10 of the best exhibitions to see, in 2024
What’s on around the nation, this year
There’s always a new exhibition to see - the only difficulty is deciding which one to go to and then remembering to put it in your diary. Here’s my pick of the best this year, around the UK. What better reason to plan a visit?
1. Expressionists at Tate Modern
Expressionists: Kandinsky, Munter and the Blue Rider, is an exhibition around the ground-breaking group of early-20th century artists. On at London’s Tate Modern, from April to October, visit tate.org.uk
2. The Biba Story at the Fashion and Textile Museum
It only existed for a decade, but the fashion label Biba’s influence lasted forever. The highly-influential 1960s brand forms a special retrospective at London’s Fashion and Textile Museum and is one fashion fans will love. Running from March to September, visit fashiontextilemuseum.org
3. Naomi at the V&A
Another fashion exhibition, is the highly-anticipated show around Naomi Campbell, at the V&A. I always enjoy their exhibits and this one is bound to be a sell-out. Running from June to April 2025, visit vam.ac.uk
4. The National Gallery’s 200th anniversary
This year marks 200 years of The National Gallery and the museum is planning multiple events. Big-name shows include The Last Caravaggio, from April until July and Van Gogh: Poets and Lovers, an unmissable exhibition, bringing some of his most-loved paintings together, from September to January 2025. Visit nationalgallery.org.uk
5. National Treasures, across the UK
Also from the National Gallery this year, is a touring exhibition of world-class art. To celebrate its 200th anniversary, it has teamed up with 12 venues around the UK, from Newcastle to Brighton. They will run free exhibitions of 12 key items from the NG’s collection, so that more than half of the UK’s population can easily access its treasures, for the first time, from May 10. For more details, visit nationalgallery.org.uk
6. Vermeer in Edinburgh at the National, Edinburgh
As part of the National Treasures tour, the National in Edinburgh will display Vermeer in Edinburgh, presenting two works by Vermeer. A Young Woman Standing at a Virginal will be on loan to the gallery, alongside its own permanent Vermeer, Christ in the House of Martha and Mary, from May 10, until September. Visit nationalgalleries.org
7. Barbie at the Design Museum
If you are missing Barbie and Ken, then this exhibition should be more than Kenough for you. The Design Museum in London’s Kensington is putting together a special show following the iconic doll’s design evolution. Running from July to February 2025, visit designmuseum.org
8. Royal Portraits at Buckingham Palace
For those who have never been, BP’s summer exhibitions are always worth catching and this one is on royal portrait photography from the 1920s to the present. It runs from May to October. Visit rct.uk
9. Life Through a Royal Lens at Hillsborough Castle
Another royal exhibition - if you missed the Life Through a Royal Lens exhibition when it was at Kensington Palace, then this lovely collection of images of the Royal Family over the past 200 years, including many taken themselves, has moved to Hillsborough Castle, in Northern Ireland. Catch it from March to October, visit hrp.org.uk
10. Icons of British Fashion, Blenheim Palace
You’ll gather I enjoy fashion exhibitions and I make no apologies for that. This one looks like a cracker, as Blenheim Palace hosts a line-up of British fashion icons, ranged across its famous rooms. Names include Vivienne Westwood, Barbour and Stella McCartney. On from March to June, visit blenheimpalace.com