London Art Museum The Courtauld Is Opening Two New Contemporary Art Galleries

We have some good news for tote bag hoarders, unusual haircut lovers and aspiring Frieze shoppers. The Courtauld has announced it will open two brand new galleries dedicated to contemporary art in the next few years. 

The Blavatnik Contemporary Galleries are expected to open in 2029 inside Somerset House, displaying contemporary art through special exhibitions, commissions and events. 

The impressive new galleries will be located on the top floor of the North Wing of Somerset House within the new Courtauld Campus, and will form part of the Courtauld’s transformation of its historic Grade I-listed building. They will be housed inside a restored 18th century display room with full accessibility and public access from the East Wing. 

With a focus on modern day art, working artists and education, the galleries will also provide a space for artists creating new projects, while students on the Courtauld Institute’s MA in Curating will be largely responsible for delivering the programme. 

Elena Crippa, senior curator of Contemporary Art: Exhibitions and Projects at the Courtauld, said: ‘The new galleries will be a site of possibilities for artists to present exceptional artworks. These new spaces will help us connect past and present art and ideas, engage students and bring living artists to the core of our activities.’

Turner Prize-winning sculptor Anthony Gormley said he was looking forward to the new galleries too. He said: ‘Wonderful to have, in such a lively intellectual context, a new place to look at, experience, and discuss the art of our time.’

There’s a lot to look forward to at the Courtauld this year: ‘Seurat and the Sea’ will be one of the year’s best exhibitions and here’s why Strand is worth visiting in 2026.

Did you see that Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall has announced its next major new artwork for autumn 2026?

Plus: The Serpentine Pavilion is celebrating its 25th anniversary this summer with a dazzling installation by a Mexican architect.

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