Wang Keping, Yin et Yang, 2006, acacia, Ben Brown Fine Arts, London, UK

Wang Keping (Chinese, b.1949), China’s most celebrated Contemporary sculptor, and once a  prominent member of the avant-garde artist collective, The Stars Group, or Xing Xing, will be having his first solo exhibition in the United Kingdom. Ben Brown Fine Arts, a gallery that sets itself apart within London’s commercial art scene with its foray into international talent, will offer viewers a retrospective that focuses on Wang’s organic wooden figures from the last two decades. The large selection of pieces holds true to Wang’s exploration of the purity of form, as well as his concern with the natural processes of his preferred material, wood. Wang, a self-taught artist who for a majority of his career stood on the fringe of the art market, is highly regarded by scholars and colleagues, including Conceptual artist, Ai Weiwei (Chinese, b.1957), for challenging traditional Chinese cultural values through his artwork. The self-titled show expands on this idea with carved sculptures devoid of facial expressions yet replete with sexual tension.

Paul Housley, Woodstock, 2013, oil on canvas, Belmacz, London, UK

Belmacz, the innovative art gallery of jewelry designer, Julia Muggenburg, will be showing works by multidisciplinary artist, Paul Housley (British, b.1964) in an exhibition that aptly conveys the artist’s constant experimentation with various materials. While Housley’s choice of medium is never consistent, he always manages to integrate objects and motifs that echo his most intimate feelings. They Bloom at Night includes a portrait of the artist executed in an intentionally raw and unrestricted manner, much like the rest of Housley’s subject matter.