Chelsea Insider Low - Cadogan

33 | THINGS TO DO | Art galleries11am-4pm, by appointment at all othertimes.13A Park Walk, SW10 0AJT: 020 7349 9332www.thelittleblackgallery.comMica GalleryMica opened in the wake of the‘Arab Spring’ in 2011 with an exhibitionof contemporary Egyptian art from bothbefore and after the country’s revolution.The gallery specialises in – and is anacronym of – modern Islamic andcontemporary art which has beeninfluenced by Islamic culture or heritage.The Mica definition is pretty flexible –modern Islamic works are rooted intraditional calligraphy and geometry,while the contemporary artists are morebroadly inspired by Islamic culturalheritage at large from British, European,Arab, African and South Asian artists.By appointment only from 10am-6pmMonday-Friday and 11am-6pm onSaturdays.259A Pavilion Road, SW1X 0BPT: 020 7730 1117www.micagallery.comMichael Hoppen Gallery &Michael Hoppen ContemporaryGalleryThe Michael Hoppen Gallery specialisesin 19th, 20th and 21st-century photography.Based just north of the King’s Road,near the Chelsea Potter pub, the galleryhas been in Chelsea since 1993.The Michael Hoppen ContemporaryGallery – another major internationalphotographic gallery – opened in 2000and occupies the second floor of thesame building. It supports establishedand emerging contemporary artists.Monday-Friday 10.30am-6pm,Saturday 10.30am–5pm.3 Jubilee Place, SW3 3TDT: 020 7352 3649www.michaelhoppengallery.comRoyal Borough of Kensingon & Chelsea, Family & Children’s ServiceChelsea Arts ClubChelsea Arts Club is a private members’club. The membership is divided intoordinary members who practice the visualarts – painters, sculptors, architects,photographers, designers and so on – andassociate members from related fields, suchas musicians, actors, gallerists and writers.The club was founded by artistsincluding sculptor Thomas Lee and painterJames Abbott McNeill Whistler as a rival toMayfair’s Arts Club. Originally based at181 King’s Road, the club moved to143 Old Church Street in 1902.The Chelsea Arts Ball, held from 1908 to1958, was a themed public fancy dress ballthat became progressively more lavish –and raucous – and grew to occupy ChelseaTown Hall and then the Royal Albert Hall.It was originally held for Mardi Gras, buteventually moved to New Year’s Eve. It wasbanned in 1959, but was revived in 1984/5.Club membership was opened to womenartists in 1966. Would-be members need tobe proposed and seconded by people whohave known them for more than two yearsand who have been members of the clubfor more than two years.The outside of the building is sometimespainted to mark an event, such as the the70th anniversary of the end of the Blitzin 2011.143 Old Church Street, SW3 6EBT: 020 7376 3311www.chelseaartsclub.comArtworkfor theChelseaArtsClubannualdinner1968Northcote GalleryThe Northcote Gallery, which has a sistergallery on Northcote Road in Battersea,specialises in modern British andinternational contemporary paintings andsculpture and hosts ten solo exhibitionsfrom established and emerging artistseach year.Tuesday-Saturday 11am-6pm, Sunday1pm-4pm.253 King’s Road, SW3 5ELT: 020 7351 0830www.northcotegallery.comOffer Waterman & CoEstablished in 1996 amid the smallcluster of art galleries next to theLa Famiglia restaurant on LangtonStreet, Offer Waterman is a leader inthe fields of 20th-century British paintings,drawings and sculpture, and canalso offer expertise in American andEuropean, Impressionist, modernand contemporary art.Monday to Friday 10am-6.30pm, byappointment on Saturdays.11 Langton Street, SW10 0JLT: 020 7351 0068www.waterman.co.ukProud ChelseaThe Proud Group was launched byAlex Proud in 1998 and includes amusic venue in Camden, a speakeasystylevenue in the City, a gallery justoff the Strand and Proud Chelsea –a photographic gallery that aims tointroduce high-quality photography toa mainstream audience.Proud uses popular themes to createaccessible exhibitions with a distinct rock‘n’ roll emphasis – the Sex Pistols, BobMarley, Bob Dylan, the Libertines and‘the Rock n Roll Years’ have all been thefocus of exhibitions.Daily 10am-7pm, until 8pm onWednesdays.161 King’s Road, SW3 5XPProud ChelseaT: 020 7349 0822www.proudonline.co.uk/Saatchi GalleryIn 2009 and 2010 the Saatchi Galleryheld five of the six most attendedexhibitions in London – the only one toachieve more visitors was Van Gogh atthe Royal Academy of Arts.Charles Saatchi opened his originalSaatchi gallery in 1985 in a disused paintfactory in St John’s Wood before movingto County Hall on the South Bank in2003. The gallery was forced to closein 2005 after a row with County Hall’sowners and was without a home forthree years.In 2008, the Saatchi Gallery reopenedat the Duke of York’s Headquarters –a vast 70,000 sq ft space that wasa perfect blank canvas to display paintings,sculpture and installations. Thegallery exhibits contemporary art fromhome-grown talent, often previouslyunseen, and international artists thathave rarely or never before exhibited inthe UK.