The 8 best independent and alternative art galleries in London

The gallery scene in London is booming far beyond the traditional white cubes. From Bloomsbury to Camberwell via artist-run galleries, warehouse-scale projects and performance spaces hidden above antiques fairs, the sector is buzzing despite high rents and costs. Many of these galleries have just opened or relocated within the past year, but most are the product of years of effort and experience. They present the work of established artists, experimental concepts and innovative collaborations. Here are some of the best in London.

Galerina

1 Guilford Street, WC1

Guilford Street in Bloomsbury has often been the home to the diamond in the rough. In the 1990s, No 64-65 housed artists and Milch Gallery, but the street is now home to Galerina. From its beginnings in a founder’s bedroom, Galerina’s obsession with intimate spaces and avant-garde style has earned it a cult following. The space may be small and awkwardly shaped but it feels much bigger: home to a unique artistic community. It’s showing the work of DeSe Escobar, who explores her relationship with toys as a child experiencing gender dissonance, filtered through her sensibility as a glamorous artist and stylist. Pep Rally by DeSe Escobar is on until September 12; galerina.net

Piccalilli

The Penarth Centre, SE15

Michael Andrew Page at Piccalilli

South Bermondsey’s Penarth Centre is home to Piccalilli, an artist-led gallery where collaboration is the basis of the enterprise. Artists are given the time and space to explore, experiment and implement their projects in a manner which doesn’t involve filling up the gallery space. That makes for exhibitions that are open-ended and alive to their surroundings. Piccalilli isn’t just a showroom but a place where concepts can brew. Its latest collaboration, with Michael Andrew Page, explores the emotional and historical weight of objects, and their connections to home, memory, loss and personal value. The Price of Home opens on August 21; piccalilli-gallery.com

Chisenhale Gallery

64 Chisenhale Road, E3

Chisenhale Gallery near Victoria Park features one of the biggest spaces in the entire list, namely a warehouse that manages to transcend its scale. The gallery is famous for its ability to discover artists and work with them for two years to create new commissions from their concepts. It offers a great programme, but what is fascinating in Jasper Marsalis’s Still Life is the fact that live images of remote landscapes change continuously on a big screen along with a soundscape formed by radio waves. On a second visit, the gallery seems to have changed shape — that’s proof of a space that never stays still. Jasper Marsalis’s Still Life is on until September 6; chisenhale.org.uk

General Assembly

12 St George Street, W1S

Seohyun Oh, Supernatural Allies at General Assembly

General Assembly, located just off Hanover Square, is one of those galleries you reach by heading upstairs — so don’t be shy. It is a charming space instead of being an intimidating one, exuding confidence in the work of the artists who come under its umbrella. Though traditional in nature, it is anything but boring and is a fitting place for their current show: Neither Here Nor There, a collection of works where artists turn escapism into something vivid, strange, and inviting. Neither Here Nor There is on until August 29, generalassemblylondon.com

Interval

73 Compton Street, EC1

Clerkenwell has been transformed into an area in which galleries can feel at home, and 73 Compton Street is now the home of Interval. This 1790s townhouse still retains its elegance and is managed by father and son duo, David and Jacob Gryn. This makes for an interesting and unusual arrangement. By not representing any artists officially, the gallery becomes quite flexible in how it constructs its exhibits. This flexibility comes hand in hand with the owners’ philosophy of combining contemporary artists with historical art pieces. It is currently showing work by artist Scarlet Topley and the celebrated Ed Ruscha. The exhibition runs until September 5; interval-clerkenwell.art

Bolding

Grays Antique Market, W1

Bolding is usually right next to Bond Street and is a brave venue. This summer, it has taken over a space at Alfies Antique Market (Marylebone), turning the room into a frantic performance haven. With more than 100 artists involved since June, the Bolding programme reflects the renewed prominence of performance art, evident in major presentations such as Florentina Holzinger’s work at the Venice Biennale and the Tate’s exhibition on Ana Mendieta. Bolding is at the forefront of performance art in London. New shows every week. What Shall I Render? A group show curated by Kumbirai Makumbe is on until August 15; boldinggallery.com

WC2E 9HA

79 Saffron Hill, Clerkenwell

WC2E 9HA in Clerkenwell is where sculpture finds a place to thrive. This one-year-old space has its base in an unadorned room and the fact that it’s an enterprise without direct commercial interests makes it a defiantly independent gallery. In its programme, it includes not only new artists from the younger generation but also older ones, like the 92-year-old sculptor Garth Evans. It has a new exhibition by the artist Thirza Smith whose wry observation makes for memorable assemblages. Thirza Smith opens on August 15, until August 31; wc2e9ha.co.uk

Graces Mews

10 Graces Mews, SE5

On the south side of the river in Camberwell there’s the small photography gallery, Graces Mews, previously an old printer’s workshop. From this modest background, the place has developed a strong reputation based on its passion for photography and filmmaking as living arts. It feels like a large space, housing darkrooms, archives, and a lively creative community. Its photography exhibitions are always engaging. This summer, the gallery hosts Chardchakaj Waikawee’s show, “Youth”. He focuses on photographs of youth, not only as a generation, but as a cohort blessed with the adaptive survival skills needed to thrive in our changing urban landscape. Chardchakaj Waikawee’s Youth is on until September 19; gracesmews.com