2024 has been a testament to art’s indomitable spirit, as galleries and museums worldwide have not only showcased exceptional talent but have also challenged and expanded the very boundaries of cultural discourse. For those of us wandering the art capitals—London, Washington, D.C., Rome, New York, Los Angeles, and even further into the vibrant cities of Mexico—this year’s offerings are a reminder that the beauty of the world, the essence of humanity, and the small mercies offered by animals and nature are nothing short of magnificent. In this journey, a growing determination arises: to create, to leave a legacy of feminine existence and awareness, and to honour every sentient being as we admire and are inspired by this world.
Frieze London 2024: A Confluence of New Voices and Established Icons
This year’s Frieze London brought a vibrancy only it could deliver, showcasing a confluence of contemporary voices alongside legendary names. Highlights included Yinka Shonibare’s interactive piece, Textiles of Diaspora, a tactile exploration of migration and identity that invited viewers to immerse themselves in Shonibare’s signature vibrant patterns. Equally impactful was Anicka Yi’s Fluid Frontier, which melded organic materials and synthetic elements, creating a reflection on humanity’s complex relationship with technology and nature. The fair’s strong emphasis on ecological and identity themes resonated deeply, affirming Frieze’s status as a stage for the world’s most daring creative explorations.
Saatchi Gallery: Asian Influence and New Global Wealth in Art
In 2024, Saatchi Gallery took a bold step in foregrounding the influence of Asian creators and collectors with its New Eastern Visions series, which featured works by prominent and emerging Asian artists. This series explored the nuanced ways in which modern Asia’s wealthy elite are shaping the global art market—not only as collectors but as influential creators themselves. Works from Chinese multimedia artist Zhao Ling played with ideas of wealth and tradition, blending ancient symbolism with a futuristic aesthetic. Meanwhile, South Korean artist Joo Yun’s Inescapable Patternsmesmerised audiences with its fractal designs, evoking themes of order and chaos. Saatchi’s exhibitions have offered a compelling glimpse into the Asian art world’s increasing prominence and complexity, as well-heeled Asian patrons and artists continue to make profound inroads into Western art circles.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art: A Dive into Global Narratives
This year, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York brought forth Worlds Reimagined, an ambitious collection of works that spanned centuries and continents, encouraging viewers to consider art as a living, breathing chronicle of global history. Among the most celebrated pieces was a rare 16th-century Japanese silk tapestry, its vibrant hues still remarkable, presented alongside digital interpretations by modern Japanese artists. Another highlight was Metropolis, a sprawling installation by Ghanaian artist El Anatsui, created with recycled materials and woven into an intricate structure. With its commitment to amplifying diverse voices, the Met has seamlessly connected ancient and modern worlds in ways both harmonious and provocative.
LA Art Fair 2024: The West Coast’s Avant-Garde Showcase
The LA Art Fair has solidified itself as the prime destination for avant-garde and emerging art. Standout exhibitions included The Resurgence of the Physical by multidisciplinary artist Sofia Calderon, whose immersive installations asked viewers to reconsider the boundaries between virtual and physical realms. Another acclaimed highlight was Waves of Memory, an exhibit by Mariko Higa that used augmented reality to overlay historical events onto modern landscapes. The fair’s emphasis on new media art, interwoven with more traditional works, is a testament to Los Angeles' role as a hub for artistic innovation, fusing digital prowess with emotional depth.
Flux Exhibition in Marylebone: An Independent Art Movement’s Celebration
This year’s Flux Exhibition in Marylebone marked a memorable July, with my own contributions among a bold and experimental collection. Reflecting on diverse themes, the exhibition featured everything from multimedia installations to interactive works that challenged audience engagement. Noteworthy pieces included Inner Rhythms by Hannah Rosen, a kinetic sculpture inspired by sound waves and natural rhythms, and Fragmented Narratives by James O’Shea, which layered urban scenes and surrealism to evoke the fragmented nature of modern identity. The Flux Exhibition reminded viewers of the continued vitality of London’s independent art scene, unafraid to push artistic conventions and bring fresh voices into the spotlight.
The Boomer Gallery, London: Personal Milestones in March
My participation at Boomer Gallery this past March remains a cornerstone of 2024’s personal milestones. It provided a platform to share my own reflections on identity and transformation with an engaged and discerning audience. The Boomer’s focus on new and experimental work allowed for bold self-expression, and I was inspired by the feedback and dialogue that arose around my pieces. As ever, Boomer’s atmosphere, with its avant-garde ethos, pushed artists and viewers alike to reimagine and reinterpret their worlds. My work was curated by two influential curators in London I was very proud to have been selected.
The Evolving Art Scene in Mexico: A Fusion of Heritage and Innovation
Mexico’s art scene has experienced a renaissance this year, with galleries in Mexico City and Guadalajara amplifying voices that bridge indigenous heritage and contemporary concerns. Memory and Revolution, an exhibit at Museo Jumex in Mexico City, featured installations by Tania Candiani that wove together textiles, sounds, and oral histories, invoking the memories of indigenous and mestizo communities. Another exhibition, Ríos de Sangre at the Museo de Arte Moderno, examined the Mexican Revolution's impact on modern identity through the eyes of contemporary Mexican artists, creating an evocative dialogue between past and present. This year, Mexican art has continued to assert itself on the global stage, underscoring the nation’s vibrant cultural resilience.
