Unmissable London art exhibitions: January and February 2024
2024 is looking more exciting than ever as London’s art institutions announce a slate of show-stopping exhibitions opening throughout the year. We’re starting strong in the New Year with many incredible art exhibitions opening in January and February 2024, from Barbara Kruger to the Impressionists.
Read on to see a round-up of free exhibitions to see in London January and February 2024, followed by the full details of paid exhibitions.
Free art exhibitions in London: January and February 2024
El Anatsui, Skylines?, 2008 Aluminium and copper wire, 300 x 825 cm© El Anatsui Private Collection Courtesy the Artist and October Gallery, London Photo © Jonathan Greet
El Anatsui, Hyundai Commission
Tate Modern Turbine Hall | 10 October 2023 – 14 April 2024
The celebrated Ghanian artist will have free reign over the Turbine Hall this October. The vast space will be transformed with his sculptures, known for their cascading arrangements of found materials.
Bloomberg New Contemporaries
Camden Arts Centre | 19 January-14 April 2024
The annual Bloomberg New Contemporaries exhibition showcases the talents of 55 recent graduates from various UK art schools. Making its return to Camden Art Centre after two decades at different London venues, this diverse exhibition encompasses artists specializing in painting, performance, textiles, and video.
Antony Gormley: Body Politic
White Cube Bermondsey | 22 Nov 2023–28 Jan 2024
Through a series of new artworks, Gormley challenges and investigates the balance between seeking refuge and embracing our innate migratory nature, using sculpture to evoke contemplation and self-awareness concerning our own freedom of movement and thought in the current state of the world.
The Glass Heart: Art, Industry & Collaboration
Two Temple Place | 27 January-21 April 2024
Here's a unique chance to explore the artistry of glasswork through 100+ pieces spanning over 170 years, from the Great Exhibition of 1851 to contemporary creations. The exhibition not only showcases efforts to preserve traditions and address modern issues but also highlights the richness of glass craftsmanship. Visiting this free exhibition is also a rare opportunity to glimpse the inside of the remarkable venue, Two Temple Place, a historic building I’ve only been able to visit once.
Barbara Kruger
Serpentine Galleries | Feb 1-Mar 17 2024
Launching into 2024, the Serpentine Gallery is honoring an artist of unparalleled boldness—Barbara Kruger. Kruger’s text-based work is instantly recognisable and highly memorable. Seeing her installation at the Hirshorn Museum in 2015 is still crystal clear in my mind, and I’m so excited to see how this exhibition transforms her works into video and soundscapes.
Winter art exhibitions in London: January and February 2024
Costumes for Le Train Bleu, by Gabrielle Chanel, 1924. Museum no. S.837-1980. © CHANEL / Photo: Nicholas Alan Cope / Courtesy of Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Gabrielle Chanel: Fashion Manifesto
V&A, 16 September 2023 – 25 February 2024
This exciting show delves into the life and work of the iconic fashion designer Gabrielle Chanel. The exhibition features a wide range of garments, accessories, and archival materials that trace the evolution of Chanel's designs and her influence on fashion. Visitors will have the opportunity to see some of her most iconic pieces such as the little black dress and the tweed suit, and learn about her innovative use of materials and new forms of fashion.
The exhibition also explores Chanel's role as a feminist and businesswoman, and her impact on the fashion industry. The V&A’s fashion shows are always a knockout, and I expect that Chanel will sell out quickly.
Graphic Thought Facility (1990, UK). Playing Dress Up With AI, 2023
CUTE
Somerset House, January 25 to April 14 2024
Discover the allure of cuteness in contemporary culture through a dynamic new exhibition. From emojis and internet memes to plushie toys and endearing robotic design, cuteness has become a pervasive force. This show, CUTE, goes beyond the surface of charming motifs like adorable animals and sweet symbols, exploring how cuteness has captivated our world in all sorts of media and visual culture.
