Location: Getty Images Gallery
Admission: Free

The latest exhibition at the Getty Images Gallery presents a stirring selection of rare images capturing the cultural, sociopolitical history of London. Photographs were taken from Getty's Hulton Archive and covers 90 years of London style, from 1900 to 1990.

I love how the images capture the changing scene through the twentieth century. Celebrities featured include Elton John, the late Eartha Kit and the Sex Pistols. It's a compelling showcase and worth the visit. Exhibition ends September 12th.


Getty Images Gallery
46 Eastcastle St,
London, W1W 8DX

Tel: 020 7291 5380
Web: www.gettyimagesgallery.com

For cutting edge contemporary art, you'll find the London Miles Gallery the ideal place to satisfy your artistic cravings. Based in Notting Hill, the venue specialises in Lowbrow, Pop surrealism, illustration, fine art and pays homage to the New contemporary art movement.

The gallery adapts to the ever changing art market and is reluctant to shy away from controversy. The latest exhibition on show is no exception. The collection of pieces from established and emerging international talent forms a 'naughty but nice' presentation entitled Candy Coated Canvas.

Featuring art by the likes of Tiffany Liu, Jade Klara and KuKula, Candy Coated Canvas is a colourful and playful visual delight, evoking memories of childhood, sweets, fantasy lands and adult guilty pleasures. The grand opening on the July 24th was a great success and the sweet wonderland of artwork is available for public viewings until August 24th.





London Miles Gallery
212 Kensington Park Road
Notting Hill, W11 1NR
London, UK
Tel: 020 7727 4447
Web: www.londonmiles.com

As an illustrator, when your work has been published in NY Times, Viva La Mode and Muse, you're doing very well. But to also be commissioned by labels Zara and Escada is double confirmation of your sought-after status. One woman who has achieved this is Finnish illustrator Laura Laine.

At just 25, she's received global critical acclaim and won the hearts of key fashion editors through her hauntingly beautiful, amazingly detailed art. In an interview with Charlies Design Diary, she explains that she takes inspiration from a host of different things but mostly fashion, literature, browsing through magazines and traveling to Italy.

I've been following her work for some time now and I have to say that I absolutely covet the selection she produced for Muse magazine. The combination of Laine's free-flowing drawing with fashion photography in such a flirty, playful way is just inspiring. Don't you agree?





Web: www.lauralaine.net

Date:
2nd to 19th July 09

Admission:
FREE

The launch party for The Madonna Nudes exhibition took place on Wednesday evening and I took along my very good friend to check out the 'artwork'. Jointly organised by Seven Dials and Impure Art, we were greeted by Madonna herself (well a very, good lookalike: Evelyne Brink) who donned the singer's signature black leotard and knee-high boots combo whilst dancing to 'get into the groove'. It was all very entertaining, especially when the designated photographer initiated a dance off between them ala Step Up style.

As for the images, they were certainly baring all. With Madonna's short and curlies on full display and armpit hair that had been cultivating for some considerable time, I was feeling both surprised, uneasy and yet celebratory. Surprised that the icon that is Madonna, was at the time just hungry for fame dancer, aged 20, who stripped for just $30. Uneasy at the sight of her front bottom and its desperate need for a wax, and celebratory for the fact that I could see cellulite and little flaws. The fact that images were created before the years of Photoshop brought about a feeling of nostalgia. It was good to look back and remember a time, some 30 years ago when it wasn't the norm to perform a digital nip-tuck.

The Madonna Nudes are available to buy from £3,400 and being showcased at the gallery Monday to Saturday, 12-7pm, and Sunday 12-6pm. No doubt the pictures will become serious collectors' items.

Address:
Impure Art Gallery,
19 Earlham Street,
Seven Dials, WC2

For more information visit:
www.sevendials.co.uk or www.impureart.com

Westfield Shopping Centre has joined forces with Getty Images - the leading news and media photo resource to place a little art and culture within London's largest retail hub. The Getty Images Gallery, will be regularly showcasing their world famous collections.

From the 7th of July to the 3rd of August, the gallery will be exhibiting artwork by British photographer Terry O'Neil - best known for capturing 1960s fashion and pop culture through the lens. With a career that spans over 45 years, O'Neil has significantly contributed to showbiz iconology and the way we visually engage with celebrities today.

