This weekend marks the first-ever London Gallery Weekend, a city-wide, three-day event celebrating the city’s vibrant art scene and its triumphant return after lockdown. For the inaugural edition, which runs from June 4 to 6, 80 galleries will be opening their doors across the city for exhibitions, programs, and talks. 

What’s on our itinerary? First up, we’ll be sure to visit Lisson Gallery to see John Akomfrah’s new and recent video and photography installations, including the unveiling of Four Nocturnes (2019). Another can’t miss includes Bastian Gallery’s jubilant exhibition on Sonia Delaunay, the pioneering Parisian abstract artist. And we’ll also be sure to check out Stephen Friedman Gallery to see Yinka Shonibare CBE RA’s seventh solo exhibition at the gallery, “African Spirits of Modernism.” 

With a lot of ground to cover, we’ve put together a list of 10 shows you’ll want to be sure to catch.

Sonia Delaunay, Helice Olympie (1969). Courtesy of Bastian.

What: “Sonia Delaunay: Rhythm and Color”
When: Through June 27, 2021
Where: Bastian, 8 Davies Street, London

Yinka Shonibare CBE, Pan (2020). Courtesy the artist and Stephen Friedman Gallery, London Photograph by Stephen White & Co.

What: “Yinka Shonibare CBE: African Spirits of Modernism”
When: Through July 31, 2021
Where: Stephen Friedman Gallery, 25-28 Old Burlington Street, London 

Installation view of “Paul Feeley: Space Stands Still.” Courtesy of Waddington Custot.

What: “Paul Feeley: Space Stands Still”
When: Through June 6, 2021
Where: Waddington Custot, 11 Cork Street, London

Mary Webb, Red, Green, Black and White (1976). Courtesy of Hales Gallery.

What: “Mary Webb: Extended Square”
When: June 12, 2021
Where: Hales Gallery, Tea Building, 7 Bethnal Green Road, London

Laurent Grasso, Studies Into the Past (2012). Courtesy of Olivier Malingue Ltd.

What: “Five Years”
When: Through July 23, 2021
Where: Olivier Malingue, 143 New Bond Street, First Floor, London 

Installation view of “John Akomfrah: The Unintended Beauty of Disaster Triptych” (2020). Courtesy of Lisson Gallery.

What: “John Akomfrah: The Unintended Beauty of Disaster”
When: Through July 31, 2021
Where: Lisson Gallery, 67 Lisson Street, London

Installation view of “Carroll Dunham | Albert Oehlen,” 2021. Courtesy of Galerie Max Hetzler.

What: “Carroll Dunham | Albert Oehlen”
When: Through June 16, 2021
Where: Galerie Max Hetzler, 41 Dover Street, London

Anne Hardy, Simultaneous Reality (The Depth of Darkness, the Return of the Light) (2020). Courtesy of Maureen Paley.

What: “Anne Hardy: Rising Heat”
When: Through June 6, 2021
Where: Maureen Paley, Friars Mount House, 7 Playground Gardens, London

Werner Büttner, The Youth of the Venus of Willendorf (2019). Courtesy of the artist and Simon Lee Gallery.

What: “Werner Büttner: No Scene From My Studio”
When: Through June 10, 2021
Where: Simon Lee Gallery, 12 Berkeley Street, London

installation view “Rachel Whiteread: Internal Objects” 2021. Courtesy of Gagosian.

What:  “Rachel Whiteread: Internal Objects”
When: Through June 6, 2021
Where: Gagosian, 20 Grosvenor Hill, London