This year marks the 9th edition of Mayfair Art Weekend (MAW) and so we sat with Cherie Silver, Project Manager for MAW, to find out what’s in store this year and how you can make the most of the weekend filled with art.
Yes, it does seem to have come around quickly! In part, I think that is because, since Mayfair Art Weekend in 2021, we have introduced the seasonal West End Gallery HOP! events (coordinated late-night openings for galleries across the West End), so we’ve had the opportunity to encourage people to visit galleries and see exhibitions throughout the whole year.
For 2022 we are able to bring back a full programme of events – tours, talks, workshops, performances – as it is the first time in 3 years that there are no covid restrictions.
We have collaborated with critic and curator Hugh Pilkington to develop a series of tours that look at the ecology of the gallery landscape in Mayfair – and encourage visitors to “talk exhibitions”.
As well as exhibition focussed talks, it is the second year we are presenting our Access All Areas programme – with galleries providing an opportunity for young people to get a behind the scenes introduction to working in the arts. We’ll also be inviting our youngest audiences into the galleries for family activities and workshops – no one is too young to enjoy art and galleries!
Whilst it is the ninth edition of Mayfair Art Weekend, we are excited to present the third editions of the Mayfair Sculpture Trail, a collaboration with Art in Mayfair, and the May Fair Showreel – for which our open call generated almost 100 applications!
We take the thinking out of it for you. Once you pick up our map or programme, you can go into any of the galleries listed and you will be welcome. For Mayfair Art Weekend they all have exhibitions on, so you don’t need to check dates and opening times, just go! Our amazing team of volunteers will also be on hand to help you with directions, and make your gallery experience less intimidating. Gallery staff are on hand to talk to you about their exhibitions and look forward to speaking with visitors.
There are also quite a few galleries which don’t normally open on the weekend, so it is a great opportunity to visit these galleries out of hours. There are also a few project spaces that you can only visit during Mayfair Art Weekend, such as the artist studios at 48 Brook Street, the group show at Grosvenor Chapel, or the Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair pop-up on South Molton Street.
The sculpture trail is a fantastic collaboration between Mayfair Art Weekend, Art in Mayfair and the galleries in the area. Adding to the incredible public art permanently on display across the district, temporary sculptures will appear on Bond Street, Grosvenor Square and Berkeley Square this year.
The Mayfair Sculpture Trail guides the audience across this amazing area of London, taking in both the architectural wonders of the buildings on New Bond Street and the respite of the green squares including: Grosvenor Square, Berkeley Square, and Hanover Square.
Make a day of it!
From 10 June you’ll find the full events programme on our website, including talks, self-guided trails, workshops, performances, family activities and more. If you are regular visitor to Mayfair, you likely visit some of the more well known galleries – which we would still encourage you do to, such as Hauser & Wirth, David Zwirner and Pace Gallery. But to really get the most out of Mayfair Art Weekend, pick one of our trails which will guide you to discover galleries and project spaces you might not know about or have visited before – from Sapling Gallery on Mount Street Mews, to James Hyman Gallery who have just moved back into Mayfair. Then, once you’ve chosen your trail, try to time it to coincide with one of the events!
Enjoying art in Mayfair doesn’t have to cost you anything but, if you feel like treating yourself, book in for lunch in one of the incredible hotel dining rooms, from Charlie’s at Brown’s Hotel, The Cut at 45 Park Lane, the May Fair Kitchen at The May Fair Hotel, or the Colony Grill Room at The Beaumont.
This is always the hardest part for me as I want people to see everything. Each gallery has something different to offer. Sculptures both in galleries and outdoors are definitely a highlight this year. As well as the sculptures we’ve mentioned that you’ll find on the Mayfair Sculpture Trail, indoors you will find Billy Apple at The Mayor Gallery, Larry Bell at Hauser & Wirth, Wolf Vostell at Cardi Gallery and Peter Buggenhout at Holtermann Fine Art.
On Dover Street we are excited to see the live performance by Romina de Novellis at Richard Saltoun Gallery. The NFT Gallery will open a few doors down just in time for Mayfair Art Weekend. At Clarendon Fine Art there will be an exhibition of photographs by John Swannell tracing his fashion shots for Vogue. Mazzoleni are presenting an exhibition of Marinella Senatore – the second exhibition since moving into their new 1st Floor gallery space on Old Bond Street. You’ll also find a monumental installation of the artist’s work at Battersea Power Station!
A wander down Cork Street is always essential, and Waddington Custot are presenting two exhibitions, an exhibition of Hans Hartung in their permanent space, and a pop-up opposite featuring Peter Blake. The Hans Hartung exhibition is particularly interesting as it sort of uncovers a secret. The paintings by Hans Hartung are abstract, and at first glance have no bearing on anything real. However, in this exhibition, the gallery has displayed the paintings alongside photographs taken by the artist and from which he has drawn inspiration. Suddenly the abstract doesn’t seem so unknown!
And of course, don’t miss the RA Summer Exhibition 2022 and the RA Schools Show 2022!
Interested to visit some of the participating galleries this month? Visit www.mayfairartweekend.com to find out more. For all post-sale shipping, art storage or other logistics enquiries, contact [email protected].