The Roman Art Scene: Echoes of History and Modernity
In Rome, 2024 has seen an impressive array of exhibitions exploring the interplay of ancient and modern themes. The Galleria Borghese presented Nature’s Ephemeral Palettes, a collection juxtaposing classical sculptures with eco-conscious contemporary installations by Italian artist Chiara Fumai. At MAXXI, The Algorithm and the Brush illustrated the dance between technology and tradition, with Vera Montclair’s algorithmic watercolours questioning the boundaries between creator and machine. Meanwhile, Echoes of Empire at the Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna has brought fresh interpretations of colonial legacies, featuring bold pieces like Mariana Neumann’s map-inspired installations. In a city where the past and present converge so seamlessly, Rome’s art scene this year has been a beacon of introspective and innovative energy.
Tate Britain, Royal Academy, Tate Modern, and Courtauld Gallery: The Best of London
Tate Britain has celebrated British heritage with “The Return to Form,” a retrospective revisiting figurative painting through mid-20th-century British artists. Meanwhile, Tate Modern showcased States of Belonging, a potent exhibition probing identity and social justice, featuring works from Idris Al-Hazim and Mariana Neumann. The Royal Academyoffered transformative retrospectives on Magdalena Abakanowicz and David Hockney, while the Courtauld Gallery re-envisioned Impressionist Icons, presenting Cézanne, Degas, and Monet alongside modern interpretations by artists like Lubaina Himid and Flora Yukhnovich. Each institution has been pivotal in reaffirming London as a premier destination for cultural engagement and artistic excellence.
The London Art Fair 2024: Contemporary Highlights
This year’s London Art Fair offered remarkable pieces, balancing classic and contemporary works with great resonance. Standouts included Alice Neel’s Portraits in Protest and Anna Freeman’s Urban Reverie, alongside innovative pieces in the Emerging Artists Pavilion like Dominique Roberts’ Celestial Boundaries. The Fair, as always, affirmed its role as a dynamic hub in London’s art scene, where tradition and innovation meet.
A Personal Note: The Quest for Renewal
On a deeply personal level, this year has posed trials that were as overwhelming as they were inescapable, leaving me for months without the words to express the enormity of the struggle. I found myself paralysed, unable to articulate the weight of the experience. Yet, as the year draws to a close, I find a resilience, fragile yet resolute, emerging within. My faith in the Creator, unshaken by the setbacks, continues to guide me as I gather strength. As I move forward with renewed objectives for my art, I am determined to create a legacy of feminine existence and awareness—an offering of love for all sentient beings. The quest is now to find new vocabularies, to reimagine my world, and in so doing, perhaps contribute to a re-envisioned world for us all.
On my abstract practice
I am deeply curious about the underlying relationship between forms, much like the way Bridget Riley’s optical compositions invite us to perceive rhythm and movement within shapes, or how Wassily Kandinsky explored the spiritual resonance of abstract forms. This fascination with form feels akin to quantum mechanics, where the fundamental nature of particles is both a mystery and a revelation—uncertain yet full of potential. I take great pleasure in noticing the shapes and forms that make up the world—how they intertwine, overlap, and leave behind negative spaces. These voids, like the pauses in music or the spaces in Alexander Calder’s mobiles, are moments of balance and resonance, much like the vacuum in quantum theory where fields and energy fluctuate unpredictably, yet harmoniously.
It feels as though I now see more than twice as much as I ever did before. The world has opened up, revealing layers of complexity and engulfing me in its richness. I am not always certain of what I am doing, but I have come to realize that this uncertainty mirrors the principles of quantum superposition—where multiple possibilities coexist until an outcome is realized. And, as I’ve discovered, this uncertainty is a gift. After all, how dull would life be if every answer were predetermined? Mystery fuels creativity—it is why I paint.
Every stroke of paint feels like an experiment, a step toward breaking through to something greater. I am constantly working on reaching a breakthrough in my work, striving to uncover a deeper understanding of the forms and patterns that captivate me. Like a physicist attempting to decode the secrets of the universe, I delve into my art seeking those elusive moments of clarity and revelation. Each canvas is a field of infinite potential, a place where abstraction becomes a language, even though nothing is ever truly abstract in my visual vocabulary.
Just as quantum mechanics suggests that reality is interconnected at its most fundamental level, I find that my work seeks these connections between shapes, forms, and emotions. Like Kandinsky’s belief that colors and forms can evoke profound truths, or Riley’s pursuit of optical harmony, I approach each canvas with the hope of discovering something new, always thinking I can do better next time. It’s this interplay of striving, uncertainty, curiosity, and the ever-unfolding mystery of existence that makes painting my endless pursuit and passion.
