Art of London, the award-winning cultural initiative, today announces the return of Art After Dark which will transform the West End with public art alongside a display celebrating iconic performance artist Marina Abramović.

On Thursday 12th and Friday 13th October, over 30 world-class galleries will stay open late and an exclusive screening inspired by Marina Abramović’s art will be unveiled on the Piccadilly Lights to coincide with her major autumn exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts.

Turning the West End into a giant canvas next month and taking place during Frieze Week, Art of London will install an inflatable, immersive sculpture titled ‘The Cornucopia’ in Leicester Square Gardens, created by British contemporary MTArt artist Claire Luxton.

Luxton’s brightly-coloured, striking Instagrammable installation will tower over the city’s entertainment district at a height of 7m and exceed a total area of 70m. Mythical in form and taking on a life of its own, ‘The Cornucopia’ will bloom from the ground to symbolise growth, beauty and the vibrant modern energy of the West End.

Leicester Square Gardens, staying open late for the seasonal arts programme, will also display an illuminated, neon installation by MTArt poetic artist Robert Montgomery, who fuses art and design in a poem titled ‘The People You Love’.

In collaboration with Mayfair Art Weekend, on Thursday 12th October, culture seekers can hop between independent galleries including Stern Pissarro, Cristea Roberts, and Saatchi Yates as part of an entertaining night out in London’s cultural district. On Friday 13th October, London’s most iconic galleries including National Gallery, the Royal Academy of Arts and National Portrait Gallery will extend their opening hours.

Supported by Westminster City Council and Landsec, the Piccadilly Lights screening combines images from ‘Four Crosses’ 2019, an installation featured in the Marina Abramović exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts, along with a selection of instructional statements taken from the ‘Marina Abramović Method’.

Whether it’s a romantic date or night out with friends, the Royal Academy of Arts provides a great backdrop during Art After Dark, from free collection spaces across the building, displaying work by artists from Michelangelo to Mary Moser, as well as the RA Shops, RA Café, the José Pizarro restaurant and Poster Bar by José, and ticketed exhibitions of Marina Abramović and Herzog & de Meuron open till 9pm on Fridays. The long-awaited exhibition from Marina Abramović presents key moments of the performance artist’s career, through sculpture, video, installation and performance.

Elsewhere in the West End at the National Portrait Gallery, is ‘Art of London Presents: Take A Moment’, showcasing hundreds of famous faces photographed by Ray Burmiston for mental health awareness. The print and digital display in the Gallery’s Spotlight Space features members of the public and over 200 celebrities, including never-seen-before pictures.

New attractions featured at the National Gallery include Paula Rego: Crivelli’s Garden (free admission) and The Credit Suisse Exhibition: Frans Hals which can be bought for as little as one pound under the Gallery’s Friday night Pay What You Wish scheme.

Mark Williams, Director of Art of London, said: “With this immense seasonal arts programme, we’re delighted to harness the creativity of so many talented artists for night owls to experience when visiting the West End. From Marina Abramović’s experimental piece on the Piccadilly Lights to gigantic artworks in Leicester Square Gardens, you can truly view the West End through a new lens”.

Art After Dark forms part of Art of London’s other phenomenal art attractions and programmes, delivered by Heart of London Business Alliance and supported by Mayfair Art Weekend, and Westminster City Council. Established by Heart of London Business Alliance in 2020, Art of London showcases art in every form and looks to highlight the plethora of art and cultural activities available in the West End.