Courtesy of the British Museum
Legion: Life in the Roman Army
British Museum, February 1 to June 21
An exhibition for those whose Roman Empire is the Roman Empire…
Find out about life in the Roman army from the perspective of ordinary soldiers who served in it. The exhibition aims to be personal but reflective on the power and expanse of the empire, and how these soldiers enabled it.
Celia, Carennac, August 1971 by David Hockney, Colored pencil on paper, © David Hockney, Photo Credit: Richard Schmidt, Collection The David Hockney Foundation
David Hockney: Drawing From Life
National Portrait Gallery, 2 November 2023 - 21 January 2024
Hockney’s exhibition of portraits which was cut short by the pandemic in 2020 is being restaged this winter at the National Portrait Gallery. From celebrities to friends and neighbours, this show will feature portraits drawn from observation by hand and on the iPad.
Whitney Houston performing at Wembley Arena, London 5 May 1988. © Photograph © David Corio
DIVA
V&A, Closes Sunday, 7 April 2024
This exceptional showcase pays tribute to the awe-inspiring power and creative brilliance of iconic performers, spanning from the 19th century to the present day. The exhibition boasts a rich collection of over 250 artifacts, artfully curated from the V&A's collection and loans from around the globe. Embracing fashion, photography, design, music, and live performance, DIVA unfolds the captivating stories of resilience and ambition from renowned divas, from opera legends to contemporary megastars.
Step back in time to explore the origins of the term 'diva,' evolving and embraced over generations. Delight in over 60 rare looks on display, featuring iconic costumes worn by legends like Maria Callas, Marilyn Monroe, Tina Turner, and more.
© Lubaina Himid. Image courtesy the artist, Hollybush Gardens, London and National Museums, Liverpool. © Spike Island, Bristol. Photo: Stuart Whipps.
Entangled Pasts, 1768 - now: Art, Colonialism and Change
Royal Academy, February 3 to April 28
The RA’s exploration of colonialism and its impact will bring together dozens of fascinating artists who question history, bringing together contemporary perspectives as well as historical works on the theme. This is one of the 2024 exhibition I’m most excited for, featuring works from favourites of mine such as Hew Locke, Lubaina Himid, Ellen Gallagher, Yinka Shonibare, and Kara Walker among many others.
Tara Donovan, UNTITLED (MYLAR), 2011/2018 Photo: Christopher Burke. Courtesy of the artist and Pace Gallery.
When Forms Come Alive
The Hayward Gallery, February 7 to May 6
The Hayward continues its reputation for stand-out contemporary group shows with this exploration of organic sculptures. Promising to be all things weird and wonderful, I can’t wait to see the sculptures of Ruth Asawa and Franz West.
Courtesy Teresa Margolles
Unravel: The Power and Politics of Textiles in Art
Barbican, February 14 to May 26
Another exhibition that feels perfectly aimed at me, the Barbican’s look at textiles and social commentary will feature 50 artists who critique war, gender politics, imperialism, and injustice. I am particularly excited to see Faith Ringgold’s work in person again, as her story quilts are some of the most powerful works I’ve seen.
Edgar Degas, Dancer seen from Behind, 1783
Impressionists on Paper: Degas to Toulouse-Lautrec
Royal Academy, 25 November 2023 - 10 March 2024
Explore a groundbreaking exhibition that shifts the focus from well-known Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings to their revolutionary works on paper. In late 19th-century France, these artists reshaped the course of art not only through their paintings but also by elevating the status of drawings, pastels, and other paper-based mediums to independent artworks. This rich exhibition features approximately 70 works on paper by leading artists, demonstrating their innovative spirit and how it influenced later movements such as Abstract Expressionism.
