5 London Exhibitions To See This Summer At National Gallery, The Wallace Collection, British Museum, Sketch & Camden Arts Projects

Forbes

13-05-2025

Evening View of the Eight Scenic Spots of Kanazawa in Musashi Province,1857 By Utagawa Hiroshige (1797—1858) Colour-woodblock print triptych Collection of Alan Medaugh © Alan Medaugh
From the timeless prints of Japanese master Hiroshige to bold new works by Turner Prize winners Grayson Perry and Martin Creed, and a whimsical floral tribute to literary icon Jane Austen—London's summer exhibitions offer something for every art lover.
London's art scene is flourishing this summer with a diverse array of exhibitions that blend tradition, innovation, and immersive experiences. Here are five must-see exhibitions to add to your cultural calendar. These exhibitions offer a rich tapestry of artistic experiences, from classical masterpieces to conceptual art via flowers, neons, installations, ceramics and even balloons. Whether you're a long-time art enthusiast or a newcomer, London's summer art scene provides a wealth of opportunities to explore and enjoy.
Reopening of the Sainsbury Wing at The National Gallery (reopened on May 10th, 2025).
Gallery 32 After Refurbishment © The National Gallery, London
After a two-year transformation, the National Gallery's Sainsbury Wing has reopened, unveiling a thoughtfully revitalized space that enhances both the physical and aesthetic experience of one of London's most treasured cultural institutions. Led by acclaimed architect Annabelle Selldorf, the renovation has focused on improving accessibility, optimizing natural light, and refining the layout to better showcase the gallery's world-class collection of early Renaissance art. The result is a serene, luminous environment that invites deeper contemplation and connection with the works on display.
The reopening of the National Gallery's newly revamped main entrance marks a significant milestone in the Gallery's 200th anniversary celebrations. Designed by New York-based Selldorf Architects in collaboration with heritage architects Purcell, the renovations aim to create a more inviting and improved experience for the National Gallery's millions of visitors. The National Gallery was founded in 1824 by Parliament to house the nation's collection of paintings in the Western European tradition from the late 13th to the early 20th century. The collection is one of the best in the world and includes works by Bellini, Cezanne, Degas, Leonardo, Monet, Raphael, Rembrandt, Renoir, Rubens, Titian, Turner, Van Dyck, Van Gogh and Velázquez. Since the thoughtful rehang and architectural refresh there is a feeling of more space and light in the galleries, and highlights of the collection such as Caravaggio's The Supper at Emaus, Van Gogh's Sunflowers and Seurat's Bathers at Asnières and seem to be given more chance to shine.
Central to the reopening is a sensitive yet striking rehang of the collection, offering a fresh perspective on some of the gallery's most iconic masterpieces. Visitors are once again able to encounter the luminous calm of Piero della Francesca's Baptism of Christ and the dynamic intensity of Paolo Uccello's The Battle of San Romano in a setting that honors their historical significance while enhancing their visual impact. The reimagined Sainsbury Wing not only celebrates the enduring power of these early Renaissance works but also reaffirms the National Gallery's commitment to accessibility, innovation, and timeless beauty.
Hiroshige: Artist of the Open Road at the British Museum (until September 7th, 2025).
The Plum Garden at Kameido from 100 Famous Views of Edo, 1857 By Utagawa Hiroshige (1797—1858) Colour-woodblock print Collection of Alan Medaugh © Alan Medaugh. Photography by Matsuba Ryōko
The British Museum presents its first-ever exhibition dedicated to Utagawa Hiroshige, one of Japan's most revered artists, in Hiroshige: Artist of the Open Road—the first major London show on his work in 25 years. Bringing together over 120 works, the exhibition celebrates Hiroshige's poetic and pioneering visions of nature, travel, and daily life in Edo-period Japan. It features an extraordinary selection of prints, paintings, sketches, and books, including 35 rare pieces gifted by renowned American collector Alan Medaugh, alongside 82 additional works on loan from his collection. Many of the featured prints are being displayed publicly for the first time, with some considered the only known examples in existence.
Spanning a 40-year career that unfolded during the transformative final decades of the Edo period, Hiroshige's work offered solace and beauty to a society on the brink of change. His celebrated landscape series, such as The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō and One Hundred Famous Views of Edo, capture a lyrical relationship between people and place, expressed through subtle colour, elegant composition, and a deep sensitivity to the rhythms of nature and travel. Whether depicting bustling city scenes, quiet temples, or flowering birds, Hiroshige's prints spoke to a broad audience—creating accessible art that crossed class boundaries and elevated everyday life.
This landmark exhibition also explores Hiroshige's enduring global influence, tracing his impact on 19th- and 20th-century Western artists such as Van Gogh and Whistler, and highlighting his continued relevance to contemporary figures like Julian Opie. From his innovative perspectives and refined use of colour to the poetic calligraphy that graces his bird-and-flower prints, Hiroshige's legacy is one of timeless elegance and artistic generosity. A highlight of the exhibition is a delicate print once owned by Vincent Van Gogh titled The Plum Garden at Kameido. In 1887 van Gogh made a copy of it, inspired by its unexpectedly red sky and innovative composition.
