Bringing together a series of oil paintings, watercolours and ink studies inspired by the collections of the British Museum, the exhibition reflects Leef's sustained engagement with classical sculpture, mythology and close observation. At its centre is a new body of work responding to the marble reliefs from the Parthenon Sculptures. Presented in a venue directly opposite the British Museum, CONTRAPPOSTO creates a compelling dialogue between a contemporary painter and one of the world's greatest museum collections, exploring how ancient works continue to shape artistic practice today.

Leef's practice is rooted in close observation, exploring how painting can translate encounters with objects, landscapes, and places into richly atmospheric compositions. Working both in the studio and en plein air, he investigates light, colour, and spatial relationships, using painting to construct what he describes as an "overall system of subtle correspondences" that evoke sensory and emotional resonance. While his work encompasses landscapes, portraits, bathers, mythology, and the relationship between artist and environment, CONTRAPPOSTO turns its attention to the British Museum's collections, reinterpreting historical artefacts through a contemporary painterly language.

Born in Jerusalem in 1989, Adam Leef lives and works in London. He studied with painters including Aram Gershuni, Ran Tenenbaum, and Guy Avital, alongside periods of study at Haifa University and Shenkar College of Art and Design. His work has been exhibited in solo and group exhibitions across Israel, Brazil, Italy, France, the United States, and the United Kingdom, and is held in private collections throughout Europe, South America, Israel, the UK, and the US. Recent exhibitions include Apsara Studio and Sixty Six Gallery in London, Galeria Dezoito in São Paulo, and Frezia Gallery in Tel Aviv.

The exhibition is accompanied by a public panel discussion on Saturday 25 July at 4.00pm, bringing together Adam Leef, Alice Black (former Director of the Design Museum and CEO of ArtULTRA), and Katrina Schwarz, Curator of Special Projects at Whitechapel Gallery. Together, they will discuss Leef's engagement with museum collections, the continuing influence of classical works on contemporary painting, and the role museums play in shaping artistic practice today.


Venue: 44 Great Russell Street, London, WC1B 3JL
Dates: 22 July - 3 August 2026
Private View: 22 July 2026, 6.30 - 9.00pm
Panel Discussion: 25 July 2026, 4.00pm