London is a hub for exhibitionists of the highest caliber.
At this very moment, they’re at their best, presenting a diverse array of intriguing subjects across the city’s exceptional museums and art galleries. You can explore everything from a plastic-coated retrospective of a renowned 11.5-inch influencer to groundbreaking artwork by the iconic Yoko Ono. Additionally, there’s photography by an anti-Apartheid activist, a showcase of ’70s fashion, and even an exhibit that brings you as close as possible to the moon’s surface.
20 AMAZING LONDON EXHIBITIONS IN AUGUST 2024:
1) Barbie: The Exhibition | Design Museum
The Design Museum has unveiled a new exhibition that charts the design evolution of the world’s most iconic 11.5-inch influencer: Barbie. In many ways, it’s a challenging show to critique, as it delivers exactly what you’d expect.
Celebrating Barbie’s 65th anniversary and riding the wave of the blockbuster 2023 film, this exhibition offers a vibrant dive into the essence of Barbiecore. If this sounds appealing, you’re in for a treat.
Details: Barbie®: The Exhibition is on display at the Design Museum until February 23, 2025. Tickets are available here (£14.38+).
2) Roger Mayne: Youth | Courtauld Gallery
Roger Mayne might not be a household name, but he certainly deserves to be. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Mayne built a career that wasn’t reliant on commercial or journalistic work. Fully dedicated to the art of photography, he focused on capturing ‘life as he found it.’ His 1950s work, which documents postwar London’s streets, contrasts the severe damage and poverty from wartime destruction with the unrestrained joy of children playing. The exhibition features around 60 images, mostly vintage and many developed by Mayne himself, that remain just as moving 75 years later.
Details: Roger Mayne: Youth is on view at the Courtauld Gallery until September 1. Tickets are £13 (or £15 with a donation).
3) Yoshida: Three Generations of Japanese Printmaking | Dulwich Picture Gallery
After 124 years since his visit to Dulwich Picture Gallery during a grand tour of Europe’s art capitals, Yoshida Hiroshi is now being honored on its walls. While the print-making dynasty he founded is celebrated in Japan, it remains relatively unknown here—something you’ll question after seeing this exhibition. It showcases a stunning array of works, beginning with Hiroshi’s dreamlike ukiyo-e prints, moving through the postwar abstract dynamism of his sons Tōshi and Hadaka, and concluding with a contemplative installation by the family’s youngest member, Ayomi. This collection is sure to leave a lasting impression.
Details: Yoshida: Three Generations of Japanese Printmaking is on display at Dulwich Picture Gallery until November 3. Tickets are £20.
4) Francis Alÿs: Ricochets | Barbican Centre
An exhibition focused on playground games might sound like child’s play, but Belgian artist Francis Alÿs has crafted something profoundly moving. This collection of short films captures children at play across the globe, from serene fields to refugee camps. It reveals their resourcefulness, the pure joy they find in simple activities, and how they use play to navigate and adapt to a world filled with challenges. Whether it’s Hong Kong kids incorporating the pandemic into a game of tag or children in the DRC mimicking mosquito noises to combat malaria, this exhibition brims with power and optimism.
Details: Francis Alÿs: Ricochets is on view at the Barbican until September 1. Tickets start at £17 and can be booked here.
5) Zanele Muholi | Tate Modern
When an exhibition arrives with so much depth and significance, it can take hours to fully absorb. The expansive retrospective of South African artist Zanele Muholi at Tate Modern is one such event. This revised version of a show that was cut short by the pandemic features over 300 photographs, each one honoring, commemorating, or empowering members of the LGBTQIA+ community in South Africa. The exhibition juxtaposes poignant and harrowing documentation of sexual abuse with celebratory imagery and Muholi’s powerful self-portraits that reclaim their Blackness. It’s a monumental show that has received widespread critical acclaim.
Details: Zanele Muholi is on view at Tate Modern until January 26, 2025. Tickets are £18, or £5 for U25s registered with Tate Collective.
