Since the Young British Artists blazed a trail in the nineties Shoreditch has earned the title as the hippest place in London to find emerging creative talent. The skyscrapers might have gone up in recent years, but the area has maintained an exciting mix of grass roots artist-run spaces and glossier, well-established galleries. Here’s our picks for the best places to visit in the area.
Ting-Ting Cheng, On the Desert Island, Artist residency at the Stuart Hall Library, Iniva | Courtesy Iniva
Iniva (Institute of International Visual Arts)
This institute is dedicated to broadening cultural histories, in order to preserve the legacies of British artists of predominantly Black or Asian descent and help marginalised artistic communities gain the recognition they deserve. It was instrumental in the early careers of famous contemporary artists such as Yinka Shonibare MBE, Steve McQueen, Idris Khan and Sonia Boyce. It also contains the Stuart Hall library, named after the pioneering academic who founded the organisation in 1994. As well as offering resources for researchers, artists and cultural producers, Inviva also presents temporary exhibitions in its ground floor space and artist residencies, imbedded in research conducted in the library.
Although Mark Hix’s restaurant Tramshed has its own fair share of art – it’s known for an enormous Damien Hirst sculpture featuring a cow and chicken in formaldehyde, which dangles above the dinner tables – he also has a dedicated gallery hidden in the basement of his eatery. The Cock ’n’ Bull gallery generally reflects the tastes of its owner, showing a range of temporary exhibitions by emerging and established talent.
Samson Kambalu, Capsules, Mountains and Forts | Kate MacGarry, 2016
Kate McGarry
As one of the pioneering galleries to set up shop in Shoreditch at the dawn of the new millennium, Kate MacGarry has been at the forefront of new talent since its original inception on Redchurch Street before moving to the current location just down the road. The gallery represents a number of artists who work in a variety of media, including acclaimed video artist Ben Rivers and the performance-fine art duo Chicks on Speed.
More than just a cinema, Rich Mix is also dedicated to showing the broad range of arts and culture that the area has to offer. It shows wall-based works as well as organising screenings of art films and shorts, as well as workshops and performances. Most of these activities take place in the Mezzanine Gallery, although they can also spill over into the main spaces, making sure film fans also receive an added dose of visual culture.
This not-for-profit foundation is dedicated to bringing art from the New East (eastern Europe, the Balkans, Central Asia and Russia) to the attention of a UK audience. The headquarters just off of Arnold Circus presents talks, events and exhibitions that engage with historical movements, architecture, design, film and photography.
This enormous 2,500 space has been converted from the old railway arches that flank the nearby Hoxton station. It is a for-hire space that is popular with art college degree shows, print sales and performers.
Redchurch Street was still unchartered territory when this artist-run, not-for-profit space was set up in 2003. Its unassuming, graffitied doorway is suitable camouflage for a gallery who places emphasis on pure artistic integrity. The studio has an extremely international outlook with sister galleries in the Netherlands, Brazil and Croatia.
'Man in a shop'. ‘Africa’s Last Colony: 40 Years Not Forgotten’ | Courtesy of Hundred Years Gallery
Hundred Years Gallery
With a focus on showcasing unrepresented, young artists, Hundred Years Gallery highlights the experimental, and often publishes open calls for group exhibitions. As well as visual arts, the gallery has a sizeable music programme, hosting concerts on a weekly basis.
This co-operative gallery is run by artist members dedicated to supporting the local artistic community, in a large space just moments from the top of Brick Lane. The rapidly-changing programme focuses on collaborative exhibitions.
