London Art Biennale 2025

It was a great honour to have been selected for the VII edition of the London Art Biennale, which ran from 16th to 20th July 2025. I can wholeheartedly say that my debut at an international art exhibition was enjoyable and insightful!

Arriving at Chelsea Old Town Hall on the opening night was a shock. An incredibly long queue caught my eye on King's Road and I wondered what exactly people were lining up for... I laughed at myself when I realised it was for the exhibition! It reminded me of waiting to get into the Vatican museum - the same anticipation of seeing treasures within.

Inside the hall, the artworks were arranged beautifully and the broad selection of themes, materials and compositions meant there was something for everyone. The curators did an excellent job. I am certain the excited chatter between the artists and their guests was the reason the hall temperature was skyrocketing.

Chelsea Old Town Hall during the exhibition's opening night. Credit: Liz Isles Photography.

I exhibited ‘80 Kelvin: Journey of a Scientist’, an oil painting which explores curiosity and fragmentation within the world of academic research. The painting depicts a surreal moment set at 80 Kelvin - the operating temperature of a cryo-electron microscope – where a scientist leans back in his favourite jumper and reflects. It has since sold, and is now in a private collection.

Besiana stands next to her oil painting, '80 Kelvin: Journey of a Scientist.'

During the opening night, I had the pleasure of speaking to several artists about their work and journey into the art world. So many similarities, but also differences, to my own art trajectory. The most surprising discussion was at the drinks reception in Gagliardi Gallery where I was asked what similarities I see between systems in biology and systems in art. Exploring these kinds of questions over wine is pure enjoyment for me. I only wish my train back home had not been so early...

Big love to all my friends and family who visited the exhibition and travelled far and wide to join me for a weekend picnic in Hyde Park to commemorate the occasion.