Exhibitions
Is the Turner Prize having a mid-life crisis?
Britain’s biggest art prize is back in London. The four nominated artists all have a lot to say, but will it be enough to lure the crowds? The Turner Prize, now celebrating its 40th year, may have a mid-life crisis on its hands.
Was Vincent van Gogh a genius or just a hard worker?
The National Gallery’s first exhibition of the artist questions the long-held stereotype.
Yinka Shonibare is making difficult subjects accessible, again
The artist’s colourful exhibition at the Serpentine poses questions that remain stubbornly relevant – from war to immigration and places of refuge.
When women weren’t allowed to make art
Tate Britain’s latest exhibition charts 400 years of women making art, despite being told they can’t.
7 unmissable art exhibitions to see in London in Summer 2024
From Michelangelo’s late-career surge to Naomi Campbell’s runway success, there’s a crop of juicy art exhibitions in London this summer to tempt you away from the parks and into the galleries.
What made the Tudors look so cool?
The latest exhibition at the Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace, provides an immersive Tudor experience, no VR headset in sight.
9 must-see exhibitions opening in February 2024 in London
Once you’re over dry January and ready to face the world again, but the weather is still wintry, head to the nearest gallery. February is a huge month for new exhibitions, and this year I really can’t decide where to start. Fortunately, we have until summer to catch most of these.
Where can you find guaranteed snow and ice in London?
Five must-see winter landscapes at the National Gallery to immerse yourself in yule spirit and escape the holiday crowds. Snow makes everything pretty, but the real one also raises your gas bills. In London, there is one place we can relax and enjoy snow and ice year round – at the National Gallery – bill-free.
How did the Impressionists turn humble works on paper into fine art?
The exhibition exploring Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works on paper at the Royal Academy makes you look closer and allows you to see the artist’s hand.
Are you a proper feminist? Tell me after you see this show
Are you a proper feminist? Tell me after you see this show
An exhibition that covers two decades of feminist art from 1970 to 1990 opens at Tate. With works by over 100 artists, it’s a lot to take in.
From smiles to secrets – what makes Frans Hals’ portraits so special?
The 17th century Dutch artist is known for his lively technique and jolly sitters. But is there more under the surface? A new exhibition at the National Gallery reveals all.
Smiling presented two problems 400 years ago. First, in polite society it was deemed inappropriate to show teeth when smiling. Second, smiles were rather hard to paint. But neither of these stopped Frans Hals. Not only did he paint people smiling and laughing, he also became famous for it.
How comfortable are you with performance art?
Horror, fascination, distress, sadness: having spent over 50 years as a performance artist, Marina Abramović is anything but dull. Love her or hate her, hardly anyone can be left untouched. She says that she does not concern herself with the audience’s reaction to the exhibition; she does her best and then the rest is up to you, the viewer.
Six small London museums perfect for your next getaway
Six small London museums perfect for your next getaway. Want to avoid the summer crowds but also see great art? Here are the best lesser-known London museums to put on your holiday itinerary.
How one artistic family took on Victorian society
The Rossettis revolutionised art and poetry in nineteenth century England. Or did they? At Tate Britain’s vivid exhibition you can decide for yourself.
This female artist couldn’t have been more Impressionist if she tried
Berthe Morisot was one of the founder-members of the Impressionist movement, participating in all but one of the Impressionist exhibitions.
She was also one of the very few successful nineteenth-century women artists. While the men tended to concentrate on novel depictions of city life, Morisot is known for her attention to contemporary life and the activities of women in private or interior spaces. Her work became a record of these alternative lives. As we find out in Berthe Morisot: Shaping Impressionism at the Dulwich Picture Gallery, it also formed a link between the art of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
Why af Klint and Mondrian make a very happy marriage
This is one of the most unusual exhibitions I have come across. Why put two artists who never met or exchanged ideas into a forced conversation many years after their deaths? Yet Tate Modern has done exactly that with Hilma af Klint and Piet Mondrian.
How far would you go for Vermeer?
Vermeer exhibition in Amsterdam is sold out. What makes the enigmatic 17th century Dutch artist so popular? And why is it ok if you haven’t got the ticket?
Here is one Royal Academy exhibition that refuses to be pigeonholed
This isn’t an exhibition about Spain. Not the Spain you go on holidays to anyway. Not even the Spain of Velazquez and Goya – both of whose works feature prominently in the promotional material. But don’t worry. I am not suggesting that the Royal Academy is misleading you in any way.
9 must-see art exhibitions in London in 2023
Let’s say you can visit just one art show each month this year. Where should you go? Obviously, you’d want to prioritise the best art exhibitions in London – and given tickets are typically around £20 per adult and shows take approximately 2 hours to see (if you plan to read any of the wall text, that is) it’s a serious decision to make. But don’t worry – here are my must-see shows for 2023, plus some alternatives.
Why were these women artists making modernism?
Exhibitions of women artists are to be celebrated. I know that. But I am also finding it problematic. Why is it ok to group artists by gender? A few years ago, I co-curated an exhibition of artists from one country – I think even that is questionable. Art is not the World Cup. But we humans do like to compartmentalise.