Saatchi Gallery to host ‘Flowers – Flora in Contemporary Art & Culture’ exhibition

This expansive exhibition, featuring over 500 artworks and installations exploring the impact of flowers on art, fashion, science, and culture, will open in February 2025.

Aimée Hoving, Compost, 2019. © Aimee Hoving, flowers by Brigitte Gentis van Dam Merrett.

The Saatchi Gallery is set to bloom next year with the opening of Flowers – Flora in Contemporary Art & Culture, an exhibition celebrating the enduring influence of flowers on human creativity. Launching on 12 February 2025 and running across two floors and nine major gallery spaces, this immersive showcase will feature over 500 unique artworks and objects spanning painting, photography, sculpture, fashion, film, literature, music, and science. Supported by Cazenove Capital and Buccellati, with contributions from the Foundation for the Exhibition of Photography (FEP), the exhibition will include works by renowned artists such as Gillian Ayres, Alex Katz, and Marc Quinn, as well as groundbreaking installations by Rebecca Louise Law and Miguel Chevalier.

Flowers have long been a muse for artists and storytellers, their beauty and symbolism resonating across time. This exhibition delves into the myriad ways flora continues to inspire, from its aesthetic appeal to its role as a metaphor for human emotions and cultural narratives. Divided into nine sections, the exhibition begins with Roots, exploring the rich history of floral art from the Renaissance to modernism. Contemporary interpretations take centre stage in In Bloom, while Flowers and Fashion highlights their role in jewellery and couture, featuring pieces by Buccellati. Other rooms include works by photographers and sculptors, a vinyl wall celebrating floral themes in music, and a bespoke dried-flower installation by Rebecca Louise Law titled La Fleur Morte.

David Lebe, Plant Specimen #20_vE, 1980/ 2013. © David Lebe. Courtesy of the artist

Digital artistry comes alive in Miguel Chevalier’s interactive projection space, where visitors can engage with animated virtual flora. Science also plays a significant role in the exhibition, with a section on botanical art in collaboration with the Chelsea Physic Garden. This explores the medicinal and toxic properties of flowers, the mathematical principles of floral structures, and the history of orchid cultivation through stunning illustrations from the Schroder Collection. The final gallery, New Shoots, offers a glimpse into the future, showcasing fresh talent with diverse styles and media. Together, these spaces demonstrate the boundless inspiration flowers provide across disciplines and eras.

Viviane Sassen, In Bloom (shot for Dazed & Confused magazine), 2011. © Viviane Sassen. Courtesy Stevenson Gallery, SA.

Saatchi Gallery Director Paul Foster emphasises the exhibition’s universal appeal: “We invite everyone to step into Spring and celebrate the manifold ways artists have been inspired by nature.” Visitors can also enjoy Saatchi Gallery Lates, featuring drawing classes and creative workshops on select evenings. Mary-Anne Daly, CEO of Cazenove Capital, lauds the gallery’s dedication to making art accessible and preserving cultural legacies, adding: “This exhibition is a wonderful way to celebrate art, history, and culture.” With its rich blend of historical depth and contemporary innovation, Flowers – Flora in Contemporary Art & Culture promises to be a vibrant celebration of creativity and nature.

Date: 12 February – 5 May 2025. Location: Saatchi Gallery, Duke of York's HQ, King's Rd, London SW3 4RY. Price: from £12. Book now.