Essential viewing summer 2013 | 5 must-see exhibitions in London

London will be brimming with “must-see” art exhibitions this summer. Indeed, you could gorge yourself silly on the range of offerings, so we’ve laid out a variety of dishes that promise to be simply delectable: this way you can have a sneak peek at the menu before filling right up.

Lowry and the Painting of Modern Life at Tate Britain

“I am a simple man, and I use simple materials.”

During the mid-20^th century, L.S. Lowry captured the peculiar mystery of Northwest England in oils and watercolours. Reflecting on the omnipresence of industry in the lives of his “matchstick” people, his images have manifested themselves in the imaginations of millions, and remain some of the most distinctive depictions ever to have been made of the English landscape.

This is the first major exhibition of the artist’s work to have been held in a public institution since his death in 1976. An exploration into the many influences that Lowry took from native and European painters, Lowry and the Painting of Modern Life is guaranteed to be an eye-opener for both fresh and familiar eyes alike.

Lowry and the Painting of Modern Life is at Tate Britain from 26^th June to 20^th October 2013. For further information visit here.

VII at Stolen Space

You can’t cover art in London without a bit of the street in there, and to celebrate its seventh birthday, Stolen Space is treating us with an exciting line up of work from some of the most notorious and talented names in street art and design.

Even with its modest size, Stolen Space always delivers as a platform for the great and the cool. One might recognise the work of EINE and Kidachne, and expect good things from Kai & Sunny and Miss Van. It can be said with certainty that no matter what the English summer weather is doing, VII at Stolen Space is going to put some serious sunshine in your life.

VII is at Stolen Space from 5^th to 28^th July 2013. For further information visit here.

Architecture of War at the Imperial War Museum

What’s so exciting about this collection at IWM is the time span of the exhibited works: almost a century of British art is covered from World War I to the current war in Afghanistan.

Assembling artistic responses to the effect of war on landscapes, as through the eyes of the built environment itself, a comparison will surface between the visual impact of traditional painters such as Sir William Orpen and contemporary media art duo, Langlands.

War is a timeless subject and Architecture of War will be an insight into how artists have felt compelled to represent its appearance and impact over a hundred years of ever-shifting military methods and technology.

Architecture of War is at the Imperial War Museum from 29^th July 2013 to 5^th May 2014. For further information visit here.

Paper at the Saatchi Gallery

Paper: the most basic of artist’s materials, and so often overlooked as a medium in its own exclusive right. An ensemble of two-dimensional and three-dimensional works will demonstrate the potential both of its physical properties and of the craftsmanship possessed by those artists who choose to focus centrally on its capabilities. Featured works will include the paper sculptures of Silke Schatz and Han Feng, and the intricate designs of Dominic McGill.

The Saatchi gallery never disappoints in its ability to showcase a wide and wild assortment of artists’ work, which is why Paper, with its ambitious theme, looks to be a show that will unquestionably offer something for everyone.

Paper is at the Saatchi Gallery from 18^th June to 29^th September 2013. For further information visit here.

The Discovery of Paris: Watercolours by Early Nineteenth-Century British Artists at The Wallace Collection

The beauty of 19^th Century Paris as described through the brushstrokes of British painters: The Discovery of Paris reveals how artists such as Turner and Richard Parkes Bonington contributed to the city’s enduring manifestation as a fairytale location.

Emerging from years of war and revolution, Paris rose up as an alluring destination for British tourists, many of whom were painters. With steam technology making the continent ever more accessible, these creatives flocked in their hordes to reproduce its magic on canvas.

70 watercolours, drawings and prints will be displayed from a range of infamous and less well-known names. The Discovery of Paris should provoke insightful discussion into how Paris both influenced British art and how, equally, we as artists played a part in its resilient allure as a painted landscape.

The Discovery of Paris: Watercolours by Early Nineteenth-Century British Artists is at The Wallace Collection from 20^th June to 15^th September 2013. For further information visit here.

Hannah Wallace