The London Art World

The Seattle Art Museum would like to invite you to join Scott Stulen, Illsley Ball Nordstrom Director and CEO, on a visit to one of the most exciting cities in the world during the height of the fall contemporary art season. London is arguably the center of the European art world, and its rich history of art museums and galleries is matched only by the city's innovative contemporary art scene. This six day trip includes exclusive private visits to artist studios, collector homes, and prestigious art museums, as well a full VIP access to Frieze London and Frieze Masters. We will focus on the best the city has to offer from curator-led before hours visits to the Tate Modern and Royal Academy, and cocktail receptions at prestigious private collections, to tours of some of the top galleries in Mayfair, including White Cube, Stephen Friedman, Tiwani Contemporary, and Alison Jacques. Four of the most well-known British artists working today, Sonia BoyceAnish Kapoor, Antony Gormley, and Oscar Murillo will welcome us for studio visits; and art historian Jen Ellis will guide us through the highlights at Frieze. These daily outings will be accompanied by special lunches and dinners at some of the most notable restaurants in London including Mount St. and Hide as well as a one-of-a-kind private candlelight tour in the Sir John Soane's Museum and a finale evening at the private club, Annabel's. The Beaumont Mayfair, a five-star luxury hotel with impeccable dining and wellness amenities, will serve as our home-base for the week.

The trip starts in the afternoon on Sunday, October 12th and ends on Saturday, October 18 with departures at your leisure. Please note that most commercial flights would depart the Seattle area on Saturday, October 11th and arrive between 6:00 am and 2:00 pm on Sunday, October 12th.

This trip is limited to 20 guests and your booking is requested by April 7, 2025. A minimum of 14 guests is required to operate this trip. All programming may change and is subject to availability of hosts and venues. 

Your SAM contact for this trip is Chris Landman (chrisl@seattleartmuseum.org). Your Artful Jaunts contact is Latasha Thomas (latasha@artfuljaunts.com or 781-658-2270, office) who will assist with any questions related to registration, hotel upgrades, and all logistical matters. We welcome your questions.

                                       THIS TRIP IS FULL. YOU CAN BOOK BELOW TO BE PUT ON THE WAITLIST. YOUR CARD WILL NOT BE CHARGED.

Book SAM London

Daily Itinerary
Price & Inclusions

Day 1

Sunday, October 12

Arrivals

Arrivals throughout the morning

Transfer to Hotel

Individual transfers to the hotel 

Hotel Check-In

Guests check into the Beaumont Hotel, in the heart of Mayfair

Lunch

Lunch on your own before programming begins 

Artist Studio 

Mayfair Gallery Stroll

Begin with Tiwani, Stephen Friedman, Alison Jacques and work our way to White Cube

White Cube

An intimate cocktail reception at White Cube with the exhibited artists

Dinner

Dinner at your leisure 

The Beaumont Mayfair is a five-star luxury hotel located in London's prestigious Mayfair district, overlooking Brown Hart Gardens. Opened in 2014, the hotel occupies a Grade II listed Art Deco building originally constructed in 1926, which formerly served as a garage. The hotel offers 73 rooms, including 23 studios and suites, all designed to evoke the elegance of the 1920s. Each room is adorned with original artwork. A standout feature is "ROOM," a unique suite designed by renowned British sculptor Antony Gormley. This inhabitable sculpture provides guests with a distinctive and immersive experience, blending art and accommodation seamlessly.

Day 2

Monday, October 13

Royal Academy

A before-hours curator led tour at the Royal Academy

Lunch

Lunch nearby in Mayfair

Studio Visit: Sonya Boyce

A private visit to the artist's studio. Sonya is a British Afro-Caribbean artist, living and working in London.

Dinner

Dinner at Sparrow

 

Sonya Boyce (b. 1962) is a British-Afro-Caribbean artist living and working in London. Boyce's research interests explore art as a social practice and the critical and contextual debates that arise from this area of study. Boyce has been closely collaborating with other artists since 1990 with a focus on collaborative work, frequently involving improvisation and unplanned performative actions on the part of her collaborators. Boyce's work involves a variety of media, such as drawing, print, photography, video, and sound. Her art explores "the relationship between sound and memory, the dynamics of space, and incorporating the spectator.

Day 3

Tuesday, October 14

Studio Visit: Antony Gormley

Antony Gormley is widely acclaimed for his sculptures, installations and public artworks that investigate the relationship of the human body to space.

