London is one of the brightest and most eclectic hubs for art in the world, with a tremendous range of artists from a wide variety of backgrounds, styles, movements and moments.
From historical art pieces with bespoke framing that take pride of place in the British Museum to creative, dynamic and expressive small-scale alternative art displays, London has art that appeals to every taste, especially when you turn off the beaten track.
From vibrant contemporary artists to greater explorations of less-heralded pioneers, here are three fascinating alternative art exhibitions in London.
Action, Gesture, Paint
An exploration of women artists in the Abstract Expressionism movement, Action Gesture Paint goes beyond the most familiar names with the movement to highlight international women artists working in abstraction from the end of the Second World War until 1970, featuring figures such as Helen Frankenthaler, Bertina Lopesand and Wook-Kyung Choi.
What makes this particular exhibition fascinating is not only the re-centring of the movement to more appropriately highlight its huge geographic footprint but also the often very different cultural contexts these artists are working in.
Let The Sunshine In
Named after the iconic 5th Dimension song of the same name, Let The Sunshine In is a group exhibition based on the important message that even in the resolute darkness that can often feel overwhelming, hope, imagination and art are tools used to strive for a stronger future.
Based at Pilar Corrias, the pieces are inspired by community, by uncertainty but also by possibility, remembering the ideals of the counterculture as the sun that rose with them has long since set.
The Point 0
The first solo exhibition for Baghdad-born artist Mohammed Sami, The Point 0 draws on his experiences living both under the autocracy of Saddam Hussein as well as the life of a refugee in Sweden, drawing heavily on claustrophobia, isolation and the uncanny in the everyday.
His works are distinctive, challenging, beautiful and often especially harrowing.