12 Moments of 2024

Kostas Papakostas joins Hang-Up Gallery's roster. Kostas is a London-based artist whose intuitive and process-driven work has earned him international recognition since becoming a full-time artist in 2019.

Known for his monochromatic paintings, Kostas uses his paintings to reflect on an internal, visceral journey. His process is rooted in spontaneity, embracing unpredictability and imperfection, as he works in solitude, continuously moving around canvases laid on the floor.

Inspired by his recent residency in Asia, Kostas studied traditional calligraphy techniques, finding parallels with his own instinctive practice.

Invader returned to Paris with ‘Invader Space Station’ from February 17th to May 5th, 2024. This immersive journey into Invader’s universe features hundreds of works across various mediums, inviting visitors to explore cosmic scenography designed by the artist. The exhibition transforms the former office space of the newspaper Libération, offering a 1hr 30min adventure across 5 floors and 3,500m of space. Invader describes it as a "mother ship, a starship, "promising an unforgettable experience.

Earlier this year, Christie’s in New York helped Sir Elton John to rehome his impressive collection with a sale of over 900 lots.

The opening night orchestrated a resounding success, and achieved an impressive $8 million. A standout highlight was Banksy’s iconic Flower Thrower Triptych, acquired directly from the elusive artist, leading the sales at a remarkable $1.9 million.

Yayoi Kusama partnered with The Serpentine Gallery and The Royal Parks to bring her six-foot Pumpkin to London. This work is Kusama's tallest bronze pumpkin sculpture to date. It was installed in Kensington Gardens from 9th July - 3rd November.

Additionally, Infinite Accumulation, Kusama's first permanent public work in the UK, was unveiled this July at Liverpool Street Station. Here, Kusama developed her polka dot motif into a sculptural form. The work, supported by Victoria Miro gallery, was commissioned as part of The Crossrail Art Foundation’s public art programme for the Elizabeth Line.

Victoria Miro also presented Yayoi Kusama: EVERY DAY I PRAY FOR LOVE, an exhibition of Kusama's works which includes a rare opportunity to experience a new Infinity Mirrored Room which is titled Beauty Described by a Spherical Heart.

Tracey Emin, a celebrated YBA artist, was made a dame in the King’s birthday honours, marking a significant milestone in her career despite her self-professed unconventional path. Other recipients include writer and filmmaker Hannah Rothschild, who also received a damehood, and cultural leaders such as Alexander Sturgis of the Ashmolean Museum (CBE) and Sally MacDonald of the Science and Industry Museum (OBE). Sculptor Andrew Logan and Jadranka Beresford-Peirse were awarded MBEs for their contributions to art and cultural heritage, respectively.

Banksy made waves at this year's Glastonbury Festival by launching an inflatable life raft carrying dummy migrants during the headline performance by Bristol-based punk band, Idles.

This sparked discussions about the plight of marginalised communities. The street artist's provocative art often elicits strong emotions and this piece was no exception, especially as it took aim at political figures like the UK’s Home Secretary James Cleverly.

In addition to the boat stunt, Glastonbury introduced a new stage – Terminal 1. Managed by migrant artists, this installation aimed to provide festival-goers with a taste of the migrant experience at the British border and foster a deeper understanding. For example, on entering the installation, visitors must answer a question from the British citizenship test to be allowed in, symbolising just some of the challenges that migrants face. Whilst Banksy has not officially confirmed his involvement in Terminal 1, the installation bears many hallmarks of his style of curation.

Hang-Up presented Age of Icons. This exhibition provided a journey into the extraordinary worlds of three British art icons—Grayson Perry, Banksy, and Tracey Emin. The exhibition showcased a small selection of some their most impactful works, providing a unique opportunity to delve into the depths of their artistic genius.

A new addition to London's vibrant street art scene emerged in Hornsey Road, Finsbury Park. Banksy confirmed his authorship of this work through his Instagram account on March 18th.

The mural portrays a woman wielding a pressure washer, her gaze fixed upon a cascade of green paint adorning the wall of a residential block. Positioned strategically in front of the artwork is a pruned tree, and viewed head-on, the green paint gives the illusion of the tree's foliage.

Interpretations of its meaning vary among residents, with some suggesting it speaks to the diminishing presence of nature in urban landscapes and emphasises the value of green spaces. Others speculate it may carry a subtle critique of "greenwashing" – the deceptive practice of presenting environmentally harmful activities as eco-friendly.

Later this year, Banksy introduced us to his London Zoo Series. Over nine days, the elusive street artist has treated the city to a sequence of new, animal-themed artworks, culminating with a gorilla spray-painted onto the shutters of London Zoo on August 13th.

As is typical for Banksy, he has claimed ownership of each piece via Instagram, offering nothing more than the image itself—no captions, no titles, no explanations. This deliberate ambiguity has left fans and critics debating the significance of the works.

According to The Guardian, the artist's motivation behind the series is to “cheer people [up] with a moment of unexpected amusement, as well as to gently underline the human capacity for creative play, rather than for destruction and negativity.”

The Labour party won a landslide victory in the UK’s general election on 4th July, upending 14 years of Conservative rule and gaining a massive 411 seats out of 650 in total.

With the introduction of a new Labour government, we have felt a positive change in the art market and the general outlook remains positive.

The newly appointed chairman of the British Art Market Federation (BAMF), Martin Wilson, is optimistic about the impact Labour will have on the art trade.

Paul Hewitt, the director-general of the Society of London Art Dealers, reflects the same optimism. “Historically, the art industry has done well under Labour,”

The sale of Banksy’s stab-proof vest for $1 million at Sotheby’s, London on 9th October, achieved more than double its estimated value of £300,000.

This shows that Banksy works are retaining their allure and is a very healthy sign for the Banksy market moving forward.

New to the gallery rosta, Rusty is an exciting emerging artist whose work offers a bold, vibrant exploration of the female image, rooted in her personal experiences. Rusty works instinctively, allowing her paintings to come alive through trial, error, and spontaneity.

Her art challenges traditional portrayals of women by rejecting the male gaze and instead celebrating female figures. With an enduring fascination for colour and texture, she meticulously curates bold palettes that jar against neutrals, evoking a visceral energy in her work.

Her artistic journey is driven by a desire to flip negative experiences into empowering narratives, contributing to the ongoing conversation around women in art.

In a shocking art heist in the early morning of Friday 1st November 2024, robbers targeted a gallery in the small Dutch village of Oisterwijk, blowing up the entrance and making off with two screenprints from Andy Warhol's celebrated "Reigning Queens" series. The series, created in the 1980s, portrays four iconic queens: Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, Queen Elizabeth II of the UK, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, and Queen Ntombi Twala of Swaziland (now Eswatini). The heist took a chaotic turn when, faced with a car too small to accommodate all four large works, the robbers abandoned two prints on the street after cutting them out of their frames. Both the stolen and discarded works suffered irreparable damage due to the forceful entry and mishandling.