Lunch

Lunch near the museum

Private Collection

A visit to Batia Ofer's home and collection

Dinner

Dinner at the HIDE restaurant

Antony Gormley (b. 1950) is a British sculptor known for his exploration of the human body and its relationship to space. His works often use casts of his own body to examine themes of existence, consciousness, and the interaction between individuals and their environments. One of his most famous works is "Angel of the North" (1998), a massive steel sculpture in Gateshead, UK. Other notable projects include "Another Place", a series of iron figures on a beach in Liverpool, and "Event Horizon", where human-like sculptures were placed on rooftops and public spaces in cities worldwide. Gormley frequently works with industrial materials like iron, steel, and concrete, creating both intimate and monumental pieces that engage audiences in thought-provoking ways. 

Day 4

Wednesday, October 15

Frieze VIP First Look

A private first look walk-through of the fair highlights  

Lunch

Lunch at your leisure in the fair

Frieze Masters and Sculpture Garden

A private tour of Frieze Masters and Sculpture Garden 

Free Time

Time to rest at the hotel or explore London

Dinner

Dinner at leisure

The Frieze London art fair is one of the world's most prestigious contemporary art events, held every October in Regent's Park, London. Launched in 2003, it features leading international galleries showcasing works by emerging and established artists. The fair is known for its focus on cutting-edge contemporary art, attracting collectors, curators, and art enthusiasts. Alongside Frieze London, the event includes Frieze Masters, which focuses on historical art from ancient times to the 20th century, and Frieze Sculpture, an outdoor exhibition in Regent's Park. The fair also hosts talks, special projects, and performances, making it a key event in the global art calendar.

Day 5

Thursday, October 16

Private collection: Simon Nixon  

 An intimate morning tour of the private collection.

Lunch

Studio Visit: Anish Kapoor

Anish is a British sculptor specializing in installation art and conceptual art.

Private Collection

A visit to the collection of Catherine Petitgas

Dinner

Dinner at Mount Street.

Anish Kapoor (b. 1954) is a British-Indian sculptor known for his innovative and large-scale works that challenge perception and space. In the early 1970s, he moved from Mumbai to London to pursue his artistic education. Kapoor's creative process involves continuous experimentation and risk-taking. His sculptures are both adventures in form and feats of engineering, Kapoor maneuvers between vastly different scales, across numerous bodies of work. He believes in exploring new ideas and materials, and often allows his works to evolve over time, sometimes taking months to decide if a piece is ready for public display. Kapoor's work continues to push boundaries in contemporary sculpture, challenging viewers' perceptions of space, form, and color. His innovative approach and monumental public works have solidified his position as one of the most influential sculptors of his generation.

Day 6

Friday, October 17

Tate Modern

Before hours curator led tour of some highlights from the museum

Gallery visit

Lehmann Maupin to see exhibtion on view

Lunch

Studio Visit: Oscar Murillo

Oscar Murillo is a Colombian artist working within the painting tradition.

Finale Dinner

An intimate and private closing dinner in the galleries of the Sir John Soane's Museum

Tate Modern is one of the world's leading contemporary and modern art museums, located in London, UK. It is part of the Tate group and is housed in the former Bankside Power Station, a striking industrial building redesigned by Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron. Opened in 2000, the museum features an extensive collection of international modern and contemporary art from the 1900s to the present day, including works by artists like Picasso, Warhol, Rothko, and Hockney. The museum is famous for its vast Turbine Hall, which hosts large-scale installations.

Day 7

Saturday, October 18

Airport Transfers

Individual transfers to the airport as needed

Departures

Price

  • $12,600 per person for double occupancy
  • $15,995 per person for single occupancy

Inclusions

  • Private arrival and departure transfers
  • Accommodations at the The Beaumont in London on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday
  • Breakfast each day at The Beaumont 
  • Entry to all museums, studios, and galleries as well as Frieze London & Frieze Masters
  • All lunches, three dinners, and all cocktail programs
  • Transportation throughout the trip in a luxury coach
  • All fees and gratuities, including baggage porter services

Exclusions

  • International flights from the US to London are not included in the trip price
  • Travel and medical insurance (recommended)
  • Three dinners will be on your own

Cancellations

  • No refund will be provided for cancellations within sixty days of the trip's start date. If the museum has another patron to fill a spot, a substitution will be allowed. After the trip has commenced, no refunds are available, even if the client does not partake in all of the trip's activities or leaves the trip early. The final payment due will be automatically charged to the same credit card used for registration, 60 days prior to the trip
  • We highly recommend trip insurance offered when booking
   

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