Monday 2 October 2023: Heart of London’s award-winning cultural initiative, announces the return of Art After Dark which will transform the West End with public art alongside a display celebrating iconic performance artist Marina Abramović.

On Thursday 12 and Friday 13 October, over 30 world-class galleries will stay open late and an exclusive screening inspired by Marina Abramović’s art will be unveiled on the Piccadilly Lights to coincide with her major autumn exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts.

Turning the West End into a giant canvas next month and taking place during Frieze Week, Art of London will install an inflatable, immersive sculpture titled ‘The Cornucopia’ in Leicester Square Gardens, created by British contemporary MTArt artist Claire Luxton.

Luxton’s brightly-coloured, striking Instagrammable installation will tower over the city’s entertainment district at a height of 7m and exceed a total area of 70m. Mythical in form and taking on a life of its own, ‘The Cornucopia’ will bloom from the ground to symbolise growth, beauty and the vibrant modern energy of the West End.

Leicester Square Gardens, staying open late for the seasonal arts programme, will also display an illuminated, neon installation by MTArt poetic artist Robert Montgomery, who fuses art and design in a poem titled ‘The People You Love’.

In collaboration with Mayfair Art Weekend, on Thursday 12 October, culture seekers can hop between independent galleries including Stern Pissarro, Cristea Roberts, and Saatchi Yates as part of an entertaining night out in London’s cultural district. On Friday 13 October, London’s most iconic galleries including National Gallery, the Royal Academy of Arts and National Portrait Gallery will extend their opening hours.

Supported by Westminster City Council and Landsec, the Piccadilly Lights screening combines images from ‘Four Crosses’ 2019, an installation featured in the Marina Abramović exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts, along with a selection of instructional statements taken from the ‘Marina Abramović Method’. These statements are designed to teach the artist’s method for reaching a higher consciousness and confronting life’s challenges.

Mark Williams, Director of Art of London, said: “With this immense seasonal arts programme, we’re delighted to harness the creativity of so many talented artists for night owls to experience when visiting the West End. From Marina Abramović’s experimental piece on the Piccadilly Lights to gigantic artworks in Leicester Square Gardens, you can truly view the West End through a new lens”.

For further information, please visit Art of London | Art of London.