The Saatchi Gallery in Chelsea is a contemporary art gallery known for its diverse and thought-provoking exhibitions. Established in 1985 by Charles Saatchi, the gallery has a focus on displaying works across various media by emerging artists.
What to see at the Saatchi Gallery
Exhibitions at the Saatchi Gallery cover a wide spectrum of artistic styles, themes and media. Visitors may encounter painting, sculpture, photography, installation art, video and digital works, among other forms of contemporary artistic expression.
A hallmark of the Saatchi Gallery is its commitment to showcasing emerging talent. Many exhibitions feature works by young and up-and-coming artists, providing them with a platform to reach a wider audience and gain recognition in the art world. This focus on emerging artists contributes to the gallery’s reputation as a hub of creativity and innovation.
Current and planned exhibitions include:
Philip Colbert: The Battle for Lobsteropolis
The Battle for Lobsteropolis, a solo exhibition (until 19 January 2025) by contemporary artist Philip Colbert. Known for his hyperpop history paintings, Colbert’s iconic lobster battles artificial intelligence in the retro-futuristic world of Lobsteropolis. The exhibition features two monumental AI-assisted paintings reimagining historical battle scenes and sculptures inspired by classical mythological figures. Through this blend of digital innovation and art history, Colbert examines the evolving tension between tradition and technology in a dramatic, apocalyptic landscape.
Anastasia Samoylova: Adaptation
This major survey (until 20 January 2025) features works from five of Samoylova’s key series, including FloodZone and Image Cities, alongside previously unseen video pieces. The exhibition explores the tension between human intervention and environmental change, prompting viewers to reflect on how society confronts – or avoids – these pressing issues through visually compelling imagery. £12.
As We Rise: Photography from the Black Atlantic
This exhibition (until 20 January 2025) presents photographs from African diasporic culture. Featuring work from the Wedge Collection, the exhibition highlights artists from Canada, the Caribbean, Great Britain, the United States and Africa. It explores themes of community, identity and power, showcasing artists like Horace Ové, James Barnor, Gordon Parks and emerging talents such as Texas Isaiah.
Deborah Segun: A Moment to Myself
This solo exhibition (until 2 February 2025) by Nigerian artist Deborah Segun explores connections between self and nature. Segun examines how the internal self mirrors the natural world, drawing parallels between human forms and landscapes. Curving shapes suggest hills, while sharp edges reflect challenging terrains. Her works evoke quietude, joy and melancholy, inviting mindfulness. The exhibition considers enduring themes of self and nature, building on ideas that gained prominence in the late 18th century.
Jack Kabangu: Barndommens Drømme (Childhood Dreams)
In the Barndommens Drømme (Childhood Dreams) exhibition (until 2 February 2025), African/Danish artist Jack Kabangu examines memory’s inaccuracies and the opacity of dreams. His expressive, gestural style features recurring face motifs, evoking deep human emotions and inexpressible desires. Kabangu’s work aligns with longstanding artistic and philosophical explorations of dreams, from ancient beliefs to Surrealist investigations of the subconscious. His richly textured surfaces and bold colours suggest a desire to revisit and interpret psychological states beyond language or clear representation.
Visiting the Saatchi Gallery
The Saatchi Gallery is located in the Duke of York’s Headquarters just off Kings Road in Chelsea. It is a four-minute walk to Sloane Square tube station (on the Circle and District lines) and nearby attractions include the Chelsea Physic Garden and the National Army Museum, both within a 15-minute walk from the gallery.
The gallery is open 10am–6pm daily and admission is free, although some major exhibitions have an entry charge, which can be pricey.
It is in one of the loveliest areas of London and there are lots of places to eat and drink nearby.
Allow up to two hours for your visit if you’re here for a major exhibition; however, a shorter visit is reasonable if you’re just visiting for the free exhibitions.
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