17 August, 2022
Palette cleanser
The painter Milton Avery (1885-1965) has sometimes been called
the American Matisse, but his colourful, life-affirming work is
surprisingly little known in the UK, so this celebratory
retrospective at the Royal Academy looks set to introduce him to a
new generation. Avery was the Abstract Expressionists' favourite
non-abstract painter, influencing Mark Rothko and Barnett Newman,
but he ploughed his own furrow throughout his long career,
producing striking, harmoniously balanced pictures that still look
fresh today.
Until 16 October.
Deathless metal
Precious, expensive and untarnished by time, gold has been used
for important books and manuscripts for centuries, and a
fascinating exhibition at the British Library brings together 50 of
the most spectacular examples from its collections. From Bhuddist
prayers to Medieval manuscripts, Mughal decrees to a letter from
King James II to the Ottoman Grand Vizier, these superb examples of
bibliographic art still shimmer and gleam almost as brightly today
as when they were first made.
Until 2 October.
Hidden gems
Tucked behind the glittering boutiques of Mount Street is one of London's most beautiful buildings, set within an enchanting little park. Farm Street Church was opened by the Jesuits in 1849, and it's still a centre of Catholic worship - as well as having some of the most splendid interiors of any church in London. It sits within pretty Mount Street Gardens, which like the church itself offer a quiet place to escape the hustle and bustle of Mayfair's streets outside.
Family fortunes
One of the greatest tragedies ever written, Sophocles' Antigone gets a blistering new retelling by Nigerian poet-playwright Inua Ellams, author of the acclaimed Barber Shop Chronicles. Set in the aftermath of a bloody civil war, it follows the consequences of one man's dedication to the rule of law, which ends up tearing his family apart. The sylvan surroundings of the Open Air Theatre in Regent's Park stand in for the ancient Greek city-state of Thebes, from 3 to 24 September.