The South London Fine Art Gallery opened on 4 May 1891. It was founded as a ‘gallery for the people of south London, open to the public free, and on Sundays’. It showed a changing programme of fine and applied arts exhibitions and began to collect works of art including many relating to the local area.

The gallery is constructed of Portland stone and hand-made pressed bricks, much favoured by the Arts and Crafts tradition of the time. The original marquetry floor (not on public display) was designed by Walter Crane and bears the inscription ‘The source of art is in the life of a people’.

In 2010 the gallery opened additional buildings designed by 6a Architects to provide new small-scale galleries, an artists’ flat, a cafe, gardens, and an education and events studio on the footprint of the original lecture hall. The Matsudaira Wing, Clore Studio and Fox Garden opened to the public on 25 June 2010.

The South London Gallery is best known for its changing programme of contemporary art exhibitions, and in the gallery’s founding mission of 1896 there is no reference to a permanent collection. Over the years, however, the SLG gradually built up a collection, beginning with a number of gifts from artists whose works were on long-term display in the main exhibition space. The collection has grown over the gallery’s lifetime and includes works by Modern British artists, a collection of more than 500 20th century prints and contemporary works relating to South London. Although the collection is not on permanent display it is a valuable resource for projects with schools allowing pupils hands on experience of contemporary works of art.

The South London Gallery has an international reputation for its programme of contemporary art exhibitions and live art events, with integrated education projects for children, young people and adults. Five exhibitions each year profile the work of established international figures such as Tom Friedman, Mark Dion, Rivane Neuenschwander, Alfredo Jaar and Superflex; as well as that by younger and mid-career British artists such as Eva Rothschild and Ryan Gander. Group shows bring together works by established and lesser known British and international artists. Occasional large scale off-site projects have included those by On Kawara in Trafalgar Square in 2004, and Chris Burden at Chelsea College of Art Parade Ground in 2006.

The main gallery presents five exhibitions per year, primarily solo shows of new work by British and International mid-career and established artists who may not have had a major solo show in London or who have not done so for a number of years. The project spaces also present five shows each year. These are a mixture of group and solo exhibitions, with an emphasis on showing artists who have had limited exposure in London. Other activities include; the coordination of four Live Art events per year and the commission of a new work made in response to the setting of the Fox Garden.

Each year the SLG hosts three residencies in the Outset Artists’ Flat, interspersed with shorter projects with artists and curators. The annual Outset Residency takes place in spring and is offered to an international artist commissioned to make new work as part of the SLG’s exhibition programme.

SLG presents approximately 10 exhibitions each year.

Most outstanding projects in recent years:

Art Bin, Michael Landy, 2010;

Nostalgia, Omer Fast, 2009;

Flooded McDonald’s, Superflex, 2009;

Suspension Point, Rivane Neuenschwander, 2008;

Heralded as the New Black, Ryan Gander, 2009;

14 Magnolia Double Lamps, Chris Burden, 2006.

SLG presents a varied program of artist talks, panel discussions and live performances that link with other strands of the programme.

The gallery’s live art and film programme has included presentations by Rachel Gomme, Nathaniel Mellors, Gail Pickering, OMSK and Gisele Vienne.

The SLG’s award-winning education programmes offer exceptional opportunities for visitors of all ages and levels of interest and to become more actively involved in contemporary art through a broad range of activities and events. SLG offers the opportunity to take part in artist-led projects inspired by exhibitions, attend artist talks, enjoy drop-in family workshops or join one of SLG’s more long term programmes.

Current major projects include Making Play, a three-year play-based family programme on neighbouring Sceaux Gardens, an on-going schools’ programme attracting up to 700 student visitors to exhibitions, and the recently launched peer-led Louis Vuitton Young Arts Project. The development of these and other projects have established the SLG’s reputation for innovative programming, with the recently completed Double Take project having won an Arts & Business Young People Award.

SLG coordinates an on-going schools’ programme that takes place every weekday during term time, programmed in response to exhibitions on view in the galleries.

SLG occasionally produces publications to accompany exhibitions and projects.

Main gallery, 200 m^2; new galleries, 38 m²; clore studio, 80 m².