Peter Paul Rubens, Venus, Mars and Cupid, c.1635, oil on canvas, 195.2 x 133 cm, courtesy Dulwich Picture Gallery
Rubens & Women
Dulwich Picture Gallery, 27 September 2023 – 28 January 2024
This exhibition explores the representation of women in the works of the Baroque master Peter Paul Rubens. The exhibition features a selection of Rubens' paintings, drawings and prints, highlighting his skill in depicting the female form and exploring the themes of beauty, sensuality and power. The exhibition also examines Rubens' role as a patron and collector, and his relationships with the women in his life.
Rebel Design Museum installation view
Rebel: 30 Years of London Fashion
Design Museum, 16 Sep 2023 – 11 Feb 2024
In partnership with the British Fashion Council (BFC), this exhibition marks the 30th anniversary of the BFC's NEWGEN program, which supports emerging fashion designers and aims to nurture future global luxury brands. The exhibition celebrates the transformative impact of fearless young designers on the fashion landscape. It features nearly 100 pioneering fashion looks from debut and early collections that have left an indelible mark on pop culture and launched international design careers. Iconic pieces include Björk's swan dress, Harry Styles' Steven Stokey Daley outfit, and Sam Smith's inflatable latex suit, alongside collections by JW Anderson, Molly Goddard, Christopher Kane, and more.
Philip Guston, Monument, 1976. © The Estate of Philip Guston
Philip Guston
Tate Modern, 5 October 2023 – 25 February 2024
Delving into the transformative 20th century, artist Philip Guston's compelling response to a tumultuous world is showcased in this exhibition. With over 50 years of prolific artistry, Guston's works captured the anxieties of his era. Transitioning from celebrated abstract painting in the 1950s and 1960s, he incorporated comic-like figures and symbolic elements to address racism and social upheaval, earning him a revered place among influential late 20th-century painters.
David Hockney Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures) 1972 YAGEO Foundation Collection, Taiwan copyright David Hockney
Capturing the Moment
Tate Modern, 15 June 2023 – 28 January 2024
This exhibition brings together significant works from the Tate collection and Yageo Foundation Collection to explore the dynamic relationship between contemporary painting and photography. The show spans the last 100 years and features 39 artists, including Francis Bacon, Lucian Freud, Alice Neel, Hiroshi Sugimoto, Jeff Wall, Louise Lawler, Candida Höfer, Andy Warhol, Gerhard Richter, Pauline Boty, Christina Quarles, and Rachel Owens. See how these modern painters and photographers grappled with, influenced, and merged with each other's mediums.
Gina Birch, still from Three Minute Scream, 1979. Courtesy the artist
Women in Revolt!
Tate Britain, Nov 8-Apr 7 2024
Women in Revolt! unveils the influential power of feminist art by over 100 women artists in the UK. This survey showcases the network of defiant women who harnessed radical concepts and unconventional techniques to leave a mark on British society.
The exhibition seamlessly amalgamates various artistic mediums to examine pivotal moments. "Women in Revolt!" not only honors a vast and talented group of women but also rectifies the omission of their work from mainstream art establishments. By resurrecting and presenting their significant creations, the exhibition celebrates the immense influence of these women who actively engaged with politics and cultivated transformative communities.
Image: Hurvin Anderson, Limestone Wall, 2020. © Hurvin Anderson. Courtesy the artist and Thomas Dane Gallery. Photo: Richard Ivey.
Soulscapes
Dulwich Picture Gallery, February 14 to June 24
I feel like I say this here all the time, but the Dulwich Picture Gallery seems to always get it right. Every theme they address seems perfectly pitched and fascinating to me, and this is no exception.
Soulscapes seeks to expand the definition of landscape art, showcasing work from over 30 contemporary artists across various media. Including Hurvin Anderson, Isaac Julien, Njideka Akunyili Crosby and many more, this exhibition explores the point of view of the African diaspora on our connection with the earth.
The best current art exhibitions in London during May 2024 and June 2024. Discover Michelangelo, Zanele Muholi, or the German Expressionists at London museums this spring. This guide also includes free exhibitions in London.