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Listen up culture vultures. We’ve rounded up the biggest art exhibitions in London going on in 2022. Don’t say we don’t spoil you – happy wandering!
Alex Landon - Editor
For a full-on art attack, London has you covered. Below, we’ve rounded up all the current and upcoming art exhibitions from London’s major galleries and museums, from the Tate Britain and Tate Modern to Somerset House, the V&A, the Saatchi Gallery and the National Gallery.
These amazing art exhibitions in London encompass everything from classic works to cutting-edge modern pieces, but all offer something for the curious. Prices quoted are generally for adults in advance. On-the-day, walk-up tickets will be a few pounds more, while students and other concessionary fares may be slightly less.
There’s even a few free art exhibitions for the penny-pinchers among you – let’s face it this is London. Notably, under-25s can visit all Tate exhibitions for £5 when they join the free ‘Collective’. Oh, one other thing to note: the National Portrait Gallery has closed for three years of refurbishments, so if it’s on your bucket list, you’re facing a bit of a wait.
Let’s kick things off with the best art exhibitions you can see today, from hyped openings to smaller shows at more intimate galleries.
Step back in time to April 1912 at London’s captivating Titanic Exhibition. This thought-provoking experience tells the touching personal stories of passengers aboard the fateful voyage, as you discover never-before-seen items and facts about the tragic events that unfolded. Until March 20. Price £19.90. More info.
One of the most popular art exhibitions of the year has to be this incredible immersive installation dedicated to Vincent Van Gogh, where you can literally step into his paintings. Treat yourself to this all-encompassing, 360-degree display of the Dutchman’s work – which takes over all your surroundings with the use of several dozen projectors and hyper-realistic VR headsets. Tickets for this exhibition have been flying out faster than any swish of any paintbrush could manage, so grab yours here before they’re gone. Until May 30. Price £19.90.
Imagine someone got hold of a shrink ray and went on a shrinking spree – zapping butterflies, tennis players, tiered cakes and even city streets – well, this is the kind of thing you can expect at Small Is Beautiful. The miniature art exhibition showcases the fascinating pieces of 32 local and international artists, introducing you to a world full of intricate detail, unbridled imagination and captivating creativity. You’ll be able to put yourself in the tiny shoes of The Borrowers as you soak up art from an entirely new perspective. If you’re looking to take a deep dive into the miniature world, you can get a hold of your tickets here. Until July 2022. From £11.50.
The Harry Potter Photographic Exhibition will whisk you faster than a portkey into a world of rare and exclusive from 10 years of filming the mammoth film franchise. It’s the first time the photo collection has ever been shown together in one place, and you’ll even be able to hit the Butterbeer bar straight after! Until March 31. Price £20. More info.
The tenth edition of this popular exhibition has set up shop in the City of London, boasting work from Alice Channer, Almuth Tebbenhoff, Bram Ellens, Elisa Artesero, Eva Rothschild and many more. Who said these art exhibitions had to be indoors? Until spring 2022. Free! More info.
Carl Fabergé rather set the gold standard in bling when he created those eponymous eggs, and plenty of other exquisite gold and bejewelled creations. Here’s your chance to see ’em all. Until May 8. Price £18. More info.
London’s ‘The Art of Banksy’ exhibition is home to over 90 masterpieces by the elusive artist — the world’s largest collection of privately-owned Banksy art. Marvel at famous artworks such as ‘Girl And Balloon’ and ‘Flower Thrower, and discover some of his lesser-known work and limited-edition pieces at this mesmerising, exclusive gallery. Until May 22. Price £25. More info.
The mesmerising mirrored rooms of Yayoi Kusama delight whenever and wherever they appear, and that includes Tate Modern, where a pair of delightfully trippy installations have appeared. Until June 12. Price £10. Get your tickets here, and read all about it here.
Turner Prize-winning artist Lubaina Himid started with a background in theatre before turning her hand to painting, so expect a fair bit of the ol’ razzle dazzle mixed in with important social commentary. Until July 3. Price £16. More info.
Expect to learn plenty at this show, which explores the relationship that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have with their lands, modern Australia, and the legacy of colonialism. Until autumn 2022. Free! More info.
There’s plenty more brilliant art on the horizon; here are the art exhibitions we’re looking forward to!
100 years to the day since it sailed for California, Gainsborough’s Blue Boy will return to the National Gallery, where it was displayed for a mere three weeks in 1922. It’ll be sticking around a tad longer this time – almost four months, in fact. January 25 until May 15. Free! More info.
