Exhibitions

Stephen Friedman Gallery is pleased to present ‘Multiple IV’, its fourth annual exhibition of editions by gallery artists. For the first time, the gallery will focus on an individual artist by presenting a body of unseen works by Scottish sculptor and printmaker Claire Barclay. Discussing the show, Barclay explains: “This exhibition brings together unique print works that have evolved over the last three years from improvised screen and relief printing processes. My sculptural mindset has very much influenced these works; layered cut-out shapes and objects seemingly float within the boundaries of the paper whilst attention is drawn to the material quality of ink built up on their surfaces.” This project precedes a major solo exhibition of Barclay’s work at The MAC, Belfast in 2022.

Stephen Friedman Gallery is pleased to present British-Nigerian artist Yinka Shonibare CBE RA’s seventh solo exhibition at the gallery, titled ‘African Spirits of Modernism’. Opening on 4 June 2021, the exhibition comprises quilts, sculptures and a series of African masks that engage with the artist’s own identity as a ‘post-colonial hybrid’. The works are accompanied by archival material that captures the burgeoning interest in African art in Paris in the 1920s.

American artist Marina Adams presents the first instalment of her two-part solo exhibition at Stephen Friedman Gallery in June 2021. Twenty-six paintings on paper, all measuring 12 x 9 inches, are exhibited together in the gallery’s Viewing Room. Spanning over five years of her artistic practice from 2016 to 2021, these works reveal Adams’ bold exploration of colour and form on a condensed scale. This is Adams’ first solo exhibition at the gallery following the announcement of her representation in April 2020 and culminates with ‘Wild Is Its Own Way’, a presentation of large-scale paintings in September 2021.

Brazilian artist Luiz Zerbini presents his second exhibition at Stephen Friedman Gallery, following his acclaimed solo show at South London Gallery in 2018. Juxtaposing organic and geometric forms, Zerbini’s paintings explore the relationship between colour, light and movement. Inspired by the Amazon and Mata Atlântica rainforests, the exhibition reflects the artist’s ongoing interest in the relationship between nature and humanity in and around Rio de Janeiro.

Stephen Friedman Gallery is pleased to present a group exhibition of new and historical works by Jonathan Baldock, Huguette Caland, Jeffrey Gibson and Tau Lewis. Challenging issues such as identity, gender, sexuality and race, the works in ‘Threadbare’ explore the transformative and performative qualities associated with textiles through their inherent connection with the body.

‘In Nature’, is a new presentation visible to Old Burlington street from the window of the gallery’s viewing room and is available to the viewer online and by appointment. 

Taking place in both galleries on Old Burlington Street in Mayfair, its home since 1995, this unique event showcases the diversity of the gallery programme by celebrating its history whilst also looking ahead to the future.  

In light of the events of the past month and the Black Lives Matter movement, Stephen Friedman Gallery has been amplifying its artists' voices in solidarity with the cause. To mark the reopening of the gallery, a monumental work by acclaimed British-Nigerian artist Yinka Shonibare CBE is presented for the first time in the UK. The sculpture is installed in the gallery’s Viewing Room, making ‘Justice for All’ visible from the street and giving the work the public focus it deserves. Lights remain on during the night to make the sculpture available to the public 24/7.

Stephen Friedman Gallery is pleased to present a new installation ‘Facecrime (suspect)’ by British artist Jonathan Baldock in Gallery Two.  Originally commissioned for Art Basel Hong Kong 2020 before the fair’s cancellation, 'Facecrime (suspect)’ is a monumental installation comprising precariously stacked ceramic columns. Evoking both ancient ruins and a surreal vision of the future, these hand-crafted forms reflect the artist's interest in myth, folklore and narratives associated with ‘outsider' practices.