A free René Magritte exhibition will open in London next week

Uncanny apples, pipes and mysterious floating bowler hats are some of the things that the surrealist painter René Magritte was best known for. From next week, you’ll be able to see several of his brilliant artworks in London, as a free Magritte exhibition is opening in the capital.

Taking place at Gagosian Grosvenor Hill, This Is Still Not a Pipe: The Afterlife of Magritte, will feature major Magritte works – depicting his famous apples, hats, pipes and clouds – while also examining his enduring legacy and influence on art with new works by contemporary artists. 

On display will be paintings, works on paper, sculptures and photography from Magritte’s four-decade-long career. Many pieces have been loaned by museums and private collectors, including ‘La Lampe philosophique (The Philosopher’s Lamp)’, which was displayed in a landmark Magritte exhibition at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) 20 years ago. This painting was made shortly before the International Surrealist Exhibition that took place in London in 1936, which featured a gouache of the same image.  

Contemporary artists of different generations have also created works specifically for the exhibition, which will be displayed alongside the Magrittes. 

Larry Gagosian, owner of the Gagosian, said: ‘It is difficult to imagine a world today without Magritte. Almost six decades after his death, his influence continues to resonate within contemporary artistic production, and beyond into the broader landscape of visual culture – shaping advertising, design, fashion, and even music.

‘I am delighted to be presenting his work at the gallery once again, and to offer audiences a renewed opportunity to engage with the poetry, wit, and mystery that define his vision.’

ICYMI: the Barbican has announced its 2027 art programme with a high fashion takeover. 

And... the UK’s biggest Monet exhibition in a decade will open at Tate Modern next year. 

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