Yes, not Man or Beast, but an unsettling blending of the two, as Francis Bacon’s fascination with animals and their movement comes to the fore in this exhibition of paintings. Think faceswapping with your cat, but on a whole different level. January 29 until April 17. Price £22–24.50. More info.
In partnership with Gucci, Fashioning Masculinities: The Art of Menswear explores how legendary designers, tailors, and artists, as well as their clients and sitters, have constructed and performed masculinity during a time of creativity and gender reflection in men’s fashion. If that premise doesn’t convince you to go, perhaps the face of the exhibition’s poster will… Opens March 19. Price £20. More info.
An enchanting, 360-degree world of light, colour, and beauty awaits you at Mexican Geniuses: A Frida & Diego Immersive Experience, arriving in London this spring. Immerse yourself in the paintings of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, the powerhouse duo who inspired one another to become the two of most influential figures in Mexican art. Opens April 16. Price £24.90. More info.
News and popular culture combined to influence Walter Sickert’s art, and Tate Britain will give this British master a show to remember in 2022. April 28 until September 18. Price TBD. More info.
This intriguing exhibition will be the first to explore the enigmatic motif of the ‘woman in the window’. Featuring works by famous artists such as David Hockney, Wolfgang Tillmans, Louise Bourgeois and Cindy Sherman, you’ll be able to view famous artworks from ancient civilisations all the way to the present day. With a range of different art forms on show, the aim of the exhibition is to identify the key geographic locations, cultures and time periods for which the ‘woman in the window’ had a particular meaning – and what the motif reveals about issues of gender and visibility. May 4 until September 4. Price TBD. More info.
Our Time on Earth explores how global creativity can transform the conversation around the climate emergency. Through art, design, science, music, and philosophy, the exhibition explores different global perspectives on our planet and presents radical visions and possibilities for the future of all species. May 5 until August 29. Price £18. More info.
Cornelia Parker doesn’t really do small when it comes to art installations, so expect Tate Britain to find plenty of space to house her sculptures, often made with everyday objects. May 18 until October 16. Price TBD. More info.
The Royal Academy’s Summer Exhibition dates back to 1769 and is the world’s largest open submission art show. After being moved to the winter two years in a row due to the pandemic, the 2022 edition returns in June with the urgent theme of ‘Climate’. June 21 until August 21. Price £20-22. More info.
The V&A Museum’s Africa Fashion exhibition celebrates the continent’s dynamic fashion scene through mid-20th century to contemporary photographs, textiles, music, and visual art. Opens July 2. Price TBD. More info.
An all-immersive, 360º art experience dedicated entirely to the Austrian symbolist Gustav Klimt is coming to London, and it’s the closest you’ll ever get to his incredible life’s work! Digital displays, sound effects, and high-tech VR will bring his masterpieces to life around you, in a one-of-a-kind show that is sure to leave you mesmerised and inspired. Opens July 21. Price £19.90. More info.
Known for his charcoal drawings, animated films, theatre and opera direction, tapestries, sculptures, and large-scale performance pieces, William Kentridge is one of South Africa’s most celebrated living artists. 40 years worth of his works will be showcased at the Royal Academy, in what will be the UK’s biggest Kentridge exhibition to date. September 24 until December 11. Price £22–24.50. More info.
The V&A is bringing a massive cultural phenomenon to town this September, with the arrival of Hallyu! The Korean Wave, the first UK exhibition dedicated to the music, art, cinema, fashion, and beauty of modern South Korea. Which no doubt means K-pop fans will be queueing out the door to get inside… Opens September 24. Price TBD. More info.
Making Modernism is dedicated to the pioneering women working in Germany in the early 1900s, showcasing the art of Paula Modersohn-Becker, Käthe Kollwitz, Gabriele Münter, and Marianne Werefkin. It’s the first major UK exhibition of its kind, and will bring together 65 unique works. November 12, 2022 until February 12, 2023. Price £17 (without donation £15). More info.
Part textiles, part sculptures; whatever Magdalena Abakanowicz’s ‘Abakans’ are, they’re certainly impressive. Filling Tate Modern’s Blavatnik Gallery, these imposing pieces will be hung from the ceiling. November 17, 2022, until May 21, 2023. Free! More info.
Portrait pro Lynette Yiadom-Boakye paints imagined characters in the style of classic European portraiture, and has been rewarded with her largest show yet. It was first exhibited in 2020, but since the pandemic ended the run early, Tate have planned another run from 2022. November 24, 2022, until February 26, 2023. Price TBC. More info.
Also published on Medium.