Based in the grand surroundings of Somerset House, Photo London brings together many of the world’s leading galleries and dealers, as well as providing a platform for emerging galleries and artists pushing the boundary of the medium.
The rooms and halls of this former palace provide a sequence of interlinked spaces of varying character and size. Each room presents a unique space of museum quality and appearance. The central courtyard pavilion provides the option for more traditional art fair booth.
With space for over 100 exhibitors, Photo London prides itself on building strong, supportive relationships with all of them. Under the Chairmanship of Philippe Garner, Former Deputy Chairman of Christie’s auction house, our independent curatorial committee works with galleries to ensure the quality of the Fair is upheld.
Discovery
Photo London’s acclaimed Discovery is a much-loved area dedicated to creating an exceptional platform for the future of contemporary photography. Galleries here must be under 5 years old when they first apply. With a dedicated curator to assist new galleries in their upward trajectory, Photo London is proud to support the careers of young gallerists, artists and photographers.
“This is our third year participating at Photo London in the Discovery Section and we are very happy to place a Klea McKenna photograph in a London museum. Coming from California, this has been a great opportunity to expand our network and introduce collectors to our program.”– EUQINOM Gallery – Discovery exhibitor since 2017
“The Discovery Section at Photo London is an exciting place to exhibit. For me, it presents a stimulating mix of international exhibitors who bring to London a genuinely fresh range of artists using photography – and the Fair does well in the Discovery Section to encourage ambitious curation here.” – Sid Motion Gallery – Discovery exhibitor since 2018
Public Programme
Speaking of the challenges facing the Fair in these difficult times, Michael Benson and Fariba Farshad said: ‘The pandemic challenged us to think in new ways about Photo London. Our response has been to pioneer a new form of interaction with our exhibitors. Digital gives us the ability to work closely with them, across geographical boundaries and time zones, over a period of months, showcasing their artists via our online magazine, talks, screenings and other events’.
Photo London Digital’s public programme broke new ground by presenting a series of workshops, live artist talks, studio visits, and book launches that were closely linked to the exhibitors and their artists, free of charge. Highlights of this programme included:
- 43 live online talks and tours on Zoom, Instagram and Facebook, organised in collaboration with partners and exhibitors.
- 5 professional training workshops lead by partner Nikon, all sold out
- Emerging Photographer of the Year Award, organised in collaboration with partner Nikon, and H&M x Photo London Competition, organised in collaboration with H&M United Kingdom and partner Nikon
In 2021, Photo London will once again run a strong programme of events, talks and special exhibitions – both offline and online – including a special exhibition dedicated to the 2020-2021 Master of Photography Shirin Neshat.