8 Best Exhibitions in London that You should Check Out
London is one of the finest cities in the world to visit and live in. If you are a student in London or you are looking to attend university there in the near future, there is so much to explore and experience, from great food to art, culture, sport, and iconic sights throughout the city. In the past, we’ve helped you look at what’s on in London for students, and now we’re here to help you take a look at what’s coming up in terms of the best exhibitions in London for 2024.
1. Barbara Kruger – Thinking of You, I Mean Me. I Mean You
1st February – 17th March
The Serpentine Galleries, Kensington Gardens
2024 is a big year for art in the city and The Serpentine Galleries has started strong with Barbara Kruger, ‘Thinking of You, I Mean Me. I Mean You’ exhibition. Kruger is one of the most direct and confrontational artists of all time, with a simple and effective method that gets the message across. The combination of bold images and text is instantly recognisable and influential. Since the 1970s, Kruger’s work has explored themes of complex mechanisms of consumerism, power, gender, class, and capital. For this first solo London show in over two decades, there is a unique selection of installations and moving image works throughout multiple soundscapes. It is immersive, thought-provoking, and original.
More information can be found here
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2. When Form Comes Alive: 60 Years of Restless Sculpture
7th February – 6th May
Hayward Gallery, South Bank
The first show of the year at the Hayward is an exciting one, looking at the history of organic forms of sculpture. Think of sculptures that have curves, are fluid in nature, and have that blobbiness and bumpiness that astound you as you wander around them. Artists such as Holly Hendry, Eva Fàbregas, and Franz West have pieces in the exhibition, with an ultra-focused group show approach that Hayward always achieves successfully.
More information can be found here
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3. Frank Auerbach – The Charcoal Heads
9th February – 27th May
The Courtauld, Somerset House
This series of haunting, large-scale drawings by Frank Auerbach are presented together for the first time. They offer a selection of his early years as an artist in post-war London, with a series of large-scale portrait heads made in charcoal. Auerbach spent months sitting with various people to create these magnificent drawings from the 1950s and 1960s. A celebration of one of the most celebrated living artists.
More information can be found here
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4. Yoko Ono – Music of the Mind
15th February – 1st September
Tate Modern
Ono is a big name for many reasons, and she is great in her field as an experimental artist. She is a trailblazer in conceptual art, a musician, a filmmaker, performance artist. This collection celebrates the key moments from Yoko Ono’s life, from the mid-1950s up until the present day, including the years in London where she met John Lennon.
More information can be found here
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5. Frameless
A permanent exhibition
Marble Arch Place
This is one of the most exciting exhibitions in London, redefining how we experience art. It is an experiential and immersive art experience and is the largest permanent multi-sensory experience anywhere in the UK. There are four galleries which include some of the greatest works of art from all time, but they are presented in ways you could never have imagined. Art breaks free from the frames as you walk amongst Kandinsky, Monet, Rembrandt or Klimt as if you are inside the art and part of the work. Tickets are £15 for students and the experience lasts for around 90 minutes.
More information can be found here
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6. Yayoi Kusama – Infinity Mirror Rooms
18th May 2021 – 28th April 2024
Tate Modern
An early pioneer of immersive art, Kusama has created over 20 mirror rooms around the world over the last 50 years. There are two immersive mirror rooms at the Tate Modern currently, one is called ‘Filled with the Brilliance of Life’, and the other is ‘Chandelier of Grief. You’ll experience moving images and photographs in an endless display of rotating works of art. You only get a few minutes in each room, but this is enough time to marvel at the immersive experience like no other.
More information can be found here
7. Accidentally Wes Anderson – The Exhibition
December 2023 – 10th May 2024
Old Brompton Road, South Kensington
For fans of the twee, post-modernist director, this is a way to step into the quirky world of Wes Anderson like never before. It is a photographic journey of over 200 locations that capture the aesthetic and symmetry of his work, style, aesthetic, and colour palettes. There are seven themed rooms to explore, showcasing different aspects of his films. So, if you love the Grand Budapest Hotel, Moonrise Kingdom, or The Royal Tenenbaums, there is something for you to enjoy. It is an eminently enjoyable way to connect with other Wes Anderson fans.
More information can be found here
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8. Bubble Planet
November 2023 – May 2024
Fulton Road, Wembley
Another immersive and multi-sensory exhibition, Bubble Planet is a fantastical exploration of pastel landscapes that bring alive all 5 senses as you wander through. You can walk through interactive exhibits and interact using virtual reality to explore different bubble-themed worlds. The space itself is a gorgeous former secret cinema and art venue, with 11 themed environments that include giant ball pits, massive bubbles, illusions and more. A fun experience for all ages.
More information can be found here
We’re always here to help you make the most of your life as a student in London, or if you just fancy visiting the capital this year to see some of the best exhibitions in London for 2024. There is always so much going on in London all year round, from celebrating Chinese New Year in London to the summer festivals, art and food festivals. It is a thriving, colourful, busy city that is a melting pot of cultures and experiences from all round the world. Let us know what you are most looking forward to seeing in London this year as a student, and what has been your favourite places to visit so far.