Works in Isolation

Sean Jackson’s new series is a collection of images capturing New York during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, between 13 March and 10 May.

Art Exhibitions to See:
This Month

Aesthetica selects five must-see exhibitions around the world – opening online and in galleries. They reflect on identity, migration and place.

Inspiration in the City

Camille Walala transforms public spaces through bold colours, playful shapes and geometric patterns. Her work is part of London Mural Festival.

Playing with Perception

Olafur Eliasson continues to respond to social and environmental issues through creativity and advocacy in the Guggenheim Bilbao retrospective.

Aesthetica Archives:
Architectural Photography

These bright, geometric images encourage us to look at cities in a new way – from Michael Wolf’s metropolis to icons of 20th century modernism.

Sculpture as Experience

A new publication explores Provence’s open-air museum, which is home to some of the biggest names in contemporary art and architecture.

5 to See: Art Outdoors

Public art has perhaps never been more important, offering audiences chance to experience culture whilst social distancing. Discover 5 to See.

New Paths

Michael Matzko is a Cincinnati-based photographer. As the first segment of a larger project On Being Human, which asks the fundamental question: “What does a healthy world look like?” Matzko began working on a series during the Covid-19 lockdown, entitled The Self Isolation Project.

Portrait of Britain

The winners of the annual photography award have been announced. They arrive in turbulent times, capturing individuals shaping our world today.

Innovative Anatomy

Design Museum Den Bosch’s latest show, BodyDrift, displays an imagined future in which human bodies blend with machines.

Into the Digital Realm

Berlin-based international festival Pop-Kultur launches its sixth edition this week – presenting audiovisual works of art for free and online.

Human Contact

“For over a year I stopped traveling and photographing. I barely took any pictures at all.” Alec Soth’s latest portraits are honest and revealing.

Launching A New Space

Smith & Partner is dedicated to both Old Masters and emerging artists, driven by the idea that collecting art should be accessible to anyone.

Aesthetica Archives: Nocturnal Photography

Discover visual artists capturing the world at night. From neon-bathed cities to remote woodlands, these images are filled with mystery.

Portrait of Society

David Goldblatt’s powerful and intimate photographs of people in Johannesburg span 1948 – 2018, drawing attention to injustice.

Arts in Lockdown

Many arts institutions across the UK have been threatened due to the pandemic. Joanna Vestey has photographed London’s empty theatres.

Climate Awareness

Oceans are rising across the globe, causing destructive flooding. Rosie Bond’s publication combines art and science to raise awareness.

A Photographic Discovery

An extraordinary archive of over 8,000 photographs was found in an attic. It provides a joyous view of life and travel in the 20th century.

Decisions at the Crossroads

The act of walking has taken on new significance in recent months. Oli Kellett’s photographs are taken at crossroads in cities across America.

Tuning Into Nature

Chip Skingley is a Photography BA graduate from UWE Bristol. The images explore the power of walking and reconnecting with the environment.

10 Quotes: Contemporary Photographers

Discover visual and textual inspiration from today’s leading image-makers. These photographers offer meaningful insights into their craft.

Expressive Figures

London-based Courtney Bae is a Korean artist recognised for her abstract figurative works. A new series of paintings is launching this summer,

View from Above

David O’Meara’s photo composites walk a fine line between forms, evoking a familiar sense of longing
whilst hovering above pedestrian crossings.

Mutual Realities

The difference between being “seen” and being “watched” is important to Rineke Dijkstra’s work, which explores human development over time.

Poetic Meditation

Isaac Julien offers a poetic meditation on the life of Frederick Douglass – a visionary African American writer, abolitionist and a freed slave.

Soul of a Nation

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston is the final venue to present ‘Art in the Age of Black Power.’ Curator Kanitra Fletcher speaks to Aesthetica.

Virtual Photography Shows

There is a wealth of content to explore online. Log on to these visually striking exhibitions to explore themes of travel, escapism, myth and solitude.

Language and Connectivity

Filipe Peregrino’s AR project encourages intercultural exchanges, to make people from all around the world feel valued and welcome.

New Photobooks to Read

From representations of the body to Hopper-esque images of the American landscape, these new releases are curated to inform and inspire.

Layers of Sound

What is it like to record a song during lockdown? Leeds School of Arts graduate Luka taps into the complexities of human relationships in a new single.

A Luminous Horizon

Jordan Pope’s images use colours as a way to express emotions, creating dreamy hillsides at the rise and fall of the day.

Pennsylvania Transformed

Chris Hytha grew up in a small town suburb outside of Philadelphia, fascinated by the city and its urban pull. His images build a surreal narrative.

The August / September Issue

Now is the time. This modest sentence is the driving force behind the new issue. It’s a phrase that is bold and empowering. It is a call to action.

10 Quotes: Contemporary Artists

Aesthetica compiles insights from 10 leading names working today – exploring the importance of creativity, and what “art” means to them.

UK Shows to See this Summer

Museums and galleries are starting to reopen across the UK, with safety measures in place. Aesthetica highlights recommended shows to visit.

Design as Adventure

Mountains cover one fifth of the earth’s surface, but are only sparsely populated. We look at how unforgiving terrains offer a test bed for new ideas.

Intimate Portraiture

Zanele Muholi is a visual activist who reclaims the lens, providing a platform for black lesbian, gay, transgender and intersex individuals.

Structural Manipulation

Alex Lysakowski’s unexpected compositions focus on over-consumption and global production, as seen through exaggerated architectural forms.

Vivid Depiction

Yannis Davy Guibinga’s pronounced photographs are part of an expansive conversation about the representation of Africa and its wider diaspora.

Imagined Architecture

Alexis Christodoulou is a Cape Town-based artist who specialises in three-dimensional renders. He draws on the parameters of video game graphics.

Playful Combinations

Ulaş Kesebir & Merve Türkan utilise bold primary colours and minimal sets, using draping materials and block furniture to subvert domestic spaces.

Nocturnal Exploration

The seventh edition of Next Generation, an annual feature showcasing new photography graduates from the London College of Communication.

Sense of Connection

Julia Fullerton-Batten’s latest series, Looking Out From Within, was shot over the last few months of lockdown across London neighbourhoods.

Modes of Iconography

With the role of the selfie, how has portraiture changed? Is any idea authentic? Kuzma Vostrikov and Ajuan Song consider new visual archetypes.

Digitised Landscapes

Following a UN report on the effects of a 1.5°C increase, Google Arts & Culture’s Heartbeat of the Earth series makes sense of the key conclusions.

Change and Abstraction

How can painting reflect the mood of an era? This is the question at the heart of Gazelli Art House’s exhibition, exploring 1960s painting in the UK and US.

Celebrating Print

The Kraszna-Krausz Book Awards has announced the long and shortlist for the 35th edition of the award, championing the photobook in a digital age.

Technology and the Self

Screens are everywhere. How often do we notice them? Archie Brooks is a graduate from Leeds Arts University questioning this relationship.

Aesthetica Archives: Digital Renders

How far do we need to be convinced that something is real? Discover three creatives making new illusory worlds and impossible landscapes.

Ren Hang: Capturing Youth

“Photography plays a very important role in my life… like eating, walking or sleeping. There’s no difference.” A new Ren Hang show opens in Italy.