Our Pick Of London's Most Talked-About New Art Exhibitions

Tabish Khan
By Tabish Khan Last edited 112 months ago
Our Pick Of London's Most Talked-About New Art Exhibitions ★★★★☆ 4

Just before the art world shuts down over the festive break, there has been one last surge of art openings in November. We've rounded up some of the most talked-about exhibitions so you know what you can expect from them:

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Peder Balke at National Gallery
Balke may not be a familiar name but these moonlit romantic landscapes of Norway are fantastic - they are haunting and evocative. It's an exhibition that caps a brilliant year for the gallery. Until 12 April 2015.

Londonist Rating: ★★★★☆

The Photographers 2014 at Osborne Samuel & Beetles + Huxley
This exhibition across two galleries contains 160 works covering the history of photography from the 19th century to the modern day. Osborne Samuel hosts the 19th and 20th century works with some fantastic photographs, though we found it a little too fashion heavy. Beetles + Huxley has the contemporary selection and this felt like the stronger half with works by talents such as Burtynsky, Maclean and Salgado. Until 23 December.

Londonist Rating: ★★★☆☆

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Confusion in her Eyes that Says it All at Maria Stenfors
The works in the main gallery space didn't impress us, but behind a black curtain sits one of the best pieces of sound art we've heard by Hans Rosenstrom. It's atmospheric and extremely chilling, but we'll leave out the details as we don't want to spoil the surprise. Until 13 December.

Londonist Rating: ★★★☆☆

A Brilliant Afterlife at Barakat Gallery
An exhibition of some sensational ancient Chinese funerary artefacts and the full collection across four floors is stunning — you're unlikely to find anything this impressive outside of a museum. Until 7 December.

Londonist Rating: ★★★★☆

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Crossing the Field at Pitzhanger Manor
Another World War related exhibition but this time the focus is football, based on the famous football match that broke out on Christmas Day during the First World War between opposing armies. The quality of the exhibition is patchy but its saved by the excellent paintings on stretchers and of explosions by Eric Monbel, and the photographs of amateur football matches across Belgium by Jurgen Vantomme. It's also the last time to see an exhibition here before it closes for a three year restoration. Until 10 January.

Londonist Rating: ★★★☆☆

Dexter Dalwood: London Paintings at Simon Lee gallery
The acclaimed London painter returns with new paintings inspired by our home city. The works are texturally interesting but the paintings are dull and uninspiring. Until 24 January.

Londonist Rating: ★☆☆☆☆

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Joao Onofre: Tacet at Marlborough Contemporary
An excellent take on John Cage's famous 4 minutes and 33 seconds — a work of silence where the orchestra plays nothing. In this version the pianist lights his piano on fire and simply sits watching it for the same duration. Humorous and visually arresting. Until 10 January.

Londonist Rating: ★★★★☆

All these exhibitions are free to enter. All images courtesy and copyright of the respective artists and galleries. Peder Balke image copyright of Northern Norway Art Museum.

Last Updated 24 November 2014