North London Food & Culture

MUST DO: quirky art pop-ups on Malden Road

While we wait for the Grafton's new Gipsy Queen sister pub to open on this stretch, check out these brilliant temporary galleries and studios

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NET WT: both working studio and place to peruse art and design. Photo: NW

1. The link between fine art and commerce?

The Malden Road area is fast becoming something like West Kentish Town’s answer to Hackney Wick, with its pop-up creative spaces and artists studios tucked away.

NET WT. is an all-girl grassroots collective hailing from Edinburgh, who this week took over the former Tan Like That space at Cheriton off Malden Road, right by the Queen’s Crescent arch. It’s set to be both a working studio and place for the public to peruse “wondrous” art and design objects.

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Each member of the collective has a different practice, from fashion to photography. Photo: NW
An open studio policy – to bridge the gap between commercial design space and artist’s studio – means they’ll be around daily for curious readers to drop in and see creations in progress, and appreciate “the hand-made and quality over quantity”. Each member of NET WT. is based in a different discipline, too: Mina (who grew up in Kentish Town) in painting, Sarah in fashion, Eden in photography, and Gemma in multi-media.

Interest piqued? Tomorrow (Saturday) they’re having a shindig to open the pop-up space, and also launch their Open Studio Catalogue, a publication showcasing the creamiest of the Scottish creative crop. Saturday 9th May, drinks from 7pm. Studio runs 4th-21st May. Free. 25 Cheriton NW5


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Cafe AndalouseNeed a coffee before you check out the next gallery?
Head to Cafe Andalouse, on the corner of Queen’s Crescent, which serves beans from Kentish Town Road’s roastery Doppio – not to mention an enticing pastry or two. Lots of alfresco tables from where you can watch the comings and goings on one of London’s oldest Saturday markets, too. Don’t forget to pop into the legendary Frank’s Superstore over the road.

2. Rummage around a temporary “Mini-Market Art Farm”

Happy days: NW5's mult-purpose farm and art store
Happy days: NW5’s mult-purpose farm and art store. Photo: RF

Meanwhile, a few minutes’ stroll downhill, the former We Make London residency at 6 Malden Road has been taken over by Rosa Farber and her Mini Market Art Farm: a one-month pop-up experiment exploring “how art and farming combine under one roof”. An organic and biodynamic farm shop selling produce from Sussex will vie with a host of art events including exhibitions, film screenings, talks and workshops. Also look out for a vintage clothes rail hanging ladies and children’s clothes will be available for browsing and haggling.

Private View tomorrow, Saturday 9th May, 6pm, with visual and live art, cheap “experimental green drinks” and free snacks. Pop-up store open until 7th June, daily 12-6pm. 6 Malden Road NW5

Read a full guide to Queen’s Crescent here. The former Bluebell pub at 166 Malden Road, which has now been taken over by the owners of the Grafton, reopens as the Gipsy Queen in June.

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