CHRIS HOLLEY expressive visual artist and arts communicator
Music of the Spheres I (after composer Rued Langgaard) detail 36x24in (91x61cm)
SPRING UPDATE
Legacy exhibition at South Hill Park and Rhapsody exhibition at Guildford Institute (GI) now both ended - and featuring a 'sold' red dot - plus my first two 2026 UNPACKING ART illustrated art talks safely delivered, booking is now open for my next GI talk: spotlight on 19th century muses in WOMEN IN ART I: The Muse www.guildford-institute.org.uk/event/unpacking-art-women-in-art-i-the-muse-gi-26-073/ , 2-4 pm Tuesday 14 July. Before that and, for your energetic 7-10 year olds on half term, Thurs 28 May: TIGER, TIGER, booking at www.guildford-institute.org.uk/events/list/page/8/?hide_subsequent_recurrences=1
MARCH STOP PRESS: a) Illustrated art talk Those Rebellious Rossetti Romantics to Suffolk U3A group safely delivered!
b) Performance-painting live music for University of East London music students @ Signals East Festival, Thurs 26 March, booking at: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/signals-east-music-festival-tickets-1983982241291?aff=oddtdtcreator
Much global gloom out there but so much great uplifting art to see, so here are a few ideas to check out:
outside London: Naum Gabo: Spatial Impressions at The Lightbox, Woking, ends 12 April, illuminating 1950s woodblocks from this leading Constructivist and sculptor www.thelightbox.org.uk/whats-on/naum-gabo-spatial-impressions
Legacy exhibition at South Hill Park and Rhapsody exhibition at Guildford Institute (GI) now both ended - and featuring a 'sold' red dot - plus my first two 2026 UNPACKING ART illustrated art talks safely delivered, booking is now open for my next GI talk: spotlight on 19th century muses in WOMEN IN ART I: The Muse www.guildford-institute.org.uk/event/unpacking-art-women-in-art-i-the-muse-gi-26-073/ , 2-4 pm Tuesday 14 July. Before that and, for your energetic 7-10 year olds on half term, Thurs 28 May: TIGER, TIGER, booking at www.guildford-institute.org.uk/events/list/page/8/?hide_subsequent_recurrences=1
MARCH STOP PRESS: a) Illustrated art talk Those Rebellious Rossetti Romantics to Suffolk U3A group safely delivered!
b) Performance-painting live music for University of East London music students @ Signals East Festival, Thurs 26 March, booking at: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/signals-east-music-festival-tickets-1983982241291?aff=oddtdtcreator
Much global gloom out there but so much great uplifting art to see, so here are a few ideas to check out:
outside London: Naum Gabo: Spatial Impressions at The Lightbox, Woking, ends 12 April, illuminating 1950s woodblocks from this leading Constructivist and sculptor www.thelightbox.org.uk/whats-on/naum-gabo-spatial-impressions
- The Picture Comes First, The Royal Academy release your inner child with works by rebel artist Rose Wylie, ends 19 April. Children love it! www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibition/rose-wylie?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23386059985&gbraid=0AAAAADnw8
- The Long Now: the Saatchi at 40, at Saatchi Gallery. GO! Defies description. Refreshing and fabulous, a total treat for the imagination on four floors. Ends 26 April. GO... www.saatchigallery.com/exhibition/the-long-now-saatchi-gallery-at-40
- Drawing into Painting at the National Portrait Gallery: focus on Lucian Freud's drawings on paper, ends 4 May www.npg.org.uk/whatson/exhibitions/2026/lucian-freud-drawing-into-painting
- The Barber in London at the Courtauld: do catch this one - highlights on loan from the Henry Barber Trust, Barber Institute of Fine Arts, Birmingham University (during refurb) show ends 28 June. Rossetti, Whistler, Toulouse-Lautrec, Franz Hals key works plus other surprise gems... courtauld.ac.uk/whats-on/exh-the-barber-in-london-highlights-from-a-remarkable-collection/