6) Expressionists: Kandinsky, Münter and The Blue Rider | Tate Modern
Tate’s highly praised new exhibition showcases around 130 masterpieces from the Blaue Reiter (the Blue Rider) collective, promising a visual feast of dazzling proportions. Prepare to be captivated by Wassily Kandinsky’s vibrant, swirling canvases, Marianne von Werefkin’s dynamic and colorful landscapes, and Gabriele Münter’s meticulously observed yet whimsically absurd portraits. This exhibition not only delights the eyes but also offers insights into color theory and the sociopolitical forces that both fueled and challenged this electrifying movement.
Details: Expressionists is on view at Tate Modern until October 20. Tickets are £22.
7) Ernest Cole: House of Bondage | The Photographer’s Gallery
The latest exhibition at The Photographer’s Gallery features over 100 powerful images from Ernest Cole’s groundbreaking House of Bondage project, which documented Black life under Apartheid in South Africa. After fleeing the country in 1966, Cole published the photobook in New York the following year, offering an unflinching view of the regime’s brutal injustices. While visiting, you can also explore Meditations on Love, a guest exhibition curated by Develop Collective that celebrates love in all its forms, and Graciela Iturbide: Shadowlines, showcasing the Mexican photographer’s masterful use of light and shadow in documenting indigenous communities.
Details: All exhibitions at The Photographer’s Gallery are on view until September 22. One ticket (£8, or £6.50 online) provides access to all exhibitions. You can book tickets here.
8) In the Eye of the Storm | Royal Academy of Arts
This vibrant exhibition explores early 20th-century Ukrainian art, a period marked by significant innovation amid war and political turmoil. It highlights the experimental Cubo-Futurism inspired by artists studying abroad, as no Ukrainian city had an art academy at that time. You’ll encounter the striking scenography of theatre designers Alexandra Exter and Les Kurbas, and gain insight into the Boichukists, a brief but influential public art movement that was suppressed by Stalin. It’s a compelling fusion of art and historical context.
Details: In the Eye of the Storm is on view at the RA until October 13. Tickets are £17 and can be booked here.
9) Suspended States | Serpentine Galleries
This eagerly awaited exhibition marks the first solo London show by artist Yinka Shonibare CBE in over 20 years, making Suspended States a highly anticipated event. Prepare for a captivating array of large-scale installations, quilts, hand-painted sculptures, and more, all exploring Britain’s colonial past and the impact of African art on global culture.
Details: Suspended States is on view at Serpentine South Gallery until September 1. Admission is free.
10) Now You See Us | Tate Britain
If you were asked to name a famous artist in the Western canon from the 19th century or earlier, you’d be forgiven for thinking of at least 20 male names before coming up with a female one. Tate Britain’s latest exhibition sets out to put women artists from history into the spotlight, from Royal Academy founder Angelica Kauffman and 17th century portraitist Mary Beale to the pioneering Laura Knight (who was the first woman to receive a retrospective at the RA). Most refreshingly, it demonstrates that they rebelled against the idea of painting being a hobby, or sticking to ‘safe’ subjects – the artwork here ranges from delicate floral still lifes to bold nudes and battle scenes.
Details: Now You See Us runs at Tate Britain until 13th October. Tickets cost £20.
11) Beyond Fashion | Saatchi Gallery
Fashion photography goes beyond merely showcasing stylish outfits, and Saatchi Gallery’s latest exhibition sets out to demonstrate just that. Featuring over 100 iconic images from renowned photographers like Nick Knight and Paolo Roversi, the show includes portraits of some of the most celebrated figures from magazine covers and runways over recent decades. With a range of work from highly conceptual editorial shoots to grassroots photography, the exhibition underscores fashion photography as a distinct artistic genre. It’s akin to strolling through the pages of a glossy magazine—a must-see for fashion enthusiasts.
Details: Beyond Fashion is on view at the Saatchi Gallery until September 8. Tickets start at £6.
