The art world gets sleepy in summer but July still plays host to some strong openings and their accompanying summer soirées. East London, though increasingly gentrified, is still asserting itself as a part of town for serious shows worth tearing yourself out of the sun to visit.

SEANA GAVIN AT CELESTINE ELEVEN

End Times is a chance to catch the weird and wonderful world of Seana Gavin’s hand-cut psychedelic collage work in the basement of Celestine Eleven.

Private view 10 July at Celestine Eleven, 4 Holywell Lane, Shoreditch, London EC2A 3ET

NINA WAKEFORD AT 484 14TH STREET

Alamanc Projects is heading down the road to Legion TV to curate this solo show by Nina Wakeford. Head back on July 23 for performative responses to the show by Richard John Jones and Huw Lemmey, and Lily Keal.

Private view 9 July 6-8pm, showing until 2 August

CHALK BLUSH

Henry Kinman’s concrete space on Curtain Road is always filled with a great selection of hot emerging artists and this show is no different. Included are Ben Sansbury’s plaster and metal wall and plinth sculptures and the exciting abstract paintings of Ryan Conrad Sawyer.

Showing until 3 August at Kinman Gallery, 81 Curtain road, London EC2A 3AG

CURATED BY DAN COOPEY AT LAURA BARTLETT

Artist Coopey has turned his hand to curating for Laura Bartlett’s summer show on Herald Street. The show is based around Graham Ellard and Stephen Johnstone’s 2009 film Machine on Black Ground blending scifi, the concert of Tangerine Dream and modernist religious architecture.

Showing until 2 August at Laura Bartlett Gallery,Northington St, Clerkenwell, WC1N 2JG

ELIAS HANSEN AT JONATHAN VINER

Hansen’s show at Jonathan Viner might have the best title of the month. You can cry all you want, but it ain't changing shit. The show should be filled with his sculptureal assemblages that feel like the midpoint between mad science and pot-smoking psych.

PV 10 July; runs until 9 August at Jonathan Viner Gallery, 28 Old Nichol Street, London E27HR 

TOBIAS COLLIER AT OVAL SPACE

This short show is an exploration of the idea of “ultimate heat death” looking at Betrand Russell, science, spirituality. Expect a good dose of the apocalyptic with your art – which suits this space on the edge of Victorian gas works well.

Showing until 13 July, 9 July 6-9pm at Oval Space, 29-32 The Oval, London E2 9DT

FABIENNE HESS AT FRENCH RIVIERA 1988

This incredible DIY space focusing on unrepped artists on Bethnal Green Road has finally got funding and is continuing this year’s programme with an exhibition and window commission by Fabienne Hess, who’s practise focuses on data, image culture and the digital in fresh ways.

Private View 16 July 6-9pm at French Riviera 1988, 309 Bethnal Green Rd, London E2 6AH

THE APPROACH

East end stalwart The Approach keeps it simple with their big summer group show named July. The focus appears to be on painting with artIsts include Alistair MacKinven and Forrest Bess doing abstraction as well as more figurative and graphic whimsy by Lucy Stein and Vittorio Brodmann.

Showing until 10 August at The Approach Gallery, 1st Floor 47 Approach Rd, London E2 9LY

EDWARD THOMASSEN AT CHISENHALE

Chisenhale continues to assert its position as the space that makes young artists careers – cue shows with Ed Atkins, Camille Henrot, Hito Steryel and Amalia Pica before the rest of the world caught on. This is the first major solo exhibition by Edward Thomasson with a video fusing musical theatre and interior narrative.

Showing until 21 August at the Chisenhale gallery, 64 Chisenhale Rd, London E3

"NUCLEAR WAR: WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU?" AT VILMA GOLD

Curator Will Benedict raises this tongue in cheek question at Vilma Gold’s summer show. This show looks at the political and creative responses leading up to the fall of the Berlin Wall., including artists who were active in Berlin in the 80s like Ludmila Seefried-Matejkova. Go for a dose of Ostalgia.

Showing until 2 August at Vilma Gold, 6 Minerva St, London E2 9EH