Enchanted Alchemies: Magic, Mysticism, and the Occult in Art
Lévy Gorvy Dayan, London
October 1 - December 21, 2024
Press ReleaseChecklistArtworksPressEssay by Rachel ThomasOctober 6 Panel
On October 1, 2024, Lévy Gorvy Dayan opened Enchanted Alchemies, an exhibition exploring themes of magic, mysticism, and the occult in art. The exhibition places historical figures such as Gertrude Abercrombie, Eileen Agar, Leonora Carrington, Elda Cerrato, Ithell Colquhoun, Leonor Fini, and Monica Sjöö in dialogue with contemporary practitioners, including Francesco Clemente, Chitra Ganesh, Alejandro Jodorowsky, Bharti Kher, Linder, and Goshka Macuga. Featuring over 50 works by 27 artists spanning painting, sculpture, ceramic, watercolor, and collage—some newly created—Enchanted Alchemies brings together a range of expressive approaches to magic and mystical thinking. On November 12, the display evolved into phase II, reflecting the transformative and alchemical themes of the artists' works.
On October 6, 2024, a panel discussion relating to the exhibition was held at the 1 Hotel Mayfair at 4 PM. It was moderated by renowned art critic Louisa Buck, and featured the artist Linder and writer Irenosen Okojie. The panel was chaired by Rachel Thomas, Chief Curator of the Hayward Gallery.
Selected Artworks
- Georg Wilson
- The Storm, 2024
- Oil on panel
- 27⁹⁄₁₆ × 19¹¹⁄₁₆ inches (70 × 50 cm)
- Lucy Stein
- May Horns, 2024
- Oil on linen
- 66¹⁵⁄₁₆ × 35⁷⁄₁₆ inches (170 × 90 cm)
- Linder
- Mantic Stain 8 (Sphere of Venus), 2014
- Enamel on magazine page
- 11¹¹⁄₁₆ × 8⁷⁄₁₆ inches (29.7 × 21.5 cm)
- Bharti Kher
- Alchemy drawing 19, 2019
- Victor Man
- Pagan Space, 2010
- Oil on linen mounted on panel
- 16⁹⁄₁₆ × 13 inches (42 × 33 cm)
- Leonora Carrington
- The Lovers, 1987
- Oil on canvas
- 29½ × 40½ inches (75 × 102.9 cm)
- Eileen Agar
- DNA Figure, 1968
- Acrylic on board
- 29½ × 24 inches (74.9 × 61 cm)
- Elda Cerrato
- Estructura de minerales materializados en una dimensión que no le pertenece from the series Entes Extraños, 1966-67
- Oil on canvas
- 18⅛ × 14³⁄₁₆ inches (46 × 36 cm)
- Getrude Abercrombie
- Lady with Black Braid, 1960
- Oil on Masonite
- 8 × 10 inches (20.3 × 25.4 cm)
- Ithell Colquhoun
- Alcove II, 1948
- Oil on board
- 9 × 13½ inches (22.9 × 34.3 cm)
- Leonor Fini
- Nature morte, c. 1945–50
- Oil on board
- 7½ × 9⅝ inches (19 × 24.5 cm)
- Ithell Colquhoun
- Song of Songs, 1933
- Oil on canvas
- 30 × 24½ inches (76.2 × 62.3 cm)
Selected Press
- Financial TimesDecember 23, 2024
- Studio InternationalNovember 9, 2024
- ArtylstNovember 4, 2024
- Wallpaper*October 29, 2024
- The StandardOctober 18, 2024
- PuckOctober 13, 2024
- The WickOctober 10, 2024
- ArtNetOctober 8, 2024
- Harpers BazaarOctober 8, 2024
- The ObserverOctober 8, 2024
- Wallpaper MagazineOctober 2, 2024
- Wallpaper*October 2, 2024
- FAD MagazieSeptember 29, 2024
- DAZEDSeptember 26, 2024
- ArtnetJuly 28, 2024
- Lévy Gorvy DayanSeptember 27, 2024