12) Tavares Strachan: There Is Light Somewhere | Hayward Gallery
You may have recently encountered Bahamian artist Tavares Strachan’s work at the RA, where his striking sculptural reinterpretation of Da Vinci’s Last Supper welcomed visitors in the courtyard, part of an exhibition on artistic responses to colonial legacies. Now, at the Hayward Gallery, Strachan presents an expansive solo show featuring large-scale installations, sculptures, collages, neon art, and more. His work illuminates forgotten historical figures and imagines future possibilities, creating a vibrant tapestry of lost histories and speculative futures. Explore a Ugandan thatched hut housing a jukebox with music and speeches, see the Queen of Sheba emerge from a bust of Nina Simone, and watch delicate glass sculptures shimmer in water tanks. This dynamic exhibition—Strachan’s second solo show in the UK—hints at even greater things to come.
Details: Tavares Strachan: There Is Light Somewhere runs at the Hayward Gallery until September 1. Tickets are £18.
13) Grayson Perry: The Vanity of Small Differences | Pitzhanger Manor
Turner Prize-winning artist Grayson Perry brings contemporary allegory to life in a stunning series of six large tapestries inspired by Hogarth’s 18th-century engraving series, A Rake’s Progress. Following the fictional character Tim Rakewell’s ‘class journey,’ Perry’s tapestries explore themes of social mobility, class, taste, and identity through scenes influenced by his travels in Sunderland, the Cotswolds, and Tunbridge Wells. You can also view the original Hogarth prints, which are displayed in the manor’s grand living room, for a direct comparison.
Details: Grayson Perry: The Vanity of Small Differences is on view at Pitzhanger Manor until December 8. Admission is included with house tickets, priced at £13.20, with free entry times available for Ealing residents.
14) Royal Portraits: A Century of Photography | The King’s Gallery
This dazzling exhibition features over 150 prints, showcasing royal portraits dating back to the 1920s. Highlights include Cecil Beaton’s elegant Vogue-style photographs of the Queen Mother in her youth, candid images of Princess Margaret captured by her future husband, the Earl of Snowdon, Andy Warhol’s iconic pop art screen print of Queen Elizabeth, and more informal photos of the current King and Queen at home (yes, within the palace).
Details: Royal Portraits: A Century of Photography is on display at The King’s Gallery until October 6. Tickets are £19.
15) Yoko Ono: Music Of The Mind | Tate Modern
For some, the idea of combining ‘Yoko Ono’ and ‘music’ might seem unconventional. However, Ono has created a number of influential and significant works over the decades, and Tate Modern has assembled the largest collection of her music-related pieces ever seen in the UK. The exhibition features over 200 of her most celebrated works, ranging from 1950 to the present day, including pieces from the event where she met her future husband.
Details: Yoko Ono: Music Of The Mind is on view at Tate Modern until September 1. Tickets are £22.
16) David Hockney: Bigger and Closer (not smaller & further away) | Lightroom
David Hockney has always been at the forefront of new technologies. In the ’80s, he explored photocopiers and faxes; in the ’90s, computers and Polaroids; and in the 2000s, iPhones and iPads. Now, he’s diving into four-story-tall, fully immersive digital projection spaces. Following last year’s rave reviews, Lightroom is reintroducing its debut show, David Hockney: Bigger and Closer. The exhibit’s success lies in its use of space-specific artwork, enveloping visitors in vibrant, oversized brushstrokes.
Details: David Hockney: Bigger and Closer runs at Lightroom until October 6. Tickets are £25.
17) Fragile Beauty | V&A
Sir Elton John and David Furnish boast an extraordinary personal collection of photography, and this exhibition offers a captivating glimpse into it. You’ll encounter striking images from renowned photographers such as Mario Testino, Diane Arbus, Nan Goldin, David LaChapelle, and Irving Penn. As you explore, themes like celebrity, desire, fashion, and idolism emerge, but above all, it’s an excellent chance to experience a wealth of incredible art in one place.
Details: Fragile Beauty is on view at the V&A until January 5, 2025. Tickets are £22.
