Artspan Portal: Art in the UK

Introduction to Art in the UK

Thanks to the success and the prominence gained by the Saatchi Gallery during the 1990's, the work of breakout collectives such as Young British Artists (YBA), and the promotion of alternative media by newcomers such as self-proclaimed "art terrorist," Banksy, the art scene in the United Kingdom has come a long way from aristocratic portraiture and romantic harbor scenes. Today, art in the UK, not unsurprisingly centered in London, is defined by conceptually challenging installations, comical and often controversial commentaries on topics such as society, commercialism, and the art scene itself, and reference to and reinterpretation of its long artistic past.   Over the course of the past couple decades, government-sanctioned projects and renegade street and performance art have come together to create a unique artistic energy in London in particular, and the rest of the UK as well. In the Tate Modern, England’s capitol enjoys the world’s largest museum dedicated to modern and contemporary art. At the same time, the city plays host to less conventional venues such as Paul Stolper and Jason Brown’s Cab Gallery, a taxi that housed rotating installations and made audiences of its unsuspecting passengers. Whether it has been through anonymous collaborative work or the branding of inspired individuals, art in the UK has surged past a history of traditionalism and found a new stride in its provoking work, unconventional production, and alternative forums for expression and exhibition.
 

Featured Members


 

UK Artist Websites

There are regional Directories with members from around the world.

Some examples are:

California
New York

British Columbia
Australia

A complete list of all regional Directories is found here.

 

 

Newest Work

 
SamHallArt - Discover the Magic of Nature.Original Paintings For Sale.
Martin Franks

Resources: Art in the UK

Associations (see all)
Arts Council England
Arts Council England works to get more art to more people in more places. They develop and...
Contemporary Art Society
The Contemporary Art Society is the national non-profit agency that supports contemporary artists...
Delfina Studio Trust
London, England
Private foundation that gives working and living space to artists in...
Education (see all)
Camberwell College of Arts
London, England
Camberwell is one of the world's foremost art and design institutions and...
Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design
London, England
Central Saint Martins provides specialist education and research in the...
Chelsea College of Art and Design
Chelsea offers specialist, student-centred courses that range from foundation to research...
Galleries (see all)
Adam Gallery
24 Cork St, W1S 3NJ London +44 (0) 20 7439 6633 info@adamgallery.com
Alan Cristea Gallery
31 & 34 Cork St, W1S 3NU London +44 (0) 20 7439 1866 info@alancristea.com
Albemarle Gallery
49 Albemarle St, W1S 4JR, London +44 (0) 20 7499 1616 mhw@albion-gallery.com
 
Galleries (see all)
Alexia Goethe Gallery
7 Dover St, W1S 4LD London +44 (0) 20 7629 0090 info@alexiagoethegallery.com
Alison Jacques Gallery
16-18 Berners Street London, W1T3LN Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7631 4720...
Allsopp Contemporary
8 Conlan St, W10 5AR London +44 (0) 20 8960 5355 email@allsoppcontemporary.com
Museums (see all)
Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art
Centre Square, Middlesbrough TS1 2AZ. +44 (0) 1642 726 720 mima is a bold new gallery of...
The Saatchi Gallery
The Saatchi Gallery is a London gallery for contemporary art, opened by Charles Saatchi in 1985...
Kettles Yard
Castle Street, Cambridge CB3 0AQ - UK +44 (0)1223 352124 Former home featuring the collection...
Publications (see all)
Contemporary Magazine
Suite K101, Tower Bridge Business Complex, 100 Clement Road, Bermondsey London SE16 4DG...
Frieze Magazine
Frieze magazine was set up in 1991 and is Europe’s leading magazine of contemporary art and...
Kiosk Magazine
Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture Kingston University Knights Park, Kingston Upon...