for those who value individuality and embrace sustainable choices in design. Visitors to the Fair relish the extensive variety and choice offered by over 130 exhibitors.
London Art Fair, 22nd - 26th January, Business Design Centre, Islington, N1 0QH / Multiple Locations
Explore an exceptional line-up of Modern and Contemporary Art galleries from across the globe and experience sensational live performances and an inspiring programme of talks and tours.
Soil, 23rd January - 13th April, Embankment Galleries, South Wing, Somerset House, Strand, London, WC2R 1LA
This groundbreaking exhibition unites visionary artists and thinkers from around the world to explore the remarkable power and potential of soil. Through a range of artworks, artefacts and innovative approaches, visitors are invited to reconsider the crucial role soil plays in our planet's health. The exhibition delivers a message of hope and urgency, encouraging a more sustainable, harmonious relationship with the Earth—if we choose to act now.
It’s a chance to celebrate the life of Scotland’s National Poet – Robert Burns – in a way he would have wanted: eating, drinking, dancing and laughter. Burns wrote some of the world’s most famous songs and poetry including Auld Lang Syne. We celebrate his birthday on the 25th January (1759) – it’s a blast and something to look forward to at the end of January! The celebrations began back in 1801 and has remained relevant to the Scottish people / Lovers of Burns. It began as a tiny gathering of the friends of the national bard, Robert ‘Rabbie’ Burns. They met at a pub to commemorate the anniversary of his birth.
Batten down the hatches. Strike the colours. The pirates are back. The ENO’s smash-hit production of Gilbert & Sullivan’s swashbuckling farce returns shortly – and is set to get audiences toe-tapping along all over again. With its witty dialogue, memorable melodies and more, The Pirates of Penzance opera is a timeless classic not to be missed.
Based on Nobel Prize winner Annie Ernaux’s fearless masterpiece, five actors create an unapologetic portrait of a woman shaped by her rapidly changing world. ‘Memory never stops. It pairs the dead with the living, real with imaginary beings, dreams with history.’ She strikes a pose and the camera shutter clicks: a child playing in the debris of the Second World War. Click. A student discovering parties and men’s bodies. Click. An activist fighting for the right to choose. Click. A wife picking out a velvet sofa. Click. A mother taking her eldest to judo. Click. A lover seducing a younger man. Click. A grandmother presenting her granddaughter to the camera. Click. Deborah Findlay, Romola Garai*, Gina McKee, Anjli Mohindra and Harmony Rose-Bremner give ‘extraordinary performances’ (The Observer) in Eline Arbo’s inventive adaptation, following sold out runs at the Almeida Theatre and Internationaal Theater Amsterdam.
In January 2025, French restaurateurs Ugo and Antoine Lecorché will bring the glamour of the French Riviera, past and present, to The Berkeley, with an iteration of their sophisticated restaurant La Môme.
La Môme is a must go when visiting Cannes, loved as much by movie stars and dignitaries as it is by tourists and locals alike. Renowned for its fun, stylish yet relaxed atmosphere, serving quintessential Mediterranean dishes with a taste of Provence and Italy, the restaurant has come to exemplify the very best of Mediterranean dining with a contemporary and glamourous twist and La Môme London will features many of their signature classics.
Brasil! Brasil! The Birth of Modernism, 28th January - 21st April, Royal Academy, Main Galleries, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London, W1J 0BD
Starting in the 1910s and continuing into the 1970s, Brazilian artists were adapting contemporary trends, international influences and artistic traditions to create a new type of modern art; art informed by the vibrant cultures, identities and landscapes of Brazil. The exhibition will bring an expanded view of Brazilian Modernism to UK audiences, showing work by artists who have historically received less exposure in this country, including women artists Tarsila do Amaral and Anita Malfatti, self-taught artists Alfredo Volpi and Djanira, Afro-Brazilian artist Rubem Valentim and performance artist, Flávio de Carvalho.
Join noted art historian and lecturer Christopher Newall for a spotlight tour of Leighton and Landscape: Capri, with a particular focus on Leighton's most famous drawing, produced during his time on 'the island of his heart'. Larger than many of his oil sketches, Study of a Lemon Tree, Capri (1859) registers botanical detail down to the shape of every leaf, as well as the effect of three-dimensionality through expertly applied shading. The cluster of seven small studies of a snail and its shell to the left conveys a sense of a spontaneous and informally executed exercise.
The Indonesian artist transforms The Curve in her first solo UK exhibition. Via painting, installation, embroidery and scent, take a sensory journey exploring ancestral memory, ritual and migration.
Sasmita’s practice often engages with the Indonesian Kamasan painting technique. Dating from the fifteenth century, and traditionally practiced exclusively by men, Kamasan was used to narrate Hindu epics. Reclaiming this masculine practice, Sasmita is interested in dismantling misconceptions of Balinese culture and confronting its violent colonial past. Challenging gender hierarchies and reinventing mythologies, her protagonists are powerful women who populate a post-patriarchal world.
Featuring Baldock’s sculptural installations in conversation with the rich history of the site of the Bloomberg Space, with a monumental Mother Goddess sculpture, inspired by the Roman artefacts on site and taking its form from an early clay sculpture made by Baldock for his mother, complemented by a forest of hop poles to reflect Baldock’s family history as hop gatherers. Through playing with this tension between the contemporary and the mythical, Baldock’s work will explore the importance of the past in maintaining and building modern communities. 0.1% will explore community in every sense of the word, from the intimacy of family, to the breadth of working class traditions, to the community that all humanity share from living in the same natural world.
At Home: Alice Neel in the Queer World, 30th January - 8th March, Victoria Miro Gallery, 16 Wharf Road, London, N1 7RW
At Home: Alice Neel in the Queer World at Victoria Miro London, following its run at David Zwirner LA. The exhibition will display the breadth of Alice Neel’s portraiture of the queer community, uniting her depictions of politicians and performers with those of her friends and neighbours, with the included works spanning the course of her celebrated career. As such, this exhibition will push the boundaries of the term ‘queer’, probing at what it can signify beyond sexuality, and celebrating the common thread of difference which unites the subjects of her portraits.
Three Sisters, 31st January - 19th April, Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, 21 New Globe Walk, Bankside, London, SE1 9DT
For the first time ever in the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, experience the work of Anton Chekhov with Three Sisters, a masterful study of family legacy, misdirected love and the human condition. This is the world premiere of a new translation by playwright Rory Mullarkey. Three Sisters. Their brother, and his fiancé. The teacher, the doctor, the old woman, and the soldiers stationed nearby. A small town, in the middle of nowhere. Their world is going up in flames, one minute at a time. But can they create the change they’re longing for? One of the most influential literary artists of his time, this season Anton Chekhov shares the stage with Shakespeare as they explore the transformative impact they both continue to have on how we think and feel about the world. Caroline Steinbeis (The Contingency Plan, Rutherford and Son, Sheffield Crucible) returns to the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse to direct this twentieth century classic.
New Film Releases
We Live in Time (1st January), Here (17th January), The Brutalist (24th January)
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