Fifteen galleries on London's historic Cork Street have united for a first-of-its-kind group exhibition titled "Fear Gives Wings To Courage" to mark the street's centennial as a landmark art destination. Curated by Tarini Malik, curator of modern and contemporary art at the Royal Academy of Arts, the exhibition unfolds in three parts: an outdoor banners commission, presentations within each participating gallery from 11 to 25 July 2025, and a special catalogue issue launching during Frieze London 2025. The title references Jean Cocteau's 1938 painting of the same name, which caused controversy when shown at Peggy Guggenheim's gallery Guggenheim Jeune on Cork Street in 1938 and was confiscated by British customs.
This collaboration matters because Cork Street has been a vital hub for modern and contemporary art in London for a century, playing a pioneering role in transforming the city into an international art center and supporting the expansion of Surrealist and Dadaist movements. The exhibition not only honors this legacy but also underscores the enduring importance of the gallery ecosystem in championing artists who assert agency against societal and political pressures. By bringing together all 15 galleries for the first time, the initiative demonstrates the collective strength of Cork Street as a world-class destination for artists and audiences alike.