Our pick of the best exhibitions to see right now in London's galleries and museums. We've split the list into geographical areas to make it easier to navigate, with some exhibitions from outside London added to the mix.
GANGNAM STYLE: Learn how Korea became a cultural powerhouse and try your hand, arms and legs at a K-pop dance routine before having it projected on to a screen. This sensational exhibition charts the opening up of Korea from the Seoul Olympics right through to Squid Game and the dozens of K-pop groups that have taken the music world by storm. It's that excellent blend of history, immersive elements and dazzling exhibition design that V&A does so well.
Hallyu! The Korean Wave at V&A. Until 25 June 2023, 20. (Open daily)
EMOTIONAL: What's it like to live with psychosis? Thankfully most of us won't experience it, but artist Marcus Coates puts himself through it for a series of six films, in which he is directed by those who have lived with psychosis, so that he experiences an approximation of what it's like to live with severe mental illness. Across the films he's made to feel hot and cold at the same time, to not trust friends and to doubt family photos are real, with his distress clear throughout. The six films are located throughout Pimlico, in a community centre, flat, medical centre and shops placing these extremely powerful films within domestic and day-to-day settings amplifies their impact. It's an intense two hours to see it all but it's important and unforgettable.
The Directors: Marcus Coates - an Artangel project is across Churchill Gardens Estate. Until 30 October, free. (Thursday-Sunday)
RESPLENDENT REFURB: Leighton House has always been one of our favourite west London gems, with its spectacular Arab hall worth the ticket price alone. Now it's been given a glow-up with the addition of new spaces including a naturally lit artist's studio and some fab extra exhibition spaces. As an added bonus, the nearby Sambourne House will also be opening up for regular visitors it's a five-storey townhouse packed to the rafters with Victorian art, furniture and a quirky 'shrine' of shells, with even less room to manoeuvre than at Sir John Soane's Museum.
Leighton House & Sambourne House. Reopens 15 October, 11 each or 20 combined. (Wednesday-Sunday)
STORMY SEAS: Winslow Homer is a painter I know best for his dramatic paintings of tempestuous seas, and there are plenty of roaring waves in this exhibitions. New to me, though, are his paintings that look at the aftermath of the US civil war and the abolition of slavery, examining the tension of Black families who then became paid labourers for the very people who had enslaved them, and how soldiers discarded their uniforms and returned to farm the land. It's this side of Homer, as a politically-engaged artist as well as a great painter, that makes for a stronger showing than expected.
Winslow Homer: Force of Nature at The National Gallery. Until 8 January 2023, 12. (Open daily)
PORTRAIT MASTER: One of recent history's greatest British painters has a major show of his works, ranging from his large-scale paintings of nudes to an intimate drawing of his mother on her death bed. Nobody painted textured, flabby flesh quite like he did, and looking at Freud's paintings is always a joy. While this exhibition doesn't offer much new beyond his National Portrait Gallery show from ten years ago it's still filled with brilliant work, and anyone wanting more of Freud or who missed that previous show should definitely give this one a visit.
The Credit Suisse Exhibition - Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at The National Gallery. Until 22 January 2023, 24-26 (pay what you wish on Friday evenings). (Open daily)
QUANTUM SLIME: Get ready for quantum art in an exhibition by Libby Heaney that mixes the world of fine art with that of quantum physics. Distorted artworks are created using code within a quantum computer, combining the forefronts of art and technology. There's a playful element to this exhibition watch a video piece about quantum entanglement while entangled within the tentacles of a soft giant octopus, or see glass slime moulds hanging from the bench, windowsill, doors and shelves in the gallery.
Libby Heaney: Remiqxing Still at Fiumano Clase. Until 16 October, free. (Tuesday-Saturday)
GRITTY & POLITICAL: Some of the Royal Academy's main galleries have been given a dark and blackened makeover to host the political works of William Kentridge, who uses drawings, films, opera and puppets to cover important topics such as corruption and the legacy of colonialism. They are powerful and moving works, even if the artist places so many layers into them that it sometimes feels difficult to keep up. Meanwhile, at nearby Goodman Gallery, Kentridge's latest work is an ambitious film that looks at the history of Russia between Lenin and Stalin all set to the music of composer Shostakovich.
William Kentridge at Royal Academy of Arts. Until 11 December, 20-22. (Tuesday-Sunday)William Kentridge: Oh To Believe in Another World at Goodman Gallery. Until 12 November, free. (Tuesday-Saturday)
FLEEING IN FEAR: A painting shows hundreds of tiny figures fleeing with a shadow of a plane overhead, some being beaten by police. Another painting looks like blood splatter. Violence is either shown or alluded to in haunting works, made all the more powerful given the artist was born and lived in Spain under the dictatorship of Franco.
