I’ve whizzed by Newport Street Gallery in Vauxhall countless times while on the train, and I always think, I should visit. That day finally came during a recent wander through Vauxhall, and it didn’t disappoint. Damien Hirst owns this contemporary gallery in SE11, and it’s a space dedicated to showing work from his collection. If you’re looking for the best art galleries in London, free places to visit or something interesting to do in Vauxhall, the Newport Street Gallery should be at the top of your list.
What You’ll See At The Newport Street Gallery
On my visit, two exhibitions were running side by side: Raging Planet and The Power and the Glory, both showing until 31 August 2025. I know, I really should have written this article before, but it gives you a good idea of what to expect if you go to the gallery.
Raging Planet brings together a group of contemporary artists exploring the raw forces of nature. Works by Angela Bulloch, Roger Hiorns, Oliver Marsden, Hwang Samyong, Bosco Sodi and Keith Tyson fill three of the gallery’s expansive rooms. The use of material is front and centre; Hiorns encrusts industrial objects with vivid blue copper sulphate crystals, Sodi layers his canvases with sawdust and pigment until they resemble cracked earth, and Tyson lets chemistry do the painting on acid-primed aluminium panels. It’s sensory, strange and mesmerising.
The Power and the Glory offers something more meditative. It pairs scholars’ rocks, natural stones prized in East Asia for centuries, with archive photography from the atomic age. The juxtaposition is bold: serene, ancient stones displayed alongside haunting images of nuclear explosions, weapons tests and their aftermath. The contrast speaks volumes about our relationship with nature, which is sometimes spiritual, sometimes violent.
Connor Hirst (son of Damien) curates both exhibitions in collaboration with HENI. The gallery doesn’t make a fuss, it just gets on with showing interesting, thought-provoking work in a beautifully designed space. It’s easy to take your time here, with room to wander, pause, and look.
Pharmacy 2 Café
As you walk up the stunning staircase from the lobby, you find yourself in a café designed entirely by Damien Hirst. It’s filled with works from his series, including the iconic medicine cabinets and butterfly kaleidoscope paintings. The space features DNA-strand etched windows, marble inlaid flooring, and a slick glass and steel bar that feels lifted from a parallel universe where hospitals are chic. The menu is informal; you can stop in for a coffee and a bite while soaking in your surroundings, which just happen to include several million pounds worth of art.
Helpful Information About Newport Street Gallery
The gallery is housed in a row of former Victorian scenery-painting studios and cleverly reimagined by architects Caruso St John into a light-filled, minimalist gallery that stretches across half the street. The architecture is just as much of a draw as the art inside. You’ll notice that this street has an industrial feel and feels somewhat abandoned as it faces a railway bridge.
There’s also a small gift shop at the entrance for anyone wanting to take home a book, postcard or t-shirt.
Newport Street Gallery is located at 1, 9 Newport Street, London SE11 6AJ, which is an easy walk from Vauxhall station. It’s open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm. Entrance is entirely free. For more information, visit the Newport Street Gallery website.
Author: Homegirl London. Photographs: Homegirl London.