Entitled 'Behind The Scenes', the collection features photographs of celebrities in never seen before settings, including the Beetles, Muhammad Ali, and the famous image of Fay Dunaway (his then girlfriend), the morning after she won the award for best Actress at the Oscars.


Admission is free.
Open daily from 12:00 - 19:00, except Sundays when it closes at 18:00.

Today I'm introducing the collection of artwork that is Belle and Boo. I first discovered the illustrations whilst shopping in Paperchase for a few birthday cards. I was searching for something vintage looking and sweet. On my way out of the shop, I saw a pretty little girl with bobbed hair, bright eyes and wearing the cutest vintage dress - beautifully illustrated on a postcard. I took it home to display on the notice board and I've since collected a great deal more.

The illustrations capture the moments of childhood you'll always remember; friendships, nature, your first pet. It's the nostalgic, vintage charm that I adore and the hint of Parisian style. Prior to the postcard purchase, I'd never heard of Belle and Boo's Mandy Sutcliffe, but I've since come to learn that as well as being a fantastic illustrator, she is also the author of a number of children's books including Evie's Seaside Lullaby.


The collection is also available on prints, clothing and accessories. Visit the online shop and you'll find adorable pocket mirrors and bags, but it's the 'Lost' dress that I'm shamelessly in love with. It's just the kind of clothing that I'll be kitting out my future sprog in! (If the baby is a girl, of course, and no I'm not expecting... just thinking ahead!) It's official, Belle and Boo has to be one of my most coveted creative pickings for this year.


Web: www.belleandboo.com
For London Stockists click here
Also available at www.etsy.com

The Timothy Taylor Gallery has been host to some impressive exhibitions, including that of sculptor Ron Arad and one of my favourite artisans Susan Hiller. It's a great spot for soaking up contemporary art and design.

The Diane Arbus exhibition at the Timothy Taylor Gallery on Dering street is not to be missed. The gallery pays homage to the American photographer by displaying sixty photographs of her work achieved between 1957 and 1971. Hailed as one of the most influential and original photographers of her time, Arbus explored the matter of people and society through the camera lens. She captured the sophistication, adolescence and eccentricity of her subjects who included socialites, nudists and young children. It ends on the 27th of June and admission is free.



Timothy Taylor Gallery
21 Dering Street
London
W1S 1AL

Web: www.timothytaylorgallery.com

4th-27th February 2009

This February, visit the Fine Art Society and view the innovative art collection by Emily Young. The exhibition showcases thirteen new works of stone carvings in both abstract and human form. Her work, which is hand carved from blocks of rare and ancient stone, has been praised by art critics and media alike.

The Financial Times, makes a confident statement that Young is virtually the only sculptor of her kind and she has been critically acclaimed as Britain’s greatest female stone sculptor by the Daily Telegraph.

Young developed her love of stone and carvings in the early eighties, at a time when she spent her youth traveling between London, Rome and Wiltshire, developing her skills. For over a decade her collections have been exhibited world-wide, and her latest; Teardrop, which is her third solo exhibition at the Fine Art Society, is set to highlight a powerful relationship between science, poetry and technique. Intriguing stuff...

Fine Art Society,
148 New Bond Street, London W1S 2JT
Web: http://www.faslondon.com

When in London the perfect place to view fresh and exciting art is the Saatchi Gallery. The Gallery’s partnership with leading contemporary art auction house Phillips de Pury & Company has enabled it to successfully bring contemporary art to the widest audience possible.

With free admission to all shows, this cultural venue is the ideal excursion for an extensive introduction to artists and designers around the world who share a common love of contemporary art in various forms.

Be sure to visit the gallery in January 09 to see the latest exhibition which includes the showing of Feng Zhengjie's Chinese Portrait L Series 2006 No. 11. Zhengjie is an artist whose work is reminiscent of Warhol's screen printed celebrities. Zhengjie's paintings reflect a vision of futuristic pop through portraits of women infused with exotic colours, electrified auras, and styled with wind machine hair that exudes the glamour aesthetic of today's commodified media.

UNVEILED: NEW ART FROM THE MIDDLE EAST is showing at the Saatchi Gallery from Jan 30th - May 6th 2009



Images credit: Feng Zhengjie, Chinese Portrait L Series 2006 No. 11

Saatchi Gallery
Duke of York Square.
Kensington
London,
SW3 4RY
Web: http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk