The launch of Art in Mayfair 2023, unveils Royal Academician Bob & Roberta Smith’s vibrant flag artwork designs entitled ‘A Puzzle 4U’ on Bond Street.
These flags also fly above North Audley Street, South Audley Street and Duke Street for visitors to explore. Upon first look, the flag artworks present a jumble of letter forms – or puzzles – arranged in different combinations, which leaves the public to try and decipher the meaning themselves. On the reverse side, walking back down the streets of Mayfair in the other direction, the slogan is revealed.
Time to coincide with the 255th Summer Exhibition, Art in Mayfair sees the Royal Academy of Arts join forces with Bond Street from 12 June – 9 July for their annual immersive showcase of art and culture.
The iconic Sculpture Trail has also returned for 2023, with artists such as Barry Flanagan OBE RA, Johnny Hawkes, Kalliopi Lemos and Bernar Venet participating. Art is popping up throughout Bond Street and, for the first time this year, across Mayfair, creating an immersive art experience where visitors can explore both the temporary and permanent artworks set throughout the destination.
Mayfair’s most iconic brands and designers are also collaborating with the area’s galleries and their world-renowned artists to host a series of pop-up exhibitions, showcases, talks and masterclasses throughout the next month. The festival transforms the neighbourhood into a live exhibition recognising Mayfair’s rich art heritage.
Bob and Roberta Smith RA say the project’s inspiration is that it should be “a genuinely playful experience in amongst all of the hullabaloo of central London.” He says: “I have always been obsessed with letter forms and words and what slogans mean – what is it that people try to say when they come up with a slogan or a phrase? Do they mean what they say? Language is such a beautiful thing, made up of these 26 shapes. That notion has preoccupied me quite a bit throughout my life.”
The Sculpture Trail also returns for 2023, with artists such as Barry Flanagan OBE RA, Johnny Hawkes, Kalliopi Lemos and Bernar Venet participating. Art will spill out onto Bond Street and, for the first time this year, across Mayfair, creating an immersive art experience where visitors can explore both the temporary and permanent artworks set throughout the destination.
Mayfair’s most iconic brands and designers will also collaborate with the area’s galleries and their world-renowned artists to host a series of pop-up exhibitions, showcases, talks and masterclasses. The festival will transform the neighbourhood into a live exhibition recognising Mayfair’s rich art heritage.
Frances Corner OBE has authored an essay for the launch of Art in Mayfair called ‘Living at the Crossroads of Fashion and Art’, which explores the symbiotic relationship between fashion and art as well as Bond Street’s physical demonstration of this relationship, where galleries and fashion houses exist side by side: “When you look around London, exhibitions unpack fashion history and fashion boutiques are styled like exhibitions. Where once fashion and art came together in certain institutions, cities or even streets, now that merging is everywhere.”
Katie Thomas, Associate D
Director at Bond Street & Mayfair, said: “We are delighted to be celebrating the collaborative working relationship between art and fashion for our sixth year, working once again with the Royal Academy of Arts – an incredible institution located right on our doorstep. As always, our hope for Art in Mayfair is to open a door into the worlds of art and fashion, which can easily feel inaccessible or alienating. The two are, without doubt, having a real moment, and we are excited to see what our luxury houses have in store this year for Art in Mayfair. Look out for interesting collaborations, for example, Canali and Dairo Vargas.”