Credit: The British Museum; Vincent Van Gogh 'Self-portrait', 1889. Collection of Mr. and Mrs. John Hay Whitney. National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C; © Tyler Mitchell. Courtesy of the artist
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Here are the must-see exhibits in London to get your culture fix this winter
By Stylist Team
Updated 2 months ago
3 min read
From 1980s photography to the world of Picasso, these are the art exhibits we’re getting excited about right now.
Across London, a range of exciting new exhibitions are taking place throughout the next couple of months, including a dynamic and immersive exhibition about Leigh Bowery and a fascinating exploration of the rarely seen history of the Mughal empire in India.
The seasonal change has brought about a new air in the capital, with plenty on offer for art lovers. Whether you’re a photography aficionado hoping to get a glimpse of some iconic, renowned works or you want to be a little more daring and visit a smaller, niche exhibit, these are the shows to add to your cultural calendar this winter.
Credit: Derek Bishton, Brian Homer & John Reardon
The 80s: Photographing Britain
Open until May 2025
Tate Britain
Taking you back to the 1980s, this new exhibition traces the work of a diverse community of photographers, collectives and publications who created radical responses to the turbulent Thatcher years. Set against the backdrop of race uprisings, the miner strikes, the Aids epidemic and gentrification, you will not only gain insight into this time in history but also be inspired by the many stories of protest and change.
Credit: The British Museum
Picasso: Printmaker
Open until March 2025
The British Museum
This exhibition offers insights into Picasso’s life through his art, including his complex relationships with women and his partnerships with printers, publishers and other artists. Spanning his entire career, it follows his engagement with different printmaking techniques and his changing approaches to making art.
Credit: Suzanne Treister
Electric Dreams
Open until June 2025
Tate Modern
With the rise of AI and algorithms, this exhibition explores how artists used machines and algorithms to create mesmerising and mind-bending art between the 1950s and the early 1990s. Electric Dreams highlights and celebrates the early innovators of optical, kinetic and digital art, long before technology and the internet were very much here to stay.
Credit: V&A
The Great Mughals: Art, Architecture And Opulence
Open until June 2025
V&A South Kensington
This major exhibition celebrates the creative output and internationalist culture of the golden age of the Mughal Court (around 1560–1660) during the reigns of its most famous emperors: Akbar, Jahangir and Shah Jahan.
Credit: Courtesy of © Fergus Greer, courtesy Michael Hoppen Gallery, London
Leigh Bowery!
Open until August 2025
Tate Modern
Leigh Bowery’s short but extraordinary life left a distinct, undeniable mark on the art world and beyond. Now, this eclectic and immersive exhibition is a rare chance to experience many of Bowery’s ‘Looks’ alongside his collaborations with other artists while providing fresh insight into the create scenes in London, New York and beyond. Step inside Bowery’s dynamic creative world that blurred the lines between art and life.
Credit: Saatchi Gallery
Flowers – flora in contemporary art and culture
Open until May 2025
Saatchi Gallery
Flowers have, throughout history, inspired artists, writers and creatives. This exhibition seeks to reveal the myriad of ways flowers continue to be depicted by artists. Featuring large-scale installations, original art, photography, fashion, archival objects and graphic design, which explore the ongoing influence of flowers on creativity and human expression.
Credit: Courtesy of The Swiss Confederation, Federal Office of Culture, Oskar Reinhart Collection ‘Am Römerholz’, Winterthur
Goya to Impressionism. Masterpieces from the Oskar Reinhart Collection
The Courtauld
Open until May 2025
In the first ever exhibition of the Oskar Reinhart Collection ‘Am Romerholz’ to be staged outside of Switzerland. The Courtauld Gallery hosts an exceptional selection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings – including works by Goya, Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh, Picasso and Cezanne.
Derek Bishton, Brian Homer & John Reardon
The British Museum
Suzanne Treister
V&A
© Fergus Greer, courtesy Michael Hoppen Gallery, London
Saatchi Gallery
The Swiss Confederation, Federal Office of Culture, Oskar Reinhart Collection ‘Am Römerholz’, Winterthur
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