The coming year is set to dazzle art enthusiasts with a lineup of exciting events and exhibitions in London. Start your February by visiting a major retrospective of Yoko Ono's works, and if you are a huge fan of 90s supermodels, absolutely look forward to June — the V&A Museum will be hosting a show dedicated to Naomi Campbell. London's art scene has a lot more surprises in 2024, so mark your calendars and don't miss out!
Yoko Ono: Music of Mind
Where: Tate Modern
When: February 15 — September 1
Tate Modern is gearing up to host the largest retrospective exhibition dedicated to the leading figure in conceptual art: Yoko Ono. Spanning more than six decades, the exhibition will feature the artist's early performances captured on film, along with works on paper, objects, and music. But it's not just about observing — visitors will also be able to engage with some of her activist projects, including "Peace is Power" and "Wish Tree," where everyone gets a chance to add their own wish for peace.
Courtesy Lenono Photo Archive, @nobelpeacecenter
Zineb Sedira: Dreams Have No Titles
Where: Whitechapel Gallery
When: February 15 — May 12
Feminist photographer and video artist Zineb Sedira will transform Whitechapel’s exhibition space into a series of film sets. Debuted in 2022 at the 59th Venice Biennale, Dreams Have No Titles seamlessly weaves together the artist’s biography with activist films produced across France, Algeria and Italy in the 1960s and 1970s. Visitors will step into the recreation of Zineb's living room and find themselves in a ballroom reminiscent of Ettore Scola's film "Le Bal."
The Time is Always Now
Where: National Portrait Gallery
When: February 22 — May 19
The Time is Always Now is a major exploration of the Black figure's representation in Western art history as well as its absence in certain contexts. Powerful and thought-provoking, the exhibition is set to bring together 22 talented contemporary artists from the African diaspora, each addressing the issue through their works.
Sargent and Fashion
Where: Tate Britain
When: February 22 — July 7
The upcoming exhibition invites everyone to explore another side of the great portrait painter John Singer Sargent. Sargent and Fashion will reveal the artist's ground-breaking role as a stylist, who viewed fashion as a powerful tool to express identity and personality. In collaboration with Boston's Museum of Fine Arts, the exhibition will feature 60 paintings, including many rarely seen, and more than a dozen period gowns and accessories. Many of these garments were actually worn by Sargent's sitters!
Michelangelo: The Last Decades
Where: British Museum
When: May 2 — July 28
The exhibition will be covering the last 30 years of Michelangelo's life — his busiest and most artistically fruitful period. Intimate letters, poems and drawings will give the audience an opportunity to have a glimpse into his faith, relationships and experiences of old age. The display will feature preparatory drawings for the monumental Last Judgment fresco, the newly conserved cartoon of the Epifania and studies for Michelangelo's grand architectural projects.
Naomi
Where: The Victoria & Albert Museum
When: June 22
Naomi at The V&A will celebrate the life, extraordinary career and rise to fame of the 90's supermodel Naomi Campbell. What to expect? Runway photographs capturing Naomi's iconic moments and over 100 looks from top global designers. Going beyond fashion, the exhibition will also focus on creative collaborations, activism and the cultural impact of the star.
Barbie®: The Exhibition
Where: The Design Museum
When: July 5 — February 23, 2025
Barbimania still stands strong! Coinciding with Barbie's 65th anniversary, the exhibition at The Design Museum will map the iconic doll's legacy. It will tell Barbie's story and evolution not only through fashion but architecture, furniture and even vehicle design. Audiences can expect dozens of rare and unique items, key loans and acquisitions.
The World of Tim Burton
Where: The Design Museum
When: October 25 — April 21, 2025
The Night Before Christmas, Corpse Bride, Beetlejuice, and Edward Scissorhands — over the past four decades, Tim Burton has created a whole whimsical world: eerie, dark yet very captivating. The show will display his artistry not only as a filmmaker but also his talents as an illustrator, painter, photographer, author, and collaborator. As a multi-disciplinary artist, his creations extend beyond the limits of mediums and formats. The exhibition is set to open at the end of October and could be a perfect idea for a 2024 Halloween date.