Juan Genoves: Reconsidered at Marlborough London. Until 29 October, free. (Monday-Saturday)
BODY POLITICS: Painting, photography, performance and politics Carolee Schneemann's art contains it all, yet I'd never heard of her until I saw this impressive exhibition of her work. It's an intense viewing experience with an explicit film of her having sex with her partner, and distressing photographs of people leaping from the Twin Towers when they were attacked. Her unflinching look at the female body, sexuality and variety of work make for an eye-opening look at an artist who deserves greater recognition.
Carolee Schneemann: Body Politics at Barbican Art Gallery. Until 8 January, 18. (Open daily)
DREAMY LANDSCAPES: Lithuanian painter and composer M.K. iurlionis isn't that well-known, but this is a chance to lose yourself in his beautiful dreamy landscapes at Dulwich Picture Gallery. It's unlike anything we've seen before and it's easy to be seduced by his mythical works that take concepts such as the creation of the world and angels, give them their own twist to conjure up fantastical realms.
M.K. iurlionis: Between Worlds at Dulwich Picture Gallery. Until 12 March 2023, 15. (Tuesday-Sunday)
ASTONISHING APPLES: Paul Cezanne once said "with an apple I will astonish Paris". Over a century later, his work is still astonishing, whether it's a verdant landscape, a juicy still life or a tender depiction of his son. He could paint it all, and this vast exhibition of his work shows what a phenomenal talent he was. Tate Modern is the perfect place to show his work as all of contemporary art owes a debt to his trailblazing paintings that shifted art away from realistic depictions to capturing the spirit of its subject and art has since been richer for it.
The EY Exhibition: Cezanne at Tate Modern. Until 12 March 2023, 22. (Open daily)
FRAGILE SCULPTURE: Delicate, shell-like sculptures that feel like they could crumble with a touch, and works strung across a break in the wall, are an introduction to Slovakian Maria Bartuszova, an artist most will not have heard of. Resembling eggs and referencing themes of fertility and maternity, these are beautiful works, and most moving of all is a series of photographs where blind and partially-sighted children experienced sculpture through touching her pieces. The only downside is it's a small show, with a limited amount of work, that doesn't quite justify the hefty ticket price.
Maria Bartuszova at Tate Modern. Until 16 April 2023, 16. (Open daily)
TENDER PORTRAITS: Glyn Philpot was a British painter and his portraits, particularly those of men, have a wonderful tenderness and femininity to them that's unexpected from an artist painting in the 1910s-1930s. While he was a diverse artist who could also sculpt, it's his portraits of Black men and effeminate men that really stand out in this show. Painted at a time when society was less tolerant than it is today, his work distinguishes itself as embracing differences in this sizeable exhibition.
Glyn Philpot: Flesh and Spirit at Pallant House Gallery, Chichester. Until 23 October, free.
GUIDED MEDITATION: Put your watch and phone aside and lose track of time in this exhibition, where we're guided from place to place and asked to close our eyes to drift off within our own minds sometimes standing, sitting or even lying down. It's reminiscent of guided meditation and it's easy to completely lose track of time inside the gallery it could have been 15 minutes or an hour that I was in there. It'll likely have the largest impact on those of us with bustling lives and smartphone addictions, even if full blown revelations within the space are unlikely. It's not the strongest piece from the superstar performance artist, but still a thoughtful one.
Marina Abramovic: Gates and Portals at Modern Art Oxford. Until 5 March 2023, 10.
SHIPWRECKS BY THE SEA: Large-scale photos of shipwrecks are haunting as they hint at the rusting yet still present legacy of migration and trade it's a powerful series and fitting that it's beside the sea in the art deco De La Warr Pavilion. The works in this show all look at our relationship with the sea, including a recreation of a part of Zineb Sedira's studio featuring shelves of books, model ships and other ocean-related ephemera she's gathered. Sedira is a powerful political artist and, while this isn't her strongest work when compared to her excellent exhibition in Venice, it's still an impressive installation of film and photography.
Zineb Sedira: Can't You See The Sea Changing? at De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill. Until 8 January, free.
