Three visits to Frieze London 2026, a Deutsche Bank lounge full of Studio Lenca, and why the fair only gets two stars.
Frieze Masters review 2026: a few visits to Regent's Park, from a 1520s royal portrait to Alice Neel and the new Queering Modernism strand. 4/5 Stone cold.
Nine London exhibitions to see during Frieze week 2026, from Cindy Sherman at Hauser & Wirth to Robert Ryman at the Barbican. Seven are free.
Last updated: 25 October 2026
By Tristan · Arts, exhibitions and creative culture
Exhibition reviewLisson, Bell Street
Six decades of paint pushed through the back of the canvas.
This is an opinion piece. Views expressed are the author's own and do not constitute professional advice.
Cool Factor: 4/5
Ha Chong-Hyun at Lisson is the Korean painter's first show with the gallery and his first in London since 2020. The survey covers six decades of work, spread across the ground floor and basement at 27 Bell Street. It runs until 7 November 2026, and entry is free. It is one of the big shows Lisson has on during Frieze London. I give it four out of five.
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Twelve new UK painters, free near the Barbican until 31 October. We gave the Freelands Painting Prize 2026 a 4/5, and our favourite wasn't the winner.
Khalif Tahir Thompson's first show with Victoria Miro brings eight paintings of Brooklyn to London. Our 3/5 review of Send in the Clowns.
October 9, 2026Comments are off for this post.
This Is Still Not a Pipe Review: Magritte at Gagosian
My This Is Still Not a Pipe review: around fifty Magrittes and 46 artists who followed him, free at Gagosian until 12 December. Cool Factor 5/5.
October 6, 2026Comments are off for this post.
Quentin James McCaffrey at Alison Jacques Review
Last updated: 6 October 2026
By Tristan · Arts, exhibitions and creative culture
This is an opinion piece. Views expressed are the author's own and do not constitute professional advice.
Cool Factor: 3/5
Quentin James McCaffrey's first UK solo show was on at Alison Jacques from 3 September to 3 October 2026. Comprising fifteen small oil paintings of fictitious surrealist-Magritteish interiors. The panels hold a mirror, a doorway, a bouquet or a patch of sunlight. For me it was technically amazing, but a tad cold and overly referential. That was especially true with Magritte showing up the road at Gagosian at the same time.
The McCaffrey show has now closed. However, the Gagosian Magritte show is free and runs until 12 December 2026, which means you can still go and make the comparison yourself.
October 4, 2026Comments are off for this post.
Louis Fratino at David Zwirner Review
Last updated: 4 October 2026
By Tristan · Arts, exhibitions and creative culture
This is an opinion piece. Views expressed are the author's own and do not constitute professional advice.
Exhibition reviewMayfair
Saunas, subway cars and a lot of skin in Mayfair
Louis Fratino at Zwirner is the American painter's first solo show in London, and his first with the gallery since it began representing him. I went on a Saturday afternoon in early October to see fifteen new paintings by a painter who is very open about who he borrows from.
Cool Factor: 4/5
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October 2, 2026Comments are off for this post.
Anish Kapoor at the Hayward Gallery Review: Is It Worth £22?
Last updated: 2 October 2026
By Tristan · Arts, exhibitions and creative culture
This is an opinion piece. Views expressed are the author's own and do not constitute professional advice.
Cool Factor: 3/5
The Anish Kapoor Hayward Gallery show is his first solo exhibition there since 1998. It fills the whole building, both outdoor terraces included. I went on a Wednesday afternoon at the end of September. It starts strong, with a ballooning red inflated piece so big you can't walk round it. By the final room, though, it felt like a somewhat confused show. It comes from an artist who was once at the top of his game, and who now feels like he's slid into a late stage of dabbling in every medium.
It runs until 18 October 2026 and tickets cost £22. In the final weeks, the gallery stays open until 9pm on Wednesdays and Fridays.
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