Spotlight on Key London Art Exhibitions in August 2025: Bill Brandt, Leonardo Drew, Giuseppe Penone and the Barbican’s “Encounters”

August 2025 in London showcases a dynamic array of powerful exhibitions featuring world-renowned artists across photography, sculpture, and contemporary installations. Highlights include the acclaimed Bill Brandt: Beach Nudes exhibition at Atlas Gallery, Leonardo Drew’s compelling sculptural installation at South London Gallery, a retrospective of Italian sculptor Giuseppe Penone at Serpentine South Gallery, and the innovative “Encounters: Giacometti x Huma Bhabha” exhibition at the Barbican.

Bill Brandt: Beach Nudes at Atlas Gallery

Running until September 13, 2025, the Bill Brandt: Beach Nudes exhibition at Atlas Gallery presents a striking collection from the late British photographer’s “Marlborough Collection.” Brandt’s photographs, many taken on the East Sussex coast and the shores of southern France, explore the female form with an intense intimacy and distinctive elongation that blends the human figure with sculptural qualities in rugged natural settings.

Brandt, a seminal figure in 20th-century photography, is celebrated for his pioneering approach to light, shadow, and composition that profoundly influenced photographic art. The exhibition reveals Brandt’s remarkable ability to transform nude photography into abstract, almost surreal landscapes, emphasizing form, texture, and atmospheric tension.

• For more about Brandt’s legacy and style, explore Bill Brandt’s profile on Artsy.

• Atlas Gallery has a long history of specializing in fine art photography, combining vintage and contemporary works, making it a London hub for photography enthusiasts.

Leonardo Drew: Ubiquity II at South London Gallery

At South London Gallery, American sculptor Leonardo Drew presents Ubiquity II, his first solo show in a London public institution, running until September 7, 2025. Drew’s abstract installations engage with themes of order, chaos, decay, and regeneration. His works are composed of raw materials such as wood, metal, and found objects, arranged to evoke natural forces, histories, and cycles of life and death.

Drew intentionally assigns numerical titles instead of descriptive ones, inviting viewers to interpret the works freely and personally. His sculptures, with their biolithic presence, meld organic and industrial elements, creating powerful dialogues between nature and human impact.

• For background on Leonardo Drew’s work, visit Matthew Marks Gallery.

Giuseppe Penone: Thoughts in the Roots at Serpentine South Gallery

The Serpentine South Gallery hosts an expansive retrospective of Giuseppe Penone, a leading Italian artist associated with Arte Povera. His exhibition Thoughts in the Roots (until September 7, 2025) unfolds an artistic journey spanning from 1969 to the present, exploring humanity’s relationship with nature.

Penone’s sculptures utilize materials such as wood, iron, wax, and terracotta to reveal nature’s intricate structures, inviting contemplation on growth, decay, and transformation within organic and human contexts. His tactile approach reveals the hidden “thoughts” embedded in natural forms.

• Learn more about Penone and Arte Povera at Serpentine Galleries.

Encounters: Giacometti x Huma Bhabha at the Barbican

The Barbican Gallery’s innovative partnership with the Fondation Giacometti presents “Encounters: Giacometti x Huma Bhabha” (until August 10, 2025), bringing together iconic sculptures by Alberto Giacometti such as Walking Woman I (1932) and Walking Man I (1960) with contemporary works by Pakistani-American artist Huma Bhabha.

Bhabha’s sculptures, drawings, and photographs reinvigorate figurative art with inventive materials and forms. This exhibition marks Bhabha’s first show in a London public institution and features four sculptures exhibited in Europe for the first time. The dialogue between Giacometti’s existential figures and Bhabha’s experimental pieces creates a rich conversation about the human form, memory, and presence.

• Visit Barbican’s website for details and related programming.

Summary

London’s art scene in August 2025 offers a diverse yet interconnected set of exhibitions exploring the human form, nature, abstraction, and historical dialogues. These shows provide both deep retrospective perspectives and fresh contemporary insights, appealing to a spectrum of art enthusiasts, collectors, and scholars.

FAQ

Q: Where can I see Bill Brandt’s photography exhibition?
A: At Atlas Gallery in London, running until September 13, 2025.

Q: What materials does Leonardo Drew use in his sculptures?
A: Wood, metal, and found objects arranged in abstract installations, displayed at South London Gallery.

Q: What is the focus of Giuseppe Penone’s retrospective?
A: Exploring nature, growth, and human interaction through materials like wood and iron, at Serpentine South Gallery.

Q: What is unique about the Barbican’s “Encounters” exhibition?
A: It places Alberto Giacometti’s classical sculptures side-by-side with contemporary works by Huma Bhabha, creating a dialogue between past and present.

Q: Are there special events or talks related to these exhibitions?
A: Yes, galleries and institutions often provide guided tours, artist talks, and workshops; check each venue’s website for updates.

Q: How to get tickets or more information?
A: Visit the official websites of Atlas Gallery, South London Gallery, Serpentine Galleries, and Barbican for ticketing and program details.

These exhibitions collectively highlight London’s vibrant mid-2025 art calendar, showcasing renowned artists working across photography, sculpture, and innovative contemporary practices.