White Cube Gallery ​/​ Peter Layton Glassblowing

In 2016, a visit to the White Cube in London offered an opportunity to experience some of the city’s most ambitious contemporary art exhibitions. White Cube’s Bermondsey and Mason’s Yard spaces hosted major presentations by internationally recognized artists such as Antony Gormley, Georg Baselitz, Sergej Jensen, and Jannis Kounellis, reinforcing the gallery’s reputation as one of the leading venues for contemporary art in Europe. The gallery’s expansive industrial architecture and carefully curated installations encouraged visitors to engage directly with questions of space, perception, and materiality. At the same time, only a short walk away on Bermondsey Street, glass artist Peter Layton celebrated the fortieth anniversary of his renowned London Glassblowing studio. During 2016, Layton’s gallery featured demonstrations, exhibitions, and new works that highlighted the expressive possibilities of hot glass, ranging from vibrant sculptural vessels to innovative contemporary forms. Together, White Cube’s cutting-edge contemporary art program and Peter Layton’s dedication to craftsmanship represented two complementary aspects of London’s cultural scene: one focused on conceptual experimentation and the other on the enduring artistry of handmade objects.