Explore Tracey Emin's raw approach to artistic exploration in her exhibition 'A Second Life,' at Tate Modern. This exhibition showcases Emin's standout works, as well as projects never exhibited before, that challenge artistic boundaries. https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-modern/tracey-emin

Take a break from the day and stop by the V&A to see Dr Claire Lemesle-Joly's Lunchtime Lecture, which will focus on the influence of animals and animal imagery in the museum's collections. 5th March 2026, 13.00 - 14.00 https://www.vam.ac.uk/event/1pXr1M41Jq9/lunchtime-lecture-5-march-2026

Searching for a deeper dive into the Theatre Picasso exhibition currently open at Tate Modern? Join writer and exhibition co-curator Enrique Fuenteblanca for an exploration of Picasso's 'The Three Dancers.' https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-modern/theatre-picasso/theatre-picasso-slow-looking

An exhibition tip not far from our studios, Alastair Gordon, artist in residence at the Wimbledon Museum, reimagines the treasures of the Museum in exquisitely detailed paintings. Objects of Enchantment until 29th March. https://wimbledonsociety.org.uk/museum/

How much does an artist's style change over time? These three Renoir works show distinctly varied approaches of the famous impressionist born this day in 1841: A Road in Louveciennes, 1870 Sea & Cliffs, 1885 In the Meadow, 1888-1892 All Images are from the Met Museum collection.

Although chrome yellow pigments initially provide a bright colour, unfortunately they fade and darken over time. The Van Gogh Museum therefore now displays their painting under relatively low lighting. https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/02/20/yellow-van-goghs-favourite-colour

Silver has been prized for millennia. Yet throughout history, vast quantities of historic silverware has been lost. Find out how the volatility of silver pricing can put historic craftsmanship at risk. https://plowden-smith.com/the-rising-price-of-silver-a-conservation-view-on-historic-silverware/

Don't keep your medal in a sock. Our bespoke mounts are not just for artworks. We've mounted tennis rackets, medals, wine bottles, F1 Cars & more. If you have a treasured trophy or a whole collection, treat it to a bespoke mount https://plowden-smith.com/museum-services/mount-making/ #WinterOlympics

Exhibition Recommendation Gwen John:Strange Beauties on until 28 June after which it will tour internationally. Creative Director Jonathan Anderson has collaborated with Cardiff National Museum, creating a series of cornettes shown with the exhibition https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqj2ny0x7g7o

Contemporary Artist Gerhard Richter was born this day in 1932. The 94-year-old is currently the subject of a major retrospective at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris. https://www.fondationlouisvuitton.fr/en/events/gerhard-richter-exhibition

Waldemar JANUSZCZAK has spotted the rise of spookiness in art before and has done so again with Hoi Polloi, at the Brown Collection, London until Aug 8 https://www.thetimes.com/article/79dfd101-99ae-4336-8cbe-ea0e00ea7bc9?shareToken=3a4d614ac7574a311cbd6391dbb9c2cb

We are delighted to be showing at the Listed Property Show, Stand C19 we have live demos from our furniture department and heaps of info on how we can help to preserve your historic interior woodwork, stone, lighting and artworks. https://www.lpoc.co.uk/the-listed-property-show-london/

So pleased to see this! Martin Froy’s work is so fantastic. I’ve seen his murals @belgradetheatre.bsky.social #Coventry Just stunningly beautiful! @aaronjlaw.bsky.social

Congratulations to Morley College London on the official re-opening of the Emma Cons Hall. We preserved the two 58-foot-long Martin Froy murals which run the full length of the the hall and will accompany Morley students' performances and rehearsals into the future.

Beryl Cook: Pride & Joy opens at The Box, Plymouth, on Saturday. Rachell Campbell-Johnston explains why her work deserves a closer look in The Times & Sunday Times https://www.thetimes.com/article/0528186d-5712-48cc-a499-c02c6d70608f?shareToken=c8976995775ef8038324d0155826ca8a

What exhibitions are on your radar? This show at the British Museum is now on our must see list thanks to JANUSZCZAK for featuring it in The Times & Sunday Times https://www.thetimes.com/article/175e431f-8bbe-4677-a344-659433da22ea?shareToken=0c7deddb1f5b0c2e7800e305b4ed53b2

