by Our long, glorious summer stretches ahead. What the city lacks in sunlight, it makes up for with dozens of spectacular illuminated art displays.
Here’s our pick of the shows to see.
Open now
These spectacular displays, which continue throughout the summer, should not be missed.
Michelangelo: The Last Years
Michelangelo’s two-metre-tall preparatory drawing, Epifania, is his only surviving complete pre-fresco sketch. Now, it is finally on display after years of preservation as part of this extraordinary exhibition, which features over 100 of his drawings. The Standard has brilliantly described the amazing collection, focusing on the master’s work over the last decades of his life, as some of the “most beautiful things you will ever see”.
British Museum, until 28 July
Judy Chicago: Revelations
Famous American artist, environmentalist and author Judy Chicago, 84, returns to London for her biggest ever solo presentation in the city. The show, which focuses on her drawings and asks questions about birth, creation, masculinity and power, offers a radical retelling of history: “Her advocacy throughout the years for women’s history and representation is a poignant reminder of the ongoing need with equality, societal transformation, and a fair life,” said the Standard.
North Serpentine Gallery, until 1 September
Enzo Mari
Maverick Italian industrial designer Enzo Mari (1932-2020) produced more than 2,000 works over his six-decade career, including furniture, conceptual installations, functional home goods and children’s toys. A Marxist, the modernist artist argued for the democratization of design. Here the Design Museum explores his legacy with a retrospective of hundreds of his projects.
Design Museum, until 8 September
Tropical Modernism: Architecture and Independence
See Tropical Modernism, an architectural style developed in West Africa in the forties, and later adopted by architects in India and Ghana, in this fascinating collection of paintings, photographs, film and models.
V&A Museum, until 22 September
Now You See Us: Women Artists in Britain 1520 – 1920
This extraordinary exhibition brings together the work of 110 professional women artists in Britain who have been forgotten by art history. A huge undertaking, and a statement of intent from Tate Britain, the Standard described the show as “extremely powerful”.
Tate Britain, until 13 October
Fragile Beauty: Photographs from the Collection of Sir Elton John and David Furnish
We are fortunate that Elton John and David Furnish are not only passionate about the work of some of the greatest photographers in history, but have now decided to share their incredible collection with the public. Comprised of fashion photography to photojournalism and everything in between, the series is “very satisfying,” said the Standard. “From greatest hits to hidden gems, it does what great shows do – it effortlessly broadens the audience’s horizons, and leaves them wanting more.”
V&A Museum, until January 5, 2025
Zanele Muholi
Renowned photographer and visual activist Zanele Muholi celebrates the lives of Black LGBTQI+ communities in South Africa, portraying scenes of beauty and intimacy next to images that mention traumatic events, next to portraits of the artist himself. “At once delightful and devastating, it is one of the greatest exercises in self-portraiture of this, or any age,” said the Standard.
Tate Modern, until January 26, 2025
Opening soon
Tavares Strachan: There’s a Light Somewhere
Bahamian-born conceptual artist Tavares Strachan is of worldwide interest. He has written his own encyclopedia, entitled The Encyclopedia of Invisibility, worked with SpaceX, and was the first person from the Bahamas to reach the North Pole. Here, in sculptural installations, collages, neon works, bronzes, and ceramic sculptures Strachan continues to explore cultural connections – infusing his work with his infectious curiosity.
Hayward Gallery, 18 June to 1 September
Summer Exhibition
It’s always great fun to visit the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition where over 1,200 delightful works of art from both renowned artists and the public are displayed side by side. British abstract sculptor, Ann Christopher, coordinated this year’s show.
Royal Academy, 18 June to 18 August
Yoshida: Three Generations of Japanese Prints
A rare opportunity to see the work of three generations of the Yoshida family – a Japanese artistic dynasty – together in the UK, this exhibition explores Japanese printmaking over two centuries.
Dulwich Picture Gallery, 19 June to 3 November
Six Lives: Stories of Queen Henry VIII
This illuminated exhibition will look at how the wives of Henry VIII, Katherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Katherine Howard and Katherine Parr, have been portrayed in art throughout history. The six women have been a constant source of inspiration for artists over the centuries, as shown here in paintings, drawings, photography and film.
National Portrait Gallery, 20 June to 8 September
Francis Alÿs: Ricochets
Perhaps best known for pushing a block of ice through Mexico City in 1997, Belgian interdisciplinary artist Francis Alÿs presents a new immersive exhibition that celebrates play – and we can’t wait . Since 1999 Alÿs has been describing children around the globe having fun. Here, in a series of multi-screen film installations, his first major UK show since 2010, he presents his joyful recordings.
Barbican, 27 June to 1 September
Anthony McCall: Solid Light
British artist Anthony McCall, based in New York, creates innovative light installations that challenge our assumptions about sculptural work. Here, see one of his three dimensional spell forms, where light is diffused through a thin mist, and shapes appear and fade in the dark.
Tate Britain, June 27 to April 27, 2025
In the Eye of the Storm: Modernism in Ukraine, 1900-1930s
This collection of modern modernist art came from the change, as empires fell, famine devastated the country, the continent went to war and Soviet Ukraine fought for independence. The result is a series of daring experimental works that push back against adversity.
Royal Academy, 29 June to 13 October
Barbie: The Show
Barbie fever took over the world last summer thanks to Greta Gerwig’s billion dollar blockbuster, which asked questions about feminism, motherhood and patriarchy through the iconic plastic doll. Now in this major exhibition, the Design Museum will explore the evolution of Barbie’s design, from the blonde original, to her more modern versions.
Design Museum, July 5 to February 23, 2025
Herbert Smith Freehills Portrait Prize 2024
This prestigious prize for contemporary portrait painting always attracts great and wonderful submissions. Here, take a look at some of this year’s best entries.
National Portrait Gallery, 11 July to 27 October
Van Gogh: Poets and Lovers
Sure, the summer holidays will be over and we can reliably predict that London will once again be under a gray cloud, but this exciting exhibition is too exciting to leave off the list. Van Gogh’s most famous paintings – Starry Night over the Rhône (1888, Musée d’Orsay), The Yellow House (1888, Van Gogh Museum), Sunflowers (1888) and Van Gogh’s Chair (1889), to name but a few to mention – being mentioned. brought together from around the world.
The National Gallery, 14 September to 19 January 2025