Read this article:
The Biggest Exhibitions To See In London And Beyond: Autumn 2022 - Londonist
- Student-Led Working Group to Abolish GUPD Calls for Greater Community Involvement - Georgetown University The Hoya - April 10th, 2024 [April 10th, 2024]
- Nobel Peace Prize - Wikipedia - January 10th, 2023 [January 10th, 2023]
- Albanese government neuters ABCC ahead of abolition - The Australian Financial Review - October 28th, 2022 [October 28th, 2022]
- 3 Good Reasons You Should Learn More About Angela Davis - Because of Them We Can - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Eradication of forced labor -- striking example of political will - The Korea Herald - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Intrusion impending: what contractors need to know about proposed abolition of the ABCC - Lexology - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- What Does It Mean To 'Abolish the Family'? - ArtReview - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- UN experts call for complete abolition of death penalty as 'only viable path' - UN News - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Opinion | Social justice work must continue - UI The Daily Iowan - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Rank-and-file action committees independent of IG Metall union needed to defend all jobs at all sites - WSWS - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Japan plans to abolish health insurance cards in fall 2024 | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis - - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Are you buying the copaganda? - mlk50.com - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- 'Crown Jewel of Criminal Justice System': Voters In Five States Will Address Legal Loophole That Still Allows Slavery - Atlanta Black Star - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- TUPD aims to connect with Tufts community over coffee - Tufts Daily - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Ex-condemned prisoner relives 11-year wait for hangmans noose - The Herald - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- The Ongoing Fight Against Femicides and Violence Against Women in the Caribbean - Rolling Stone - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- At Tate Britain, Hew Locke Powerfully Reckons with Colonialist Histories and Their Lingering Aftereffects - ARTnews - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Presentation of the Annual Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights - World - ReliefWeb - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Sanitation staff on strike over salary delay in Delhi - The New Indian Express - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Human Rights Watch Submission to the Universal Periodic Review of Burundi - Human Rights Watch - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- UN experts warn of associated torture and cruel punishment - OHCHR - October 11th, 2022 [October 11th, 2022]
- How Lead Belly twice won freedom from prison through his music - Far Out Magazine - October 11th, 2022 [October 11th, 2022]
- Why don't Popes ever win the Nobel Peace Prize? - Crux Now - October 11th, 2022 [October 11th, 2022]
- Hunting: Where the end began - Reaction - October 11th, 2022 [October 11th, 2022]
- Greece is committed to reforming its mass media and protecting personal data - Hellenic News of America - October 11th, 2022 [October 11th, 2022]
- Standing against war and nuclear catastrophe: lessons from Port Kembla - Red Flag - October 11th, 2022 [October 11th, 2022]
- Liz Truss warned tax cuts like hers could lead to 'boom and bust' in unearthed 2018 clip - The Mirror - October 11th, 2022 [October 11th, 2022]
- Opinion | The Puppets and the Puppet Masters - Common Dreams - October 11th, 2022 [October 11th, 2022]
- Intersecting Drug Policy and Abolition: A Conversation - TalkingDrugs - October 6th, 2022 [October 6th, 2022]
- Rival parties to lock horns over Gender Ministry in government organization reform plan - The Korea Herald - October 6th, 2022 [October 6th, 2022]
- Reforms, roll-outs and freezes in the tax and benefit system | Institute for Fiscal Studies - ifs.org.uk - October 6th, 2022 [October 6th, 2022]
- Kwasi Kwarteng to bring forward planned fiscal statement in another U-turn as it happened - The Guardian - October 6th, 2022 [October 6th, 2022]
- IR35 reforms repeal: How it stands to benefit the tech sectors SMEs and contractors - ComputerWeekly.com - October 6th, 2022 [October 6th, 2022]
- The Future of Truth - Portsmouth Daily Times - October 6th, 2022 [October 6th, 2022]
- Governor Hochul Names Canal Corporation Vessel in Honor of the Inspirational Life and Legacy of Harriet Tubman - ny.gov - October 6th, 2022 [October 6th, 2022]
- Tory MPs hit back after threats issued to those opposing 45p tax rate abolition - The Guardian - October 6th, 2022 [October 6th, 2022]
- John Hood: Don't That Just Beat All? Neuse News - Neuse News - October 6th, 2022 [October 6th, 2022]
- Scrapping inheritance tax is a terrible idea - The Spectator - October 6th, 2022 [October 6th, 2022]
- Reeves: Government instincts in mini-Budget were to cut taxes for wealthiest - LabourList - October 6th, 2022 [October 6th, 2022]
- Actually, Black Mermaid Folklore Has Been Around Long Before Disneys The Little Mermaid - Yahoo Life - October 6th, 2022 [October 6th, 2022]
