Curating art for your home is an opportunity to infuse personality into your space, whether through contemporary statement pieces or timeless vintage finds.
London is a hub of galleries, studios and independent stores offering all those and more — not forgetting the wealth of online wonders. Here’s where to look.
Galleries championing emerging artists
Soho Revue (sohorevue.com), founded by India Rose James, is a contemporary gallery on Greek Street showcasing and selling works by emerging artists. It is committed to working with those who have traditionally been denied equity in the arts. The recent roster includes shows by Johanna Bath, Layla Andrews and Emma Beatrez.
Layla Andrews is among artists who’ve been shown at Soho Revue
Layla Andrews
A good opportunity to see art in situ alongside furniture, ceramics, glass and lighting, Modernity London (modernity.se) on Pimlico Road specialises in rare 20th-century Nordic pieces.
The nearby Edward Bulmer showroom (edwardbulmerpaint.co.uk) has a rotating display of shoppable works adorning the walls. Imogen Luczyc Wyhowska is on show until April 5.
For a considered mix of antique finds and contemporary painters, make an appointment at Apperley Arts (@apperley_arts), just off Askew Road in Shepherd’s Bush, or arrange a studio visit with one of the live/work artists at nearby St Paul’s Studios in Barons Court.
South of the river, Sid Motion Gallery (sidmotiongallery.co.uk) in Bermondsey brings vibrant artists working within different media to the fore. The gallery also hosts an annual art trail to encourage local creatives to meet and share ideas.
A great spot to unearth fresh, original pieces. Camberwell’s Blue Shop Cottage (blueshopcottage.com) and its sister gallery in Oval offer an intimate art-buying experience. Its exhibitions have a female focus, with pioneering artists including Jess Allen, Li Hei Di and Catherine Repko. If you are lucky you will meet Mole, the gallery dog.
Guts Gallery (gutsgallery.co.uk) in Hackney is known for its dynamic exhibitions featuring artists from diverse and marginalised backgrounds. If you are looking for pieces that not only decorate your walls but also spark conversation, this is the place.
Have a penchant for prints? Head to Print Club London (printclublondon.com), which specialises in limited-edition screen prints by some of the UK’s most exciting contemporary artists. Based in Dalston, it offers an ever-changing selection of graphic-led works. You can even have a go at making your own with regular workshops.
Pieces from Partnership Editions on display
Partnership Editions
Partnership Editions (partnershipeditions.com) releases eight “drops” of original artworks per year and plays host to artists’ debut collections or limited-edition print collections, starting from £60.
The newly launched SOTA (sotamarketplace.co) is a purpose-led affordable online gallery and art consultancy. It works with 800 artists across seven continents, with 75 per cent being female. You will find some of SOTA’s works on display at The Newman Hotel in Fitzrovia, due to open its doors this summer.
Bleur (bleurart.com) is an independent visual art label and avant-garde online gallery handpicking promising talents and championing emerging voices.
Wondering People (wonderingpeople.com) curates distinctive works from independent creatives, making it easy to find pieces with personality. Look out for Dissonant Beauty, the platform’s exhibition at Rejina Pyo’s Soho store (April 1 to 30). All works on view are available to purchase.
Vintage art adds character and depth to a home. Tanya Zendra set up Tarn London (tarnlondon.com) after buying pieces for her own south-west London renovation: “Vintage artwork has life and soul that adds stories, detail and layering to homes,” she says.
She advocates for mixing old and new, allowing artwork to shape a room’s palette or serve as a focal point. “You could start by buying a piece of art you adore and building a scheme from the artwork, particularly the colour choices,” she says.
Giddy Prints (giddyprints.co.uk) sources antique and vintage prints and combines them with handmade frames, crafted in its Hampstead studio.
Works from Giddy Prints
Giddy Prints
Ben Carr, who founded the business with his partner Matt, says: “I always start with the print and think about how it might best be showcased. Should it be a simple and elegant frame, or should we give the print a little boost with an explosion of colour?” The beauty of antique prints lies in their timelessness — thoughtful framing can enhance their impact.
For Gretchen Shoring, co-founder of ARTI (arti-ones.co.uk), collecting vintage art should be intuitive.
“Go with your heart,” she advises. “If something grabs you or you cannot get it out of your head, buy it or you will regret it!”
She encourages mixing different eras and media, embracing imperfections and thinking beyond walls: “If you do not have much wall space, do not panic. Think about other places you can display your art; on a kitchen shelf or simply leaning against a wall.”
Julia Collins, of Collins & Green Art (collinsandgreenart.co.uk), takes a maximalist approach, favouring a dense hang where paintings, framed postcards and personal mementos coexist.
“If you love something, it will look good anywhere; you can place it as a hero piece on its own or add it to a gallery wall by shifting things around,” she says.
She encourages her clients to visit her Chelsea studio to help curate their collections.
Choose vintage art that evokes memories, says Saira Kalimuddin-May of the Discerning Palette
The Discerning Palette
The Discerning Palette (discerningpalette.com) sells modernist-style paintings with interiors in mind. Co-founder Saira Kalimuddin-May highlights the charm of vintage art’s imperfections.
“Vintage pieces have history. They have already been on an interesting journey before reaching you. As a result, they often come with imperfections and signs of age but these are to be embraced as they add value, charm and warmth to your home,” she explains.
She suggests choosing pieces that evoke memories: “Perhaps a piece reminds you of a place, a piece of music, something you love or someone you know. You might not be its first owner but it is your turn to tell your story.”