Guildhall Art Gallery and London's Roman Amphitheatre

18/06/2026

Today, Art UK's theme is 'Discovery', for ‘Wiltshire and the World: John Aubrey and the Quest for Knowledge’ 📍 Chippenham Museum 🔍

We've chosen:
🦴 ‘Ichthyosaur’ by Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins
📍Crystal Palace Park Trust

Nineteenth-century palaeontological discoveries sparked huge public fascination with dinosaurs and other prehistoric life. In the 1850s, naturalist and sculptor Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins was commissioned to create a series of life-size models of extinct creatures for Crystal Palace Park.

Based on the scientific understanding of the time, Hawkins’ sculptures brought these long-extinct animals vividly into the public imagination-even if later discoveries have revealed that some details were not quite accurate. These models depict the ichthyosaur, a marine reptile whose first complete skull was discovered in Dorset in 1811 by Joseph Anning.

16/06/2026

Join artist Jock McFadyen and composer Jem Finer for a fascinating conversation exploring art, music, and the hidden layers of the city beneath our feet.

Filmed live in the atmospheric Roman Amphitheatre beneath Guildhall Art Gallery on 20 April 2026, this special event, hosted by cultural commentator Will Gompertz, offers a rare opportunity to hear directly from the artists behind ‘Underground (and Surface)’.

👉 Find the link to the full video in the comments.

📍 ‘Jock McFadyen with Jem Finer: Underground (and Surface)’ is on display at Guildhall Art Gallery until 20 September 2026.



Visit the City of London City of London Corporation: City View The Grey Gallery

15/06/2026

David Hockney was a true pioneer, and his visionary work will continue to influence artists and art enthusiasts around the world. We are deeply saddened by his passing.

We are deeply saddened to hear of the death of David Hockney OM CH RA.

David was elected to the Royal Academy in 1985, and his art has become closely associated with the institution, following memorable exhibitions of his work in the RA's galleries.

It has been a great privilege for the Royal Academy to bring his artistic vision to the public, and he will be hugely missed by his fellow Academicians, RA staff and our audiences who adored his art.

15/06/2026

Looking for Father’s Day inspiration? 🎁

Discover thoughtful gifts in the Guildhall Art Gallery shop, from a book on Jock McFadyen by award‑winning architecture critic Rowan Moore to historic London maps, Jem Finer CDs, and prints from our Underground and Surface exhibition.

Browse our shop via the link in the comments 🔗

12/06/2026

🎨 Join us tomorrow for a Second Saturday family session inspired by the London Festival of Architecture!

Looking for a fun, free family activity this weekend? Come along on Saturday 13 June, 11am to 4pm for 'Dream Dens: Building' on the theme of 'Belonging' 🏗️✨

Get creative and build your own dream den, enjoy hands-on activities, and settle in for cosy story times at 11am & 2pm 📚

Part of the London Festival of Architecture, this special day invites families to feel at home in the Gallery and let imaginations run wild 💭

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Suitable for ages 3 - 13
🎟️ Free (booking recommended)
🔗 Book via the link in comments

⚠️ There is a cycling event taking place across the City on this day, so walking routes may differ from usual. Visit our event page to find out what free activities are taking place across the City and to help plan your visit.

Visit the City of London City of London Corporation: City View

As part of the London Festival of Architecture, we will be building play forts inspired by City structures and London landmarks

11/06/2026

Today Art UK's theme is Football for the FIFA World Cup⚽

Our pick:
🏴 ‘Professional Footballers’ Association Banner’ by John Midgley
📍 People’s History Museum

Footballers may be celebrity athletes, but they are also salaried workers - and like many professions, they have their own trade union. Founded in 1907, the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) is the world’s oldest sports union, championing players’ rights from pensions to neurological health.

Created by John Midgley, this striking banner reflects football’s deep connection to social and political history. It was made for an exhibition exploring football and its links to social change at the People’s History Museum in Manchester.

👀 Did you know footballers have one of the oldest trade unions in the world?

10/06/2026

‘America and London’ - discover a fascinating selection of rare and symbolic items marking the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

This compact special display, in the City of London Heritage Gallery (within Guildhall Art Gallery), celebrates over two centuries of political, cultural and diplomatic links between the United States and the City of London.

📜 Highlights include:
• Letters from 1775 revealing early ties between New York, Philadelphia and the City of London
• A silk bookmark commemorating Abraham Lincoln’s assassination
• The Roll of Fame featuring General Eisenhower’s Honorary Freedom of the City

Curated by The London Archives, this exhibition showcases treasures from their remarkable collections.

🎫 Free entry
📍 Guildhall Art Gallery
🕰 Open during regular gallery hours

More details on first comment 🔗

08/06/2026

🎨 Tickets for Places and Paint - Rowan Moore in conversation with Jock McFadyen, are now live!

Join acclaimed artist Jock McFadyen and architecture critic for The Observer, Rowan Moore, for a special discussion exploring the relationship between paint and place, to coincide with London Festival or Architecture.

📍 Basinghall Suite. Guildhall Art Gallery
🗓️ 30 June
⏰ 3 to 4:30pm (arrive from 2:30pm)
🎟️ £15 / £10 concession.
🔗 https://www.thecityofldn.com/event/places-and-paint-rowan-moore-in-conversation-with-jock-mcfadyen/

Come early and explore the exhibition 'Jock McFadyen and Jem Finer: Underground (and Surface)', before the talk.
Visit the City of London City of London Corporation: City View Oil Paintings

03/06/2026

🎨🎶Take a look at what we created together!

On 27 May, families joined us for a vibrant day of creativity inspired by our current exhibition, exploring Jock McFadyen and Jem Finer’s London.

Through large-scale collaborative painting and immersive soundscape workshops, participants brought their own visions of the city to life. Layering colour, texture, and sound turned into a truly collective experience, and this is the result ❤️

A huge thank you to everyone who came along, participated, and made the day so memorable. We loved seeing your creativity in action and can’t wait to welcome you back!

📅 We hope to see you again on 13 June for our Second Saturday family sessions.

01/06/2026

😎 Join us this June at Guildhall Art Gallery for a month of inspiring art.

From exhibitions to talks and family activities, there’s something for everyone to get involved in:

🎤 Listen back to the Q&A with Jock McFadyen & Jem Finer, recorded live in the Amphitheatre on 20 April
🎨 Explore their exhibition 'Underground (and Surface)'
🖼️ Discover 'America and London' in the Heritage Gallery
🎨 Enjoy creative fun for families at our Second Saturday Family Session on 13 June
🏛️ Join City of London Guides (Tuesday to Sunday) for a free guided tour of the Gallery
👀 Keep your eyes peeled for more details on an upcoming live talk with Jock McFadyen and Rowan Moore exploring the relationship between place and paint.

We look forward to welcoming you to the Gallery this June 🌞

City of London Corporation: City View Visit the City of London Oil Paintings