Showcasing artists and works that caught my attention.

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A few weeks ago while wandering random galleries I noticed a trend I hadn’t anticipated: every single show had nudes. I wasn’t specifically looking for that topic, but after four in a row you start to think that maybe this is no accidental nip slip. So that made me wonder: Are nudes making a comeback? No, dont be silly. They never went away. But just how much potentially titillating art is out there should you want to see some?

This week’s issue answers that question with five gallery shows that prominently feature “artistic nudity” — which is unfortunately now a mandatory trigger warning for Florida parents. Whether it’s the chocolate kind or the ones hidden in movies, everyone loves hunting for Easter eggs. Thanks to the London Art Roundup, now you can also hunt for Easter eggs-rated art! (“Eggs”…”X”… they kinda sound the same when said out loud.)

PS — the cover image is a Hermione Burton self portrait, currently on display at The Gallery of Everything (@gallevery), reviewed in Issue 58.

Unless you’re going to Burning Man, the dusty Midwest desert and Greyhound buses aren’t likely to entice you to get yer kit off. Yet both have somehow inspired Lorena Lohr (@lorena__lohr) to paint voluptuous, Renaissance style women doing just that. These gravity defying, comic-book breasted beauties have a throwback innocence. Maybe it’s their 1950’s Americana vibe? Or it could be the cowboy boots? Or possibly just the muted colours and textured wallpaper on which these small oils are framed.

‘Desert Nudes’ at Soho Revue (@sohorevue) until 30 Apr

There’s something almost juvenile about the giant line drawings by Isabella Ducrot (@ducrotisabella). They’re made on super delicate papers collaged together, but the materiality is hard to notice because of the large, lustful men reaching out with hopeful hands for a tweak and a squeeze. They make me think of virginal schoolboys giggling at the word ‘boobies’. The smaller works in the upstairs gallery, made mostly the same way, play it safe: they’re all pineapples and palm trees. I wonder which floor you’ll spend the most time on?

‘Other things’ at Sadie Coles - Davies St (@sadiecoleshq) until 05 May

“Mate, you really ought to get that thing checked out.” That’s what popped into my head upon seeing the jaundiced yellow todger on an otherwise healthy looking man painted by Hyangmok Baik (@hyangmok). Then I saw a red one, and a blue one, and a polka dotted unicorn and birthday cakes and beheaded men and basically… I don’t really know what the hell is going on. I do know that there’s so much colourful wackiness happening that you could study these works for hours. Bring your mum.

‘While You Were Sleeping’ at Beers (@beerslondon) until 06 May

This pick’n’mix show with Annie Leibovitz, Herb Ritts and a bunch of other renowned names spans seventy years of the evolving approach to nude photography. Although with only 20 works on display it’s impossible to identify any significant trends or evolution in any one artists‘ work, but some of the worlds most famous supermodel faces baring all will probably distract you from that fact.

‘Mostly Nude’ at Hamiltons (@hamiltonsgallery) until 13 May

I’m really not a fan of Alice Neel. I find her style far too cartoony to take them seriously on a wall, but this retrospective shows that she clearly knew how to paint. I think her mid-century work was the strongest she’s done, but will readily acknowledge that it doesn’t have the same impact as the distinctly unique, stripped back style that she developed in her late career. She was constantly evolving, and it’s the works she did last that made her the most famous. Speaking of stripping back, painting a nude self-portrait at the age of 80 was an incredibly badass thing to do, and it’s certainly an attention grabbing piece worthy of it’s own room as the introduction to the show.

‘Hot off the Griddle’ at Barbican (@barbicancentre) until 21 May

Not enough nudes for ya?

In case none of those shows float your boat, here are nine works of art currently on display at the Tate Modern (@tate). I’ve helpfully listed which floor each is on, so that you don’t have to be embarrassed by asking at the information desk.