The Parasol Unit Foundation for Contemporary Art

The Parasol Unit Foundation for Contemporary Art continued its reputation for presenting ambitious and thought-provoking contemporary art exhibitions. Founded by curator Ziba Ardalan, the London-based non-profit gallery championed both emerging and internationally established artists, offering visitors free access to exhibitions that explored identity, culture, history, and the evolving language of contemporary art. Among the year’s highlights was the first UK solo exhibition by American artist Tschabalala Self, whose paintings, collages, and sculptures examined representations of the Black female body and challenged conventional ideas of identity and beauty. The exhibition showcased works from the first years of her career and demonstrated the gallery’s commitment to introducing significant new voices to British audiences. In 2017, the gallery presented Morgenland by German photographer Elger Esser, featuring atmospheric landscapes created during travels through Lebanon, Egypt, and Israel. The exhibition explored memory, history, and the poetic qualities of place through Esser’s distinctive photographic style. The year also included the Parasolstice – Winter Light 2017 project by artist Robert Montgomery, whose illuminated text-based installation transformed the gallery’s exterior space into a contemplative public artwork. Together, these exhibitions reflected Parasol Unit’s mission to foster dialogue across cultures and artistic disciplines while making contemporary art accessible to a broad audience.