WHAT?  Anne Desmet: Kaleidoscope/London Exhibition

WHERE?  Guildhall Art Gallery, Guildhall Yard, London EC2V 5AE

WHEN?  Now until 8th September.  Free to visit.  Pay What You Can 

WHY GO?  For a stimulating mental workout!  Where better than the heart of the City to appreciate London themed artworks that reflect all that was and is great about our famous capital?

The Guildhall Art Gallery is home to countless treasures and this wonderful new exhibition celebrates three decades of work by award-winning artist Desmet, a renowned wood engraver.

Desmet is a rarity in the world of wood engraving as only the third artist ever to be elected to the Royal Academy for her specialist art form.

This exhibition celebrates her prodigious talents which include lithography and digital collage. 

Early works with their accompanying wood blocks illustrate how she achieves such intricate detail and newer works have been quirkily inspired by looking at the world anew through a toy kaleidoscope. 

It’s all a dazzling kaleidoscope of wondrous patterns, primarily focusing on London past and present, covering events like the Great Fire of 1666 to present day images of St Paul's Cathedral.

Her monochromatic collages are a maze of imaginative patterns echoing personal reflections, even more intimate by acknowledging that many were created whilst she was recovering from treatment for breast cancer. 

This is craftsmanship at the highest level and will spark the imagination of all who visit.

IN THE KNOW Feel the urge to explore more of London’s history? 

Pop down into the vaults and visit the City of London Heritage Gallery for a free display focusing on the history of Billingsgate Market, one of the oldest markets owned by the City of London. 

Why, where and what the famous fish market was all about is portrayed through historic photographs and artworks. 

On until 20th June.