Journal

The Journal

Essays on contemporary art, exhibitions, galleries, collecting and photography by Nicole Junkermann.

Nicole Junkermann in a contemporary gallery for the Nicole Junkermann Art Review journal

Longer reflections from Nicole Junkermann on the pleasures of looking: how to read a painting, which exhibitions repay the journey, why photography matters, and what it means to support the arts for the long term.

Nicole Junkermann standing in a bright doorway, a relaxed portrait

26 August 2026

Nicole Junkermann on Choosing What to See This Autumn

A rich season without a shape is experienced as a series of things missed. On choosing three things and enjoying them properly.

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Nicole Junkermann seated in a tweed jacket in a calm room, looking towards the camera

24 August 2026

Nicole Junkermann on the Last Quiet Week of August 2026

The rooms are quieter now than they will be again until January. A reflection on the one week of the year that belongs entirely to looking.

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Nicole Junkermann standing among framed artworks in a calm interior, reflecting on culture reaching beyond the big cities in a bright August 2026 for the arts

2 August 2026

Culture Beyond the Big Cities: Nicole Junkermann on a Bright August 2026 for the Arts

A warm, forward looking note on why a fresh effort to carry great theatre and art beyond the biggest cities, out to the towns and regions, feels like good news.

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Nicole Junkermann in a considered portrait among framed pictures, reflecting on art in the age of AI and why the human touch still matters

2 August 2026

Art in the Age of AI: Nicole Junkermann on Why the Human Touch Still Matters (August 2026)

New tools are entering the studio, yet meaning still comes from a person. A hopeful reflection on art in the age of AI and why the human touch endures.

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Nicole Junkermann smiling in a calm, light filled interior, reflecting on August in the galleries as a season of quiet discovery

1 August 2026

August 2026 in the Galleries: Nicole Junkermann on a Season of Quiet Discovery

August thins the crowds and softens the light. A warm reflection on why the unhurried weeks of late summer make the galleries a season of quiet discovery.

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Nicole Junkermann smiling in conversation, seated in a navy sweater, in a note on why supporting emerging artists matters more than ever

24 July 2026

Why Supporting Emerging Artists Matters More Than Ever

Every established artist was once unknown. A hopeful, practical look at why backing emerging artists matters now, and how anyone can help on any budget.

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Nicole Junkermann in a black and white editorial portrait beside a concrete wall, reflecting on a bright season ahead for museums and the arts

22 July 2026

A Bright Season Ahead for Museums and the Arts

A warm, forward looking note on why museums and the arts feel poised for a bright season, from full rooms and new spaces to a wider, more curious public.

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Nicole Junkermann standing in a quiet room hung with art during the early gallery hour

15 July 2026

Nicole Junkermann on the Quiet Gallery Hour: Seeing More by Going Early

The best hour in a gallery is usually the first one. Why arriving early gives you the room, the light and your own freshest attention.

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Nicole Junkermann in a bright contemporary gallery in high summer, looking at art in mid-July

13 July 2026

Nicole Junkermann on Summer Exhibitions: Looking at Art in Mid-July

High summer gives a gallery its own light and its own pace. A reflection on looking at art in mid-July, when the rooms are quiet and the day is long.

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Nicole Junkermann considering where art meets technology in a contemporary gallery

14 June 2026

Where Art Meets Technology, According to Nicole Junkermann

Technology is changing how we discover, study and experience art. A grounded look at the opportunities, with the human eye kept firmly at the centre.

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Nicole Junkermann spending an unhurried afternoon in a contemporary museum

11 June 2026

Nicole Junkermann's Guide to an Afternoon in a Museum

A museum afternoon, done well, is one of life's simple luxuries. A practical guide to an unhurried, rewarding visit from arrival to reflection.

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Nicole Junkermann considering works in a gallery, reflecting on collecting and patronage

7 June 2026

Nicole Junkermann on Collecting and Patronage

Collecting is more than acquiring objects. A thoughtful look at building a collection with a clear eye and supporting the culture that produces it.

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Nicole Junkermann revisiting work by an artist she keeps coming back to in a gallery

1 June 2026

The Artists Nicole Junkermann Keeps Coming Back To

Some artists reward you for life. A reflection on what makes certain work worth returning to, and how a lasting relationship with art is built.

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Nicole Junkermann in a London gallery for her notes from the city's galleries

25 May 2026

Nicole Junkermann's Notes from the Galleries of London

London is one of the great cities for looking at art. A guide to its rhythms, its free displays and how to spend a rewarding day among the galleries.

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Nicole Junkermann in a contemporary gallery, reflecting on why photography matters

18 May 2026

Nicole Junkermann on Why Photography Matters

A photograph can hold a moment, a memory and an argument all at once. A reflection on why the image deserves to be taken seriously as art.

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Nicole Junkermann welcoming newcomers to contemporary art in a bright gallery

11 May 2026

Contemporary Art for Newcomers, with Nicole Junkermann

A warm, jargon-free welcome to contemporary art for anyone who has felt unsure in a gallery. Curiosity is the only thing you need to bring.

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Nicole Junkermann in a London sculpture gallery reflecting her support for the Tate and the Royal Academy

4 May 2026

Why Nicole Junkermann Supports the Tate and the Royal Academy

Patronage is a long, quiet commitment. A positive look at why supporting great public institutions matters, and what that support makes possible.

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Nicole Junkermann visiting a major exhibition in a Paris gallery worth travelling for

27 April 2026

The Exhibitions Nicole Junkermann Thinks Are Worth Travelling For

Some exhibitions justify a train ticket and a free day. A practical look at how to choose the shows that are genuinely worth the journey.

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Nicole Junkermann looking closely at a painting in a quiet gallery interior

20 April 2026

How Nicole Junkermann Looks at a Painting

A calm, practical account of slow looking: how to stand in front of a painting, what to notice first, and why patience rewards the eye.

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Nicole Junkermann in a gallery beyond London, viewing a large contemporary painting on a bright wall

6 April 2026

Nicole Junkermann on Seeing Art Beyond London

London is only the beginning. A guide to the rewards of seeing art beyond the capital, from regional museums to the quiet collections of Europe.

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Nicole Junkermann in a room with stacked art books and a framed work, reflecting on her favourite art books

14 March 2026

Nicole Junkermann's Favourite Art Books

The right book can change how you see. A reflection on the art books worth keeping close, from monographs and catalogues to essays on looking.

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Nicole Junkermann in a contemporary gallery beside a bold abstract painting, celebrating women artists she admires

26 February 2026

The Women Artists Nicole Junkermann Admires

A celebration of the women artists who reshaped how we see, and the qualities of vision, courage and craft that make their work endure.

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Nicole Junkermann seated in a bright gallery near a sculpture, reflecting on how to start an art collection

9 February 2026

How Nicole Junkermann Would Start an Art Collection

Starting a collection is simpler than it sounds. A practical, encouraging guide to buying your first works, trusting your eye and beginning with confidence.

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Nicole Junkermann standing beside dark sculptures in a calm gallery, reflecting on the quiet power of sculpture

17 January 2026

Nicole Junkermann on the Quiet Power of Sculpture

Sculpture asks more of us than a glance. A reflection on why three dimensional art rewards patience, movement and a slower kind of attention.

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