Tune in to the latest Waldy & Bendy podcast focussed on @bendorgrosvenor.bsky.social revealing the secrets of Holbein's The Ambassadors. A really refreshing change of format to a deep dive into a well known masterpiece. zczfilms.com/podcasts/sea... #ArtHistory

"If Constable had painted still lifes while Turner did portraits we would not have needed to pitch one against the other..." Waldemar proclaims Turner triumphant, do you agree? https://www.thetimes.com/article/7fb0d4cf-bfd1-4fa7-9704-6ba805c7ed1b?shareToken=dbdf232cbc2e2a25081331ff1cf4c722

Did hosting leave your furniture in need of some TLC? Removing stains and ring marks, followed by a good professional wax can transform a table, sideboard or console. We can breathe new life into period or contemporary pieces. https://plowden-smith.com/furniture-restoration-london/

Gustave Doré Born this day in 1832 is famous for his engravings illustrating classic literature such as Paradise Lost with tempestuous skies, angelic and demonic figures. Doré employed teams of engravers and block cutters to turn his illustrations into printmaking plates. #ArtHistory #Printmaking

To all our clients and colleagues, wishing you prosperity and joy for 2026! We hope this New Years Eve is one to remember and we look forward to hearing from you in the New Year. We are back in action on January 5th. #NewYearsEve

Merry Christmas! This Madonna Della Strada, along with its incredible ornate frame, was restored recently in our studios. The frame was a mixture of gold and silver leaf now restored to its original glory and returned to the Oxford Oratory. https://plowden-smith.com/gilding-services/

Are you hanging up your stocking on the wall?🎵🎶 #ChristmasEve #Slade #Cattelan

Our office, studios and workshops will close today until Monday 5th January. We would like to wish all our followers a Merry Christmas and wish you joy and prosperity for 2026. https://plowden-smith.com/

Basquiat was born today — and the art world has never been the same. His graffiti alter-ego SAMO is well known however tags rarely appear for sale. The first recorded sale in 2020 was reported by Artnet: https://news.artnet.com/market/basquiat-samo-tag-capsule-auctions-1878054 #JeanMichelBasquiat

Who is your favourite Renaissance artist? Despite dying at only 26, Masaccio revolutionized painting and is now revered as one of the earliest masters of the Italian Renaissance. Pictured here "The Tribute Money" is one of many Masaccio frescoes in the Brancacci Chapel, Florence.

We recommend Marie Antoinette Style at the V&A which combines original artifacts from the life of the ill-fated queen, alongside examples of her ongoing influence on fashion and design. https://www.vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/marie-antoinette #MarieAntoinette #MarieAntoinetteStyle #VAM #Exhibition

Of course everyone's well organised with all gifts wrapped and under the tree. But, just in case, we found this list from Historic Houses a huge help finding unusual items for the hard-to-buy-for history lover. Gift Shops at Historic Houses https://www.historichouses.org/gift-shops/

Art does not reproduce the visible; rather, it makes visible – Paul Klee Born this day in 1879, a pioneer of modern art, his ability to make the invisible tangible is why his work continues to inspire artists around the globe. #PaulKlee #ModernArt #ArtistBirthday

Paul Cadmus would have celebrated a birthday today. The artist who turned realism into rebellion and painted bodies with unmatched precision. 🎂🎨 #OTD #PaulCadmus This article from the Met on censorship of Cadmus' work is a great read: https://www.metmuseum.org/perspectives/paul-cadmus-the-fleets-in

Absolutely loved the full play through of the Jane Austen inspired shipping forecast this morning. #JaneAusten250

Recently JANUSZCZAK was accused by Tracy Emin for being too negative. The result: a spell of benevolent positivity from the critic. For the past two weeks he’s been back to his old self, pulling no punches, and taunting Dr Bendor Grosvenor FRHistS with rats! Which “wald” do you prefer?

