Written by: Issey Scott a freelance art writer and SouthEast15 contributor

Peckham’s art scene has been flourishing in recent years, and whether galleries and studios have popped up around the centre, near Rye Lane, or further afield into residential areas, it’s been very exciting to see new spaces and emerging artists so close to home - all for free!

This shift was in part triggered by Hannah Barry Gallery, potentially the largest gallery space in the area. Having opened in 2008, the gallery has been putting on stunning, high-spec exhibitions from local and international artists, as well as hosting supporting events and curating programmes outside the gallery.

But while Hannah Barry Gallery has been written about widely, there are plenty of other hidden spaces waiting for you! Backroom Gallery is located in the back of the Holdrons Arcade on Rye Lane, a white cube space that can accommodate a range of artworks; a recent exhibition by Jack Hirons was a highlight, whereby the artist used charred chicken bones as pigment to create blackwork paintings. Backroom’s exhibitions aren’t as regular as your average gallery, so be sure to do your research before visiting.

For those with a specific interest in photography, Seen Fifteen is a truly innovative space within the Bussey Building dedicated to the medium, curating some excellent, thought-provoking shows pushing the boundaries of photography. Back in 2016, Swiss artist Maya Rochat had her stunning large-scale textured prints in the generously sized space; she’s since gone on to show at the Tate Modern so they clearly have good taste!

Attached to the University of the Arts London campus, Camberwell Space is used during the Camberwell College degree shows but for the rest of the year the art school puts on shows by international artists; and in a relatively small space, artworks really pop. It’s always a really nice touch to be able to see the art from the street, too. 

This is by no means an exhaustive list, and Peckham’s art scene is always growing and popping up in new and interesting locations. ‘Popping up’ is an apt phrase, as shows are appearing in unexpected corners of the area, such as shop fronts and domestic spaces. Honourable mentions go to South Kiosk and Bosse & Baum, both in the Bussey Building, and dkuk, which is a hairdressing salon which operates in front of art instead of mirrors. 

Slightly further afield, south London is seeing the kinds of creative growth that would usually be seen in the likes of Mayfair, Fitzrovia or Hackney (mostly due to artists being priced out of these areas). Heading further central, we have the excellent Plaza Plaza, an artist-run studio and gallery space which is tiny in size but makes up for it with great quality shows, usually from solo artists. Recent exhibitions have seen some innovative styles and ideas from London-based artists Taylor Silk and Will Thompson. They’re only open by appointment, which is less intimidating than it sounds, so check out their website and social media for upcoming exhibition details. Round the corner from Plaza Plaza is The Drawing Room, which, as you might guess, specialise in exhibitions based around drawing as a medium, and host incredible exhibitions and events. The Drawing Room isn’t as independent as some of the other spaces, and has Arts Council funding, so you can expect to see some huge international artists in this inconspicuous space. 

Speaking of unexpected spaces, closer to New Cross and South Bermondsey, you can explore Zona Mista and Jupiter Woods, artist and curator-run galleries which always have impressively creative exhibitions from a range of early to mid-career artists. Despite their small size, galleries in residential areas are generally less stressful to attend as gallery staff are more happy to just let you move around the space and soak up the art without an inquisition. Around the corner you have the Penarth Centre, which is full of artist studios and Sid Motion Gallery, which recently relocated from King’s Cross. The gallery has its own distinct style, regularly exhibiting artists with either a slightly abstract or textural basis to their work. A really nice gallery with friendly staff, definitely worth checking out.

The south London art scene is constantly changing and as they’re free during opening hours, set some time aside from the drudgery of winter life and get inspired for an hour or two!  

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Written by Issey Scott

Issey Scott is a freelance art writer based in south-east London. Her writing on art, culture and architecture has appeared in a range of publications including Candid Magazine, RIBA, The Big Issue, South East London Journal, LOBBY, Floorr and GDC Interiors Journal. She has also had essays published in exhibitions at Castor Projects and Seager Gallery.

She also blogs regularly about London's art scene at letsmakelotsofmonet.com