April’s Must-See Exhibitions in London

Here are five exhibitions closing soon that we recommend any contemporary art fan attend this April. From solo shows in venues both large and small, to group shows of 5 artists to 100+, this list is sure to have something for those looking to spend some time in London’s galleries and museums this month. 

Charlotte Edey ‘framework’ at Ginny on Frederick

Closing 22nd April

Ginny on Frederick is the new ‘It’ gallery on the block. Opposite Smithfield Meat Market in Clerkenwell, the gallery space is an old sandwich bar with its original sign still hung above the door ‘Sunset Sandwich Bar II: Hot & Cold Food to Take Away’. Founder Freddie Powell has been filling the appealingly-unusual white-tiled space with boundary-pushing sculpture and installation work since 2021 and the current show by the British artist Charlotte Edey is not one to miss. Edey’s soft pastel on paper works framed within found Georgian window frames and multimedia woven works ask viewers to consider the symbolic power of windows as a boundary between inside & outside, real & unreal, viewing & projecting.

‘The Songs of Hecate’ at Pictorum Gallery

Closing 26th April

Another new name on the gallery circuit is Pictorum Gallery. Their inaugural space on Portman Square has been filled with short-run punchy exhibitions since opening in late 2022. Pictorum has earned a name for itself as a champion of female-identifying creatives and artists of colour. Their latest show ‘The Songs of Hecate’ features the work of Hannah Lim, Ornella Pocetti, Maddie Yuille, Rithika Pandey and Johanna Seidel and explores the significance of storytelling and ritual for female communities.  Inspired by the writing of Sylvia Federici, this multimedia show shines a light on what societies lose when women are deprived of their intimate communities and traditions. 

Zadie Xa ‘House Gods, Animal Guides, and Five Ways 2 Forgiveness’ at Whitechapel Gallery

Closes April 30th

Korean-Canadian artist Zadie Xa’s largest solo show to date closes in London on April 30th. Whitechapel Gallery commissioned the new body of work from Xa, to create this exhibition made up of installations, textile works, sculptures and paintings. This immersive exhibition takes place amongst a large Hanok-inspired fabric structure, transforming this world-famous gallery into an ethereal, transcendental space. Exploring migration, tradition and ritual, Xa calls upon her own identity to create a show that eloquently questions Western power and celebrates authentically connecting with storytelling and lineage. 

Mike Nelson ‘Extinction Beckons’ at Hayward Gallery

Closes 7th May

Hayward Gallery on the South Bank has been home to many of the most celebrated exhibitions of the last 60 years. This month, it has been taken over by Mike Nelson’s installations which take visitors to the iconic building through a fantasy landscape which uncomfortably foreshadows our own. Nelson has constructed his pieces using found and salvaged materials, giving this show that it feels unreal, a depth and often shocking gravitas. Having received 5 stars from Time Out and The Observer, this show is not one to miss.

‘Beyond The Streets’ at Saatchi Gallery

Closes 9th May

Curated and founded by Roger Gastman, ‘Beyond The Streets’ is our exhibition recommendation of the year and it comes to a close on May 9th. The group show of over 100 international artists explores more than just the history of contemporary street art, but expands viewers’ understanding of quite how much of culture over the past 50 years has been deeply informed by street art practices. Taking up all three floors of the Saatchi Gallery space and filled to the brim with different styles, mediums and immersive spaces, this exhibition is sure to offer something for everyone. Read our full review of the show here.