Sad news this weekend that photographer Martin Parr passed away. His remarkable legacy extends beyond iconic images. His Foundation in Bristol and his passion for the photo book as an artistic medium steered discourse around documentary photography in recent years. martinparrfoundation.org

We are delighted to be working with Morley College to conserve Martin Froy’s Sun Up and Sun Down murals: https://plowden-smith.com/conservation-starts-on-martin-froy-murals-at-morley-college/ #Mural #PublicArt #PaintingConservation

Divisive but undoubtably influential. No, not Waldemar, Charles Saatchi. JANUSZCZAK offers an art world insider's insight into the elusive ad man's impact over 40 years in the art world https://www.thetimes.com/article/0c08edcf-5663-490d-afc5-316a22dc6325?shareToken=55c15475ee3e821535337bab8a935e8a

Now open - a new art deco exhibition showcasing the golden age of poster design from the 1920s and 30s at London Transport Museum. https://www.ltmuseum.co.uk/news/now-open-new-art-deco-exhibition-showcasing-golden-age-poster-design-london-transport-museum

"Here she deals recurringly with bigger groups and more complex compositions." JANUSZCZAK on Chantal Joffe, Tintoretto, and Joseph Wright of Derby in his latest Sunday Times piece. https://www.thetimes.com/article/0e108325-7113-4a07-8235-e1a059071427?shareToken=06ea7bfaa1e51a86e9c587c6ad2cec82

Sunday is the final day to visit Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair now in its 10th edition. The fair combines galleries specialising in prints & multiples, and printmaking demonstrations to give visitors a greater insight into the methods employed by printmakers today. woolwichprintfair.com

Was it your birthday this week? You are in fine creative company: What a week it has been for artist birthdays, French artists to be precise: Today Monet, Wednesday Rodin, Tuesday Vuillard. Santé! 🖼️Claude Monet (1840–1926) - La Gare Saint-Lazare 1877

"David Hockney at 88 — he’s begun his last dance with the joy of a child." @JANUSZCZAK in The Times David Hockney: The Moon Room and Some Very, Very, Very New Paintings Not Yet Shown in Paris is at Annely Juda Fine Art, London, until Feb 28 www.thetimes.com/article/3a87...

"Now, from far out in the left field, comes a show posing the question: Can we stop killing each other?" JANUSZCZAK reviews the latest Sainsbury Centre exhibition, until May 17, 2026 https://www.thetimes.com/article/b26f469e-b437-42ef-8cf5-cfbc2311ce25?shareToken=5f708457491f1afed7b52be09513c78a

Tomorrow (November 4th) is #AskAConservator day. Reply with your conservation questions or use the # Ask a conservator day was created to remember the flooding of Florence in 1966, which damaged priceless cultural heritage, and the incredible efforts made to conserve the items impacted.

We've had an amazing week at the LAPADA Berkeley Square Fair. Six conservators have demonstrated conservation techniques for works on paper, paintings, ceramics, Gilding and metals. Today is the final day to visit where we'll be talking all about Silver on stand B28

"What’s going on? I won’t make the mistake here of trying to solve the riddle. In Doig’s art, there are no solutions." JANUSZCZAK on House of Music at the Serpentine Gallery until Feb 8 https://www.thetimes.com/article/31fb24a7-dbfc-45cc-8f13-685db9e4eff6?shareToken=a47e955fe331e4884a151b0caebd5dfc

Wonderful interview with Ed Ruscha in @thetimes.com ahead of a new show at the Gagosian London: Ed Ruscha: Says I, to Myself, Says I until December 19th www.thetimes.com/article/64d1... #Ruscha #EdRuscha #Gagosian

Born this day in 1901 Alberto Giacometti, was one of the most influential sculptors of the 20thC. His work is currently presented at Barbican with new works by contemporary artists until May 2026. https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2025/series/encounters-giacometti #Giacometti #Barbican #Sculpture

Exciting news, we're going to be at the LAPADA Fair this year showcasing our conservation work. More updates soon...

Do you know your rust from your iron oxide? Bronze disease from Verdigris? We delve into the topic of corrosion and patination with our metals conservator Hal: https://plowden-smith.com/conservation-conversations-patina-vs-corrosion/

Exciting news in Conservation Science: the Getty Research Institute, University of Akron & New York University have developed a safer more sustainable substitute to an essential paintings conservation adhesive: www.getty.edu/news/scienti... #PaintingConservation #FineArtConservation

"I mention it here because the show does not and seems keen to keep things polite." Waldemar Janusczcak sees great things in the Lee Miller retrospective but asks for more early-life context. The Times' Chief Arts Critic reviews Lee Miller @ Tate Britain www.thetimes.com/article/0725... #photography