Ilana Savdie’s Vivid Visions Unfold at Frieze London

White Cube presents an arresting exhibition at Frieze London that affirms the gallery’s unwavering commitment to championing exceptional contemporary practice. At Booth D21, a meticulously considered presentation showcases new works by Ilana Savdie, whose vivid, psychologically charged canvases possess an extraordinary power to captivate and unsettle in equal measure.

Savdie’s canvases are installed behind an open lattice hung with works by luminaries including Hans Bellmer, Louise Bourgeois, Salvador Dalí and Leonor Fini, creating both a physical and metaphorical filter through which her work resonates. This curatorial gesture proves intellectually generous, permitting viewers to trace genealogies of influence and shared aesthetic preoccupations whilst establishing Savdie’s practice within a continuum of artistic inquiry that spans decades.

Among the highlights is ‘Illness of bronze’, a work of remarkable psychological complexity in which a serpentine form appears caught between concealment and exposure. Drawing upon the Monocuco costume from Colombian carnaval traditions, Savdie considers the darker implications of anonymity and disguise with a sophistication that elevates the work beyond mere visual spectacle. The painting becomes a meditation on the body, identity and the spaces between revelation and concealment.

‘A Stanchless Avarice That, Were I King’ references Shakespeare’s Macbeth, addressing the fraught relationship between power, corporeal form and uncontrolled desire. The title itself carries the weight of literary gravitas, anchoring Savdie’s visual language within a broader cultural conversation about ambition, transgression and the body politic.

A newly completed work on paper, ‘Autophagia’, further demonstrates Savdie’s expanding formal vocabulary. These works on paper possess an intimate intensity that invites close examination, revealing the extraordinary precision and gestural eloquence of the artist’s hand.

The presentation extends to include John Banting’s ‘Procession by Night’ and Hans Bellmer’s ‘Sans titre’, both of which amplify the thematic preoccupations at play. This carefully orchestrated dialogue between works affirms White Cube’s reputation for exhibitions that transcend simple display to become immersive intellectual experiences.

The exhibition remains open until 18 October 2026 at The Regent’s Park, London, and an online presentation offers a complementary view of the works on display, extending the conversation beyond the physical booth.

Imagery courtesy of White Cube (@whitecube).