Saatchi Gallery

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:

Beyond Fashion
Beyond Fashion (until 8 September 2024) showcases the work of fashion photographers demonstrating how fashion photography has evolved beyond a simple product shot to become a more artistic representation that embodies our aspirations. Divided into four sections – Allure, Fantasy, Realism and Surrealism – the exhibition shows how fashion imagery transcends commercialism to reflect diverse visual languages. Alongside iconic images and dynamic brands, the exhibition includes moving images, emphasising the role of film in contemporary fashion. £12.

A Room with a View
Inspired by Forugh Farrokhzad’s poem The Window, Aida Mahmudova explores themes of solitude, nostalgia, and longing through vivid imagery and introspective narration. The exhibition (until 10 September 2024), featuring over 70 pieces including previously exhibited and newly commissioned works, examines themes of self-limitation, confinement and the balance between self-autonomy and external influences, using a durational approach that emphasises introspection.

Painting, Smoking, Eating
Painting, Smoking, Eating an exhibition (until 20 September 2024), inspired by a Philip Guston painting, which features 13 international artists exploring the theme of painting itself. It examines the artist’s self-reflection and the frequent depiction of tools, food, alcohol and cigarettes, offering a satirical look at the artist’s life.

The Landscape, Reimagined
The Landscape, Reimagined is a group exhibition (until 20 September 2024) featuring eight emerging and mid-career international artists who reinterpret traditional landscape painting with contemporary styles. The exhibition explores innovative techniques and perspectives, ranging from digital image-mapping to unconventional colour palettes, offering a fresh approach to a timeless genre.

Homelessness: reframed
In collaboration with Prince William’s Homewards programme and Eleven Eleven Foundation, this exhibition (until 20 September 2024) explores the complexities of homelessness across the country. It features works from UK and international artists, inspired by personal or others’ experiences of homelessness. The exhibition also includes pieces created by children and young people during creative workshops at the six flagship Homewards locations.

Yoi
Yoi, an exhibition (until 21 September 2024) features paintings by nine Munupi artists from Melville Island, highlighting the significance of yoi (dancing) in Tiwi life. Using natural ochres and Pwoja Comb techniques, the works are abstract and spiritually expressive.

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.