Framed by brick walls bearing hundreds of letters in honour of the King of Rock, a green door opens onto the last home of Freddie Mercury, the remarkably talented frontman of Queen. In 1985, the singer moved to this quiet street in Kensington and sumptuously decorated the rooms of this home that would host raucous parties and where the studio annex would host recording sessions late into the night. When, with his health deteriorating, the rock star withdrew from the public eye, he would spend more and more time in the intimacy of this home. Assisted, until his death by his ex-lover and best friend, Mary Austin, Mercury died in this house on November 24, 1991. He was cremated and his ashes were placed in a secret location, known only to Mary Austin. Following the last wishes of her friend, the woman, along with her family, still lives in Garden Lodge, surrounded by the furnishings that Freddie Mercury picked out himself. The building was built in 1908 for painter Cecil Rae who lived in the house with his wife and, before Mercury, it had numerous high-profile owners, including Peter Wilson, president of the auction house Sotheby’s.
An exhibition celebrates Edwin Austin Abbey, a 19th-century American artist, showcasing his study for the monumental work The Hours created for the Pennsylvania State Capitol.
From an intimate self-portrait to a contemporary global presence, a new retrospective at Tate Modern explores the life, art and legacy of Frida Kahlo. Curated by the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the exhibition will feature more than 130 works by the Mexican painter.
A carefully selected group of works on paper tells the story of three centuries of British art: from 18th-century portraits to post-war Neo-Romantic visions, the collection donated by Nina Drucker explores a variety of techniques and styles.
Just For One Day is the musical inspired by the legendary Live Aid of 1985 which, after a successful world tour, arrives in the West End. Written by John O’Farrell and directed by Luke Sheppard, the musical recalls the performances by Queen, David Bowie, U2 and other giants of music.
.jpg/jcr%3Acontent)
