Ken Artspace was my first stop last week in London, where I visited Reflect, a solo show by Annie Johns, hosted in this gallery run by artists Rob Kesseler and Agalis Manessi.
Annie sometimes works with unexpected materials—wax, fuse wire, kapok, paper bags, gold leaf, hemp, bitumen, plaster, plant forms, and ashes—transforming them into pieces that feel both intimate and alchemical. Her work is quietly intense, mirroring nature’s balance of fragility and power.
For her solo exhibition at Ken artspace Johns presents a collection of works in which the assembled components are arranged with a material sensuality and forensic attention to detail that invite multiple readings. For Threnody, thousands of prickles plucked from rose stems are laid out alongside botanical engravings, evoking treasures discovered by chance in the cabinet of an herbarium. In Fragile Meadow, slender glass vials containing wild flower seeds are stitched into a calico sheath that has been unrolled to present its precious contents.
Her art is always more than you see, it is an amalgamation of everything that she is; from her interest in Greek mythology, to her love of literature, to her knowledge of plants. She weaves memory, history and language throughout her work as important metaphors, and as a reference back to self.
I recommend a visit, but be quick—the exhibition is only on until 22 February 2025.
About Ken Artspace
Ken artspace is a small art space in the heart of Kennington. Run by artists and founders Rob Kesseler and Agalis Manessi is dedicated to a mix of occasional exhibitions, window installations and pop-up events.
Also read: 17 Exhibitions to visit in 2025 recommended by Jacqueline Duncan