Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei is to take over London’s Design Museum with his first installation using design and history as a lens through which to consider what we value. Hundreds of thousands of objects, which have been collected by Weiwei since the 1990s as part of his ongoing fascination with artifacts and traditional craftsmanship, will be at the heart of the … [Read more...] about Artist Ai Weiwei to launch first design-focused exhibition at London’s Design Museum
Museums
London Travel Alert: Staff at British Museum to walk out during half-term break
Fresh strikes have been called by the biggest civil service union in its long-running dispute over jobs, pay and pensions. Members of the Public and Commercial Service union (PCS) at the British Museum will take industrial action during February half term. More than 100 members of the museum’s visitor services and security teams will take seven days’ action from February … [Read more...] about London Travel Alert: Staff at British Museum to walk out during half-term break
National Portrait Gallery to reopen in June with two special exhibitions
The National Portrait Gallery will reopen later this year with an exhibition of previously unseen photographs by Sir Paul McCartney from his early days in The Beatles. The archive features images taken between December 1963 and February 1964 – from the emergence of Beatlemania in Liverpool to performing on The Ed Sullivan Show in New York for an audience of millions. In … [Read more...] about National Portrait Gallery to reopen in June with two special exhibitions
Pollock’s Toy Museum in London Has Closed Unexpectedly
One of London’s most famous tourist attractions - Pollock’s Toy Museum in central London - has closed its doors unexpectedly. The Toy Museum, located in a beautiful old Georgian building, was a popular tourist attraction, showcasing the history of toys from around the world. According to the statement released this week by the store on their website, they’ve been forced … [Read more...] about Pollock’s Toy Museum in London Has Closed Unexpectedly
British Museum confirms ‘constructive discussions’ with Greece on Elgin Marbles
The British Museum has said it continues to have “constructive discussions” over the possible return of the Elgin Marbles to Greece after 200 years. The 2,500-year-old sculptures were removed from the Acropolis in Athens by Lord Elgin in the early 19th century, when he was the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire. The 17 artifacts were bought by the British … [Read more...] about British Museum confirms ‘constructive discussions’ with Greece on Elgin Marbles
What On in London Events for January 2023
It's all change for London's museum scene as names change, locations close, and new exhibitions start. Here's your guide to what's going on in London in January 2023. The Museum of London Docklands celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2023 with a name change to The London Docklands Museum. Housed in a Grade I listed converted Georgian sugar warehouse, it tells the story of … [Read more...] about What On in London Events for January 2023
Ten London Exhibitions to Look Forward to in 2023
When you visit London’s museums, of which there are more than a few, you may be at a loss for what to see. Sure, there are plenty of paintings, artifacts, sculptures, and whatnot that are on display throughout the year, but what if you want to see something different? Fortunately, every London museum, from the British Museum to the Museum of London Docklands, has special … [Read more...] about Ten London Exhibitions to Look Forward to in 2023
The Museum of London Has Closed, Long Live the London Museum
In a city with no shortage of great history museums, the Museum of London is one that is dedicated to the city itself and its growth from a small settlement in pre-Roman times to the megalopolis world capital it is today. The museum began in 1976 as a merger of the collections belonging to the Guildhall Museum and the London Museum. Once located near the Barbican estate at … [Read more...] about The Museum of London Has Closed, Long Live the London Museum
National Portrait Gallery announces reopening date in June 2023
The National Portrait Gallery in London has set the date it will reopen three years on from its closure due to renovation. The public can enjoy the improvements, the biggest development since the building in St Martin’s Place, close to Trafalgar Square, opened in 1896, on June 22, 2023. It has been closed since 2020 to refurbish the building, redisplay the collection, … [Read more...] about National Portrait Gallery announces reopening date in June 2023
Piero’s Nativity Back at London’s National Gallery for Christmas after 3 Year Restoration
One of the National Gallery's most iconic paintings is now back on display in time for Christmas, after a 3-year restoration. The National Gallery’s newly restored Nativity by Piero Della Francesca, 1415/20-1492, will go on public view in a special display from December 1 2022, in time for Christmas. This is following an unusually challenging restoration, carried out in … [Read more...] about Piero’s Nativity Back at London’s National Gallery for Christmas after 3 Year Restoration
National Portrait Gallery will get new wing as part of refurbishment
The National Portrait Gallery in London will get a new wing as part of its refurbishment when it reopens in 2023. The Blavatnik Wing will host more than one hundred years of British portraits in nine galleries as part of the gallery’s Inspiring People project. Paintings of naturalist Charles Darwin, and writers Oscar Wilde, Virginia Woolf, the Bronte sisters, and … [Read more...] about National Portrait Gallery will get new wing as part of refurbishment
Exploring Leighton House Museum – London’s Palace of Art
Leighton House Museum is the former home and studio of the leading Victorian artist, Frederic, Lord Leighton (1830–1896). When you arrive the formal red brick exterior leaves you unprepared for the 'Palace of Art' inside. About Leighton House Designed by his friend, the architect George Aitchison RA (1825–1910), this is the only purpose-built studio-house open to the … [Read more...] about Exploring Leighton House Museum – London’s Palace of Art
Two Turner paintings to return to Britain for the first time in a century at London’s National Gallery
Two paintings by Romantic artist Joseph Mallord William Turner are set to return to Britain for the first time in more than 100 years. The works, both painted in the mid 1820s, are being lent by The Frick Collection in New York to London’s National Gallery for a special exhibition this winter. The Turner on Tour exhibition will see Turner’s oil paintings Harbour of … [Read more...] about Two Turner paintings to return to Britain for the first time in a century at London’s National Gallery
