Open Studios, 12–8 pm | Artist Studios

Our community of on-site artists are opening their studios to the public. Contributors include:

ActionSpace, Immanuel Adelowo, Ain Bailey, Linda Bell, Lulu Bennett, Whiskey Chow, Chaney Diao, Juliette Ezaoui, Shirin Fathi, Jesse Glazzard, Holly Graham, Anthea Hamilton, James Heath, Taey Iohe, Nnena Kalu, Pardip Kapil, Christine Kirubi, Xavier Laurent Leopold, michael., Ana Milenkovic, Sola Olulode, Shenece Oretha, Chandrakant Patel, Koa Pham, Bryan Giuseppi Rodriguez Cambana, Lasmin Salmon, Kwaga Sillingi, Robin Smith, Markus Vater, Adia Wahid, Claudia Williams, Jingzhou Yan, Chris Zhongtian Yuan and Linda Zagidulina.

Image: Studio Voltaire Open House 2024, photography credit George Brown

Drop-in, no booking required

House of Voltaire Sample Sale – up to 80% of | House of Voltaire, 12–8 pm

House of Voltaire opens its archive for a very special sample sale. This is a rare opportunity to shop ex-display framed editions, unique artworks, signature homewares and end-of-line clothing at exceptional in-store-only offers, with up to 80% off the original price. Stock is highly limited, so once it’s gone, it’s gone.

Drop-in, no booking required

Gardener-led tour of The Garden by Anthea Hamilton | The Garden, 12–12.45 pm

Studio Voltaire’s gardener, Luke Ratnavel, leads a hands-on walkthrough of The Garden, designed by onsite artist Anthea Hamilton. The Garden is a living artwork that is constantly changing in response to the seasons and the visitors who pass through it. Ratnavel will explain how the garden has evolved since its creation and lead visitors through the current combination of decorative and edible flowers and vegetables planted there. 

Image: Anthea Hamilton The Garden, 2021. Courtesy of the artist, photography by Francis Ware.

Free, booking recommended

Solar printing cyanotype workshop with Maymana Arefin | Event Studio, 1–3 pm

Artist, writer and community organiser Maymana Arefin hosts a solar-printing cyanotype workshop. Participants will discover the solar printing process and create their own unique print to celebrate nature. Guided by Arefin’s creative practice and connection to the natural world, this hands-on workshop will explore sun-powered image-making. Using botanical materials, including plants from The Garden by Anthea Hamilton, you will create striking prints while experimenting with composition, texture and light. All materials are provided.

This event is suitable for people aged 16 or over.

Free, Booking recommended

LOEWE FOUNDATION / Studio Voltaire Award artist talks | Event Studio, 5–6 pm

Lulu Bennett, Chaney Diao, Jesse Glazzard, Taey Iohe, michael., Shenece Oretha and Bryan Giuseppi Rodriguez Cambana will introduce and share recent works that they have been developing in their studios.

Each artist is an awardee of the third edition of the LOEWE FOUNDATION / Studio Voltaire Award.

Drop-in, no booking required

15-minute Studios and Exhibitions Introductions | Throughout the building, 2.30 pm, 4 pm, 5.30 pm

Studio Voltaire Assistants introduce our current exhibitions by T. Venkanna and Jack Scollard, and lead visitors through our studio spaces. We welcome questions, responses and discussion.

Drop-in, no booking required. The tour begins at the Welcome Desk.

Curator-led Exhibitions and Studios Tour | Throughout the building, 3–4 pm

Studio Voltaire’s curators lead a guided tour of our exhibition and studio spaces. Visitors will learn about Studio Voltaire’s impactful Civic and Learning programme, including an opportunity to meet some of our Neighbours Group. The tour also provides curatorial insights into our current exhibitions: T. Venkanna, Sculpture Garden; and Jack Scollard, Cruising Archaeology: The Pleasure Archive Research Centre. You will also have the opportunity to visit our studio spaces for an introduction to our onsite studio artists. Questions, responses and discussion are welcome throughout the tour.

Free, booking recommended. Meet at the Gallery entrance for the start of the tour.

Linda Bell’s Interactive Sculpture Performance | Events Studio Courtyard, 4-4.45 pm

Linda Bell is renowned for her large-scale, interactive sculptural works that invite exploration, touch and movement. Bell has been a resident artist at ActionSpace's South London hub at Studio Voltaire since 1999.

Bell's sculptures are built from tactile materials, including foil, paper and fabric, chosen for their ability to transform through reshaping and assembly. Movement is essential to the artist’s process, as the works evolve through interaction, whether by her own hands or those of the audience. For this year's Open House, Bell will install multiple interactive sculptures in Studio Voltaire's courtyard garden and invite visitors to activate the sculptures alongside her during an informal performance.

The Garden That Watches Back, performance by Poulomi Desai | Gallery, 6–7.30 pm

Poulomi Desai is a multimedia artist whose activist practice is anchored in what she describes as an ‘electromagnetic dissonant queer black noise for future dreams.

Desai’s performance, The Garden That Watches Back brings together imagined live sound, broken sacred instruments and sex objects. Created in dialogue with the themes of T. Venkanna’s exhibition Sculpture Garden, Desai’s performance will create a shifting landscape of sound and devotional ceremony reflecting on worship, desire and decay.

Free, booking recommended.

Artists’ Film Screenings | Event Studio, 6.30–7.30 pm

Studio artists Linda Bell, Chaney Diao, Holly Graham, michael., Koa Pham, Bryan Giuseppi Rodriguez Cambana present a selection of moving image works. These films will be screened on a rolling basis.

Drop-in, no booking necessary.

SMUT Press Open House Party with 2 boots | Crispin at Studio Voltaire, 8–11 pm

To bring this year’s Open House to a close, SMUT Press have invited 2 boots for a 4-hour DJ Set. 2 boots is formed of DJs Paige and SH3L. Expect bouncy, booty-shaking house tracks to make you move.

Crispin at Studio Voltaire will be serving speciality cocktails, beers, wines and soft drinks.

Free, booking required