PICNIC THUNDER – 67 York Street Gallery

About

PICNIC THUNDER is a bold new exhibition exploring counterculture, revolution and the hidden lives that shaped modern history. The title evokes a sense of change and foreboding, a signal of moments when art, politics and society collided.

On display are diverse and arresting collections, from Andy Warhol’s Silver Factory of the 1960s to the 1980s, to the Black Panther Movement captured through Stephen Shames’s seminal photography. London’s own subcultures also come under the spotlight, including The Gateway’s Club in Chelsea — a pioneering private club for gay and lesbian communities from the 1930s to the 1980s — and Soho’s notorious 43 Club, where aristocrats, celebrities and the criminal underworld mingled under the watchful eye of the formidable Kate Meyrick.

The exhibition also uncovers the lives of artists’ models and muses from the 1880s to the 1970s, revealing the overlooked figures who inspired generations of art and creativity.

By weaving together these stories, PICNIC THUNDER offers a powerful meditation on rebellion, identity and cultural transformation across a century of hidden histories.

Opening Times:
Mon–Fri: 11 am – 6 pm
Sat: 10.30 am – 2.30 pm

Private View: Tuesday 7 October | 5.30 – 8.30 pm

Find out more, here.