UK’s largest jellyfish to go on display at Sea Life London Aquarium
Visitors to the Sea Life London Aquarium can view a special display in time for World Jellyfish Day. In a UK first, experts at the aquarium have raised Barrel jellyfish, having bred the species from their juvenile stage as polyps in its specialist breeding laboratory. The mushroom-shaped creatures are the UK’s largest jellyfish, growing up to one metre wide in the … [Read more...] about UK’s largest jellyfish to go on display at Sea Life London Aquarium
New Exhibition at British Museum Report – Hieroglyphs: Unlocking Ancient Egypt
The British Museum has a major exhibition on hieroglyphs open from 13 October 2022. Two hundred years after the language was deciphered, Hieroglyphs: unlocking ancient Egypt marks this important moment in our understanding of ancient history. It explores the inscriptions and objects that helped scholars unlock one of the world's oldest civilizations. Egypt was a superpower … [Read more...] about New Exhibition at British Museum Report – Hieroglyphs: Unlocking Ancient Egypt
Charles Dickens Museum – To Be Read At Dusk: Dickens, Ghosts & the Supernatural
It must be getting close to Halloween as a new exhibition at the Charles Dickens Museum explores the ghosts in the mind of Dickens. To Be Read At Dusk: Dickens, Ghosts & the Supernatural is open from 5 October 2022 until 5 March 2023. Dickens wrote, read, performed, and edited ghost stories for over 30 years, and the exhibition covers from boyhood horror comics to his … [Read more...] about Charles Dickens Museum – To Be Read At Dusk: Dickens, Ghosts & the Supernatural
Rosetta Stone at British Museum moved for first time in 18 years for new exhibition
The Rosetta Stone has temporarily moved to a special exhibition in the British Museum to celebrate 200 years since hieroglyphs were decoded. It is the first time the ancient object has been relocated since it was installed in the Egyptian Sculpture Gallery 18 years ago. In 1799, the inscribed slab was stumbled upon by a group of soldiers and later it went on to became the … [Read more...] about Rosetta Stone at British Museum moved for first time in 18 years for new exhibition
London’s Natural History Museum creates gardens to study how wildlife reacts to climate
The Natural History Museum (NHM) is creating hi-tech gardens full of sensors to look at how wildlife reacts to the climate, and how and why it is changing. The gardens will also allow researchers to look at the kind of life that makes these gardens home, from insects and frogs to tiny microscopic organisms invisible to the human eye. Sensors installed across the site will … [Read more...] about London’s Natural History Museum creates gardens to study how wildlife reacts to climate
Exhibition Report: Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery
This National Gallery landmark exhibition is being staged to mark the centenary of the birth of artist Lucian Freud (1922–2011.) It is the first major Lucian Freud exhibition in a decade to showcase his long and influential career. Family The grandson of Sigmund Freud, Lucian Freud was born in Berlin in 1922. His father was the Jewish architect Ernst L. Freud. Ernst was … [Read more...] about Exhibition Report: Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery
London’s National Gallery announces ‘pay what you wish’ scheme for special exhibitions amid cost-of-living crisis
Visitors to the National Gallery will be able to pay “as much or as little as they like” on Friday evenings for the run of a Lucian Freud exhibition as part of a new scheme responding to the cost-of-living crisis, the gallery has announced. The Pay What You Wish scheme, the first of its kind at the National Gallery, will be valid for the run of the Credit Suisse – Lucian … [Read more...] about London’s National Gallery announces ‘pay what you wish’ scheme for special exhibitions amid cost-of-living crisis
Stunning diamond pieces from Queen’s jewelry collection to go on display at Buckingham Palace
Dazzling jewelry from the Queen’s personal collection is to go on display during the summer opening of Buckingham Palace’s state rooms. The bracelets, tiaras and brooches will appear alongside photographs of the Queen that feature the pieces made from diamonds, emeralds, and pearls. The photographs, taken by acclaimed society photographer Dorothy Wilding, will be familiar … [Read more...] about Stunning diamond pieces from Queen’s jewelry collection to go on display at Buckingham Palace
London’s Design Museum to explore story of Surrealism in landmark exhibition
The story of the Surrealist movement and its impact on the world will be displayed in an “eye-opening” exhibition at The Design Museum. The exhibition titled Objects of Desire: Surrealism and Design 1924 – Today will run from October 14 until February 19 and will explore how the Surrealist movement revolutionised art and design. Nearly 350 objects will go on display, … [Read more...] about London’s Design Museum to explore story of Surrealism in landmark exhibition
London’s Horniman Museum Announced a Museum of the Year
A London museum focused on inspiring the next generation has won the largest museum prize in the world. The Horniman Museum and Gardens (yes, that's really its name) was crowned the Art Fund’s Museum Of The Year after it reimagined its role as the creative hub of the community during the pandemic – having had time to reflect on the climate emergency and Black Lives Matter … [Read more...] about London’s Horniman Museum Announced a Museum of the Year
Exhibition featuring 40-meter animations to open at National Gallery next year
A new exhibition of 40-meter animated projections based on pictures from the National Gallery is set to open later this year. The 25 striking new animations are designed to immerse the viewer in a panorama of nine large video projections, played on a continuous loop. They are based on an idiosyncratic selection from famous paintings in the National Gallery in London, and … [Read more...] about Exhibition featuring 40-meter animations to open at National Gallery next year
British Museum launches hieroglyphs exhibition to mark special anniversary
The British Museum has launched a major exhibition to mark 200 years since the decipherment of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs. The exhibition, which opens to the public on October 13, explores the inscriptions and objects that helped academics unlock an “ancient civilization” exactly two centuries ago. The immersive display, which will include digital media and audio, will … [Read more...] about British Museum launches hieroglyphs exhibition to mark special anniversary
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