Unless you’ve escaped cognitive corruption by a certain noughties English reality show, or you’ve pledged allegiance to the wrong London soccer club – no bias here, of course, despite this editorial team’s suspiciously high North London headcount – when someone mentions the Royal London borough of Chelsea, flowers are probably one of the first things that come to mind. And for good reason! The annual Royal Chelsea Flower Show, though it only blossoms for five days each May, manages to keep this posh postcode in something of perpetual bloom.
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But now looking to stretch Chelsea’s botanical credentials beyond this usual seasonal stint, Saatchi Gallery has unveiled its latest spectacle: Flowers: Flora in Art and Culture, running now through May 5, 2025. This sweeping exhibition is here to remind us that flowers aren’t just for the reserve of garden beds or Instagrammable bouquets. No, they’re cultural muses – proven by the fact the gallery has put on display more than 500 floral artworks and objects across its two full floors.
Separated into nine major art spaces, the exhibition explores different depictions of flowers in contemporary culture: from Roots and In Bloom to Flowers and Fashion, Science: Life & Death, and even New Shoots, there’s a petal for every palette. From the display of iconic movie posters each depicting flowers, to the legions of mannequins displaying Vivienne Westwood’s corsets, tulle gowns and platform shoes.
A few minutes walk across Sloane Square, the floral influence continues at the boutique hotel 11 Cadogan Gardens. As patrons of the iconic Chelsea gallery, not only has the hotel loaned some of the exhibition’s artwork by London-based artist Orlanda Broom – which hangs proudly on display in the hotel’s Chelsea Bar – but it has also launched an exclusive package to mark the exhibition. Guests will be treated to an overnight stay in one of the many elegant rooms or suites, along with breakfast, tickets to the exhibition (which is a short stroll around the corner), a cocktail created specially for the occasion by the property’s in-house mixologist and a gift from the gallery to take home.
As Samantha Rieu, general manager of 11 Cadogan Gardens, puts it: “We are delighted to once again be working with the Saatchi Gallery to bring exclusive artistic and cultural experiences to our guests. It’s an honor to be a Patron of such an iconic establishment and another of Chelsea’s most established addresses.”
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Flowers – Flora In Contemporary Art & Culture exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery is running through May 5, 2025. Tickets start from cost £10 (approx. $13). The 11 Cadogan Gardens x Saatchi Gallery stay starts at £349 ($440) per night.
saatchigallery.com, 11cadogangardens.com
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