- Build solidarity with rail workers fight! Help strengthen, expand the labor movement! The Militant - The Militant - September 14th, 2022 [September 14th, 2022]
- The Most Absolute Abolitionnew book explores abolition and lives of escaped slaves - Socialist Worker - September 14th, 2022 [September 14th, 2022]
- Democracy Cant Be Reduced to Voting in 2022 We Must Build the Future We Want - Truthout - September 14th, 2022 [September 14th, 2022]
- Christophe Ferrari denounces the announced abolition of the CVAE - US Sports - US Sports - - September 14th, 2022 [September 14th, 2022]
- Child labour: Nashik tribals struggle to survive, give kids to goatherds for Rs 10K - The New Indian Express - September 14th, 2022 [September 14th, 2022]
- Library Takeover Returns: Submit Your Application! | City of Madison - City of Madison, Wisconsin - September 14th, 2022 [September 14th, 2022]
- Do Britain and the world really need a king? - People's World - September 14th, 2022 [September 14th, 2022]
- Soka Gakkai International's Nuclear Abolition Work - Tricycle - September 7th, 2022 [September 7th, 2022]
- Clinton nonprofit funneled $75,000 to 'defund the police' group: report - New York Post - September 7th, 2022 [September 7th, 2022]
- Cops and Prosecutors Truly Work the Same Side: Ingrid Raphal and Melissa Gira Grant on their FOV Doc They Wont Call It Murder - Filmmaker Magazine - September 7th, 2022 [September 7th, 2022]
- The Iran Man Behind the Nuclear Curtain Jewish Policy Center - Jewish Policy Center - September 7th, 2022 [September 7th, 2022]
- Dorothy Roberts Tried to Warn Us - New York Magazine - September 7th, 2022 [September 7th, 2022]
- Hear Me Now: The Black Potters Of Old Edgefield, South Carolina - Antiques And The Arts Weekly - Antiques and the Arts Online - September 7th, 2022 [September 7th, 2022]
- The Spin | Zimbabwe's upset win should spur England to be good global citizens - The Guardian - September 7th, 2022 [September 7th, 2022]
- Letter of the week: The Proms deserve better - The New Statesman - September 7th, 2022 [September 7th, 2022]
- Why We Should Abolish the Family Current Affairs - Current Affairs - September 6th, 2022 [September 6th, 2022]
- On the Need for Honest Abolitionists. | Jeff Hood - Patheos - September 6th, 2022 [September 6th, 2022]
- Chile rejects a progressive constitution with big changes - NPR - September 6th, 2022 [September 6th, 2022]
- Where Solidarity, Abolition, and Queer History Meet - The Nation - September 6th, 2022 [September 6th, 2022]
- Addressing the sugar crisis long term - Manila Bulletin - September 6th, 2022 [September 6th, 2022]
- Experts react: The United Kingdom has a new prime minister. What should the world expect from Liz Truss? - Atlantic Council - September 6th, 2022 [September 6th, 2022]
- Explained Books | An eminent cardiac surgeon's account of his work, and of Kashmir - The Indian Express - September 6th, 2022 [September 6th, 2022]
- Formerly incarcerated women of color face worse health in later life | OUPblog - OUPblog - September 6th, 2022 [September 6th, 2022]
- The crime against humanity that is the modern OS desktop, and how to kill it - The Register - September 6th, 2022 [September 6th, 2022]
- Kenya: William Ruto's triumph, By Reuben Abati - Premium Times - September 6th, 2022 [September 6th, 2022]
- What shall we do with the climate refugees? - Trinidad & Tobago Express Newspapers - September 6th, 2022 [September 6th, 2022]
- Digitisation of records, land reforms turn 'Naya J&K' hi-tech - Rising Kashmir - September 6th, 2022 [September 6th, 2022]
- What year was slavery abolished in the US? - Fox News - August 25th, 2022 [August 25th, 2022]
- The United Nations Human Rights Council met for its 50th Regular Session from June 13 to July 8, 2022. - WCADP - World Coalition Against the Death... - August 25th, 2022 [August 25th, 2022]
- Special Tax Regimes for Mobile Individuals and Their Impact on the EU's Single Market - Bloomberg Tax - August 25th, 2022 [August 25th, 2022]
- Undergraduate Summer Research Highlights - Newsroom | University of St. Thomas - University of St. Thomas Newsroom - August 25th, 2022 [August 25th, 2022]
- A safe and healthy working environment is now a human right - Workplace Insight - August 25th, 2022 [August 25th, 2022]
- Haryana dismisses alleged abolition of teachers post as baseless - The Statesman - August 25th, 2022 [August 25th, 2022]
- New book explores wicked problems facing peace studies scholars and practitioners // Department of Political Science // University of Notre Dame -... - August 25th, 2022 [August 25th, 2022]
- Universities Are Plundering Cities. How Can This Relationship Change? - Truthout - August 25th, 2022 [August 25th, 2022]
- Edinburgh should apologise for role in slavery and colonialism, says academic - STV News - August 25th, 2022 [August 25th, 2022]
- The inside story of the CIA v Russia from cold war conspiracy to 'black' propaganda in Ukraine - The Conversation Indonesia - August 25th, 2022 [August 25th, 2022]
- Radical gender theory has now made its way into more than 4,000 US schools - Home - WSFX - August 25th, 2022 [August 25th, 2022]
- Infanticide: Excitement as 5-year-old reunites with family in FCT - Blueprint Newspapers Limited - August 25th, 2022 [August 25th, 2022]
- London Influence: In the tank for Liz Man of Mistry Meet Rud Pedersen - POLITICO Europe - August 25th, 2022 [August 25th, 2022]