Daffodils Baptized in Butter

The Arts Club is thrilled to present: Daffodils Baptized In Butter*, our latest exhibition featuring works by more than 36 artists exploring the countless symbolic, mystical and art historical meanings of flowers, while underscoring their prevalence in contemporary practice.

Curated by Amelie von Wedel and Pernilla Holmes of Wedel Art, this is our first exhibition to be displayed across multiple floors of the Club – ground floor, grand staircase and first floor – thus representing the largest group show in the Club’s history.

Drawing on the prevalence of flowers not only in recent contemporary art, but going back more than 70 years – with artists from very established to newly emerging, and a number of once marginalised artists now gaining in art historical reputation – Daffodils Baptized in Butter takes a broad view of how artists have commanded flowers in their practices. They are variously used to represent body parts, witchcraft, political symbols and vanitas motifs on the transience of life. They evoke the glories of nature in contrast to the manmade, or represent emblematic studies in beauty and love.

Defying the idea of the flower as pretty – the flowers in this show are in turns tough, stubborn, dried, dying, magnificent, elegiac and profound in their gorgeousness. They dive head-long into the depths of our psyches while also taking us out of ourselves and into various modes of contemplation.

Flowers are among the most persistent motifs throughout art history; and these contemporary perspectives offer profound reinterpretations of this iconic motif.

The exhibition programme at The Arts Club London and Dubai is curated by Amelie von Wedel and Pernilla Holmes of Wedel Art. We are very grateful to the artists, lenders and gallery teams for their generosity and collaboration on this exhibition.

The exhibition runs from 26rd September 2024 – January 2025.

For all enquiries and to access the exhibition on Wednesdays as a member of the public please contact: Wedel Art at email@wedelart.com

To access the exhibition on Saturdays as a member of the public please contact: Reservations team at reservations@theartsclub.co.uk

Kindly note, members of the public are welcome to view the exhibition, however we will not be able to fulfil any requests for food or beverages.