Geddes Gallery, London, 18 – 20 December
This summer, the KC Continental Deli closed its doors after 50 years of service to the Kings Cross area. The space now functions as a pop-up gallery venue. Geddes Gallery – named after artist, KC Continental regular and Caledonian Road native Jim Geddes – opens with a show of portraits by Dutch Artist Renee Spierdijk this week. The paintings in Imposed Transitions take inspiration from found photographs of smartly dressed children, often surrounded by political or religious artefacts. Spierdijk depicts the quiet, internal conflict of growing up with skilful sensitivity; her work has an uneasy, haunting beauty.

Mercer Chance Gallery, London, 18 – 20 December
This group exhibition showcases emerging artists who have completed the “drawing intensive” programme at The Royal Drawing School, a course that invites public students to forget all other mediums for one term and concentrate on drawing alone. The simple, singular structure of this approach belies the variety of work produced. Scenes of autumnal London, life drawings and sketches of performers at play are all displayed at the Mercer Chance Gallery. Drawing Intensive is a monument to a rich, at times overlooked, practice.

White Conduit Projects, London, 19 – 21 December
Damien Borowik’s drawing machines are handcrafted objects that explore the aesthetics and process of mechanical mark making. Borowik combines digital and analogue elements in his instruments, using them to explore themes of iteration, repetition and artistry. Science meets art this exhibition, which features drawings, plus the unique creative tools used to make them.

Turps Gallery, 19 December 2015 – 23 January 2016
Today the term “charrette” refers to an architectural deadline, but in 19th century Paris it was a wooden cart that carried architectural diagrams and section plans away from the studio. Both meanings of the word are alluded to in this new exhibition at Turps Gallery. An actual charrette, laden with rulers, notepads, set squares and other necessary architectural tools, lies in the middle of the gallery space. The surrounding work is by Lorraine Fossi and Celia Scott, both trained architects who have turned to painting. Fossi and Scott are visibly inspired by their previous vocation; the neatly abstract, almost diagrammatic, pictures on display echo the aesthetic of international Modernism. The charrette is, therefore, the physical and conceptual pivot of this show.

ICA, London, 14-20 December
Fig-1 was a creative programme established and developed by curator Mark Francis and White Cube founder Jay Jopling in 2000. 50 shows in 50 weeks – the idea was simple, the results were not. It evolved and became an exciting interdisciplinary experiment conditioned by spontaneity. Fig-2 has followed the same model. This week it finishes as it began, with the work of British multi-media artist Laura Eldret. The Juicers is a two-channel video installation that focuses on one Mexican town and three colours: red, yellow and green. Eldret believes these colours, consumed as juice or woven into rugs, represent communication, translation and togetherness.