18) The Biba Story, 1964-1975 | Fashion and Textile Museum
This highly influential British fashion label began as a mail-order catalogue in 1963 and evolved into a full lifestyle brand before ‘Big Biba’ closed in 1975. The Fashion and Textile Museum’s captivating exhibition showcases an extensive collection of clothing, designs, photographs, archive footage, and other treasures gathered by the founder, Barbara Hulanicki. It’s a dazzling tribute to the legacy of Biba.
Details: The Biba Story is on view at the Fashion and Textile Museum in Bermondsey until September 8. Tickets are £12.65.
19) Birds: Brilliant and Bizarre | Natural History Museum
Birds are the last remnants of dinosaurs, and they exhibit some truly bizarre traits—they can suck blood, bathe in acid, and more. This exhibition goes beyond London’s familiar pigeons to explore the strange and fascinating behaviors and adaptations of the 11,000 bird species that fill our skies (and those that don’t—sorry, emus).
Details: Birds: Brilliant and Bizarre is on display at the Natural History Museum until January 5, 2025. Tickets start at £16.50, and you can pre-book them here.
20) The Moonwalkers | Lightroom
The Moonwalkers exhibition is truly out of this world. It immerses you in a cinematic experience with vintage footage from the first moon landings and sweeping panoramic images of the lunar surface displayed across a four-story, state-of-the-art gallery where every surface is a screen. Adding to the experience, the exhibition is narrated by none other than Tom Hanks—a fitting choice for the occasion.
Details: Moonwalkers is on view at Lightroom, King’s Cross, until October 13. Tickets are £25.
Frequently Asked Question
What are some must-see exhibitions in London this August?
- Yoko Ono: Music Of The Mind at Tate Modern offers a deep dive into Ono’s music-related art.
- David Hockney: Bigger and Closer at Lightroom showcases Hockney’s immersive digital art.
- Grayson Perry: The Vanity of Small Differences at Pitzhanger Manor features Hockney’s contemporary tapestries.
- Fragile Beauty at the V&A displays Sir Elton John and David Furnish’s stunning photography collection.
- Birds: Brilliant and Bizarre at the Natural History Museum explores the unique behaviors of 11,000 bird species.
Where can I find the David Hockney exhibition?
David Hockney: Bigger and Closer is on at Lightroom in King’s Cross until October 6.
Are there any exhibitions focusing on fashion?
Yes, The Biba Story at the Fashion and Textile Museum in Bermondsey celebrates the iconic British fashion label and its founder, Barbara Hulanicki.
Which exhibition features a collection of royal portraits?
Royal Portraits: A Century of Photography at The King’s Gallery showcases portraits of British royalty from the 1920s to the present.
Can I visit any exhibitions related to contemporary art and artists?
Definitely. Grayson Perry: The Vanity of Small Differences at Pitzhanger Manor and Yoko Ono: Music Of The Mind at Tate Modern are both excellent choices for contemporary art enthusiasts.
Is there an exhibition dedicated to birds?
Yes, Birds: Brilliant and Bizarre at the Natural History Museum explores the extraordinary and diverse world of birds.
How do I get tickets for these exhibitions?
Tickets for most exhibitions can be purchased online through the respective museum or gallery’s website. For specific exhibitions, you can check the venue’s website for booking details and ticket prices.
Conclusion
In August, London offers a diverse array of exhibitions that cater to a wide range of interests. From the immersive digital art of David Hockney at Lightroom to the royal portraits at The King’s Gallery, and the exploration of birds at the Natural History Museum, there’s something for everyone. Fashion enthusiasts can delve into the history of Biba at the Fashion and Textile Museum, while contemporary art lovers will appreciate Grayson Perry’s vibrant tapestries at Pitzhanger Manor and Yoko Ono’s innovative works at Tate Modern. Whether you’re interested in art, history, fashion, or nature, this month’s exhibitions provide rich and varied experiences that are sure to captivate and inspire.