Grayson Perry: Delusions of Grandeur at The Wallace Collection (until October 26th, 2025).
Grayson Perry: Delusions of Grandeur at the Wallace Collection.© Trustees of the Wallace Collection.
Grayson Perry's hit lockdown TV Show–Grayson's Art Club–and his Knighthood in 2023, appear to have cemented his status as a National Treasure. When he won the Turner Prize in 2003 for his satirical and thoroughly modern take on pottery and presented his alter ego 'Claire' to the world, he was something of a controversial figure. Fast forward to 2025 and Sir Grayson Perry is a firm fixture of contemporary culture and a globally acclaimed artist. He celebrated his 65th birthday with a major solo exhibition at The Wallace Collection in London.
Delusions of Grandeur, a richly imagined exhibition by Grayson Perry at The Wallace Collection, brings together over forty newly forged works, set in dialogue with the timeless treasures of the museum's historic halls. With his signature blend of mischief and insight, Perry probes the elusive ideals of authenticity, the allure of perfection, and the ever-shifting identity of the artist.
In a whimsical yet poignant exploration, Perry draws inspiration from the realm of Outsider Art, sparked by the discovery that visionary artist Madge Gill (1882–1961) once exhibited within these very walls, in 1942. Her spirit finds companionship here in the haunting works of Aloïse Corbaz, another luminary of the untrained imagination.
From this fascination with raw, intuitive creativity—and its entwinement with mental vulnerability—emerges Shirley Smith, Perry's invented alter ego. Shirley is cast as a destitute East End woman, shaped by hardship and time spent in psychiatric care, where art became both refuge and revelation. Through Shirley's eyes, Perry reframes the collection, weaving a tale that is both tender and trenchant.
Vases whisper with satire, tapestries teem with hidden truths, furniture and sculpture alike bear the mark of Perry's irreverent grace. In Delusions of Grandeur, the museum becomes not just a sanctuary of beauty, but a stage for storytelling—wry, fearless, and deeply human.
A Floral Chapter – Celebrating 250 Years of Jane Austen at Sketch London (throughout Summer 2025).
Sketch In Bloom © Mark Cocksedge
In celebration of the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth, Sketch—London's iconic dining and arts destination—has unveiled Sketch in Bloom, a breathtaking floral-themed exhibition that reimagines its whimsical interiors through the lens of Austen's literary world. Collaborating with a visionary garden designer and muralist, the venue has been transformed into a Regency-inspired dreamscape, where floral installations entwine with period décor and art drawn from the pages of Austen's beloved novels. From the moment visitors pass beneath a magnificent arch of blossoms at the entrance, they are transported into an enchanted realm echoing the elegance, wit, and romance of Austen's characters. Timed to bloom just ahead of the Chelsea Flower Show, this immersive experience offers a fresh, fragrant homage to Austen's enduring legacy—blending literature, design, and botanical beauty in true Sketch style.
The installation was curated by Creative Director and Art Curator Milly Wright and is a creative collaboration between Lucy Vail Floristry, Ricky Paul, and Rob Van Helden, each infusing the space with their distinct artistic flair. Lucy Vail's contribution, Pastoral Inspiration, offered a floral reinterpretation of Alfred Sisley's The Small Meadows in Spring, while Rob Van Helden transformed the Lecture Room with a sweeping wisteria tree and a delicate miniature writing desk. A whimsical touch to the exhibition can be found in The Pods–Sketch London's iconic pod-shaped space age toilets– where Ricky Paul has created a moss topiary statue of Jane Austen. Meanwhile, muralist Meg Boscowen brought Austen's world to life with a hand-painted British countryside scene, featuring the iconic Mr. Darcy rendered in soft Regency hues.
Martin Creed: Everything Is Going To Be Alright at Camden Arts Projects (Until 29th June, 2025).
Martin Creed, Work No. 3891 Half the air in a given space (2025), photo credit Deniz Guzel
Camden Arts Projects opened with an uplifting exhibition–Everything is Going to Be Alright–by Turner Prize-winning artist Martin Creed. This marks a significant milestone for the newly established Camden Arts Projects, a non-profit contemporary arts initiative housed in a former church. Creed's installation begins with the eponymous neon sign adorning the building's façade, setting a tone of optimism and playfulness. Inside, the space is transformed into a conceptual art version of a child's ball pit, filled with hundreds of white balloons, inviting visitors to engage with the work physically and emotionally.
Curated by film maker and Curator Hala Matar, Everything Is Going to Be Alright features a 12-metre neon artwork on the building's façade which lends the exhibition its title, while the balloon installation inside recreates Creed's conceptual installation Work No. 3891 Half The Air In a Given Space, which was first shown in London in 2014.
Known for his minimalist and conceptual approach, Creed's work often explores the boundaries between art and everyday life. In this exhibition, he continues his exploration of space and perception, encouraging visitors to experience art in an immersive and interactive manner. Everything is Going to Be Alright offers a fresh perspective on contemporary art, blending humor and profundity to create an engaging environment that resonates with audiences of all ages. Admission to the exhibition is free, reflecting Camden Arts Projects' commitment to accessibility and community engagement.