Art exhibitions opening in London in March 2025
This March, London will host a series of exciting exhibitions spanning various art forms, from fashion and fine art to photography. Highlights include Splash! A Century of Swimming and Style at the Design Museum, exploring the evolution of swimwear, and Astonishing Things, a major showcase of Victor Hugo’s drawings at the Royal Academy of Arts. Also opening are Arpita Singh’s first solo institutional exhibition at Serpentine North and Grayson Perry’s Delusions of Grandeur at the Wallace Collection. Here’s our guide to the must-see art exhibitions in London this March.
Splash! A Century of Swimming and Style
Pamela Anderson ZUMA Press, Inc./Alamy Stock Photo.
#FLODown: Splash! A Century of Swimming and Style at the Design Museum explores 100 years of swimwear history and its cultural impact. The exhibition features over 200 objects, including Pamela Anderson’s iconic Baywatch swimsuit, a 1924 Olympic gold medal, and bold men’s Speedos, showcasing the evolution of swimwear and its role in society. Curated by Amber Butchart and Tiya Dahyabhai, it examines how design has influenced our relationship with water—from high-performance swimwear to architectural landmarks like Zaha Hadid’s Aquatics Centre.
Date: 28 March - 17 August 2025. Location: The Design Museum, 224-238 Kensington High St, London W8 6AG. Price: £14.38/ £7.19 adult/child. Under 6s go free. Book now.
José María Velasco: A View of Mexico
José María Velasco. Pirámides del sol y de la luna, 1878. Oil on canvas, 18.5 x 26.3 cm. Colección Pérez Simón, Mexico.© Oliver Santana.
#FLODown: The National Gallery will host the UK’s first exhibition on José María Velasco, Mexico’s renowned 19th-century painter. José María Velasco: A View of Mexico celebrates the 200th anniversary of UK-Mexico diplomatic relations and highlights Velasco’s detailed depictions of Mexico’s landscapes and industrialisation. The exhibition will connect his work with pieces from the Gallery’s collection, such as Édouard Manet’s The Execution of Maximilian, and will feature a catalogue with new research on Velasco, reflecting the National Gallery’s ongoing effort to introduce British audiences to non-European art.
Date: 29 March – 17 August 2025. Location: Sunley Room, National Gallery. Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN. Price: from £12. Concessions available. Book now.
Click here for more art exhibitions to watch out for at the National Gallery in 2025.
Astonishing Things: The Drawings of Victor Hugo
Victor Hugo, Mushroom, 1850. Pen, brown ink and wash, charcoal, crayon, green, red and white gouache on paper. 47.4 x 60.8 cm. Maisons de Victor Hugo, Paris / Guernsey. Photo: CCØ Paris Musées / Maison de Victor Hugo.
#FLODown: Victor Hugo, a prominent 19th-century French figure known for his novels Les Misérables and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, was also a poet, politician, and artist. His drawings, which include imaginary castles, monsters, and seascapes, reflect his creative spirit and influenced Romantic, Symbolist, and Surrealist artists. In March 2025, the Royal Academy of Arts will showcase a major exhibition of Hugo’s rarely seen works on paper, last displayed in the UK over 50 years ago. The exhibit will explore his evolution as a draughtsman, from early caricatures to experimental abstractions, and is organised in collaboration with Paris Musées and the Bibliothèque nationale de France.
Date: 21 March - 29 June 2025. Location: The Jillian and Arthur M. Sackler Wing of Galleries, Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BD. Price: from £17; concessions available; under 16s go free. 25 & Under: 16 to 25 year olds can access a half-price ticket. Book now.
Arpita Singh: Remembering
Arpita Singh, Lesser Myth, 2006. Courtesy of Vadehra Family Collection. © Arpita Singh
#FLODown: The first institutional solo show of Arpita Singh, Remembering, will open at Serpentine North from 20 March 2025. The exhibition will showcase works selected from her prolific six-decade career, highlighting her unique approach to combining figuration with elements of Surrealism and Indian Court painting. Singh’s dynamic use of colour, line, and texture across oil paintings, watercolours, and ink drawings reflects her emotional responses to social upheaval and global humanitarian crises.
Date: 20 March – 27 July 2025. Location: Serpentine North, W Carriage Dr, London W2 2AR. Price: Free.
Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize 2025
Windmill House, Hutto, Texas, 2022 © Rahim Fortune. Alternative Text: Black and white photograph of a house in the distance, surrounded by bare trees.
#FLODown: The Photographers’ Gallery will host the 2025 Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize exhibition, featuring shortlisted artists Cristina De Middel, Rahim Fortune, Lindokuhle Sobekwa, and Tarrah Krajnak. Celebrating its 28th year, the prestigious Prize recognises photographers whose exhibitions or books have made a significant impact over the past year. The shortlisted projects explore themes of migration, community, family history, and cultural identity through documentary photography, self-portraiture, and performance. The winner of the £30,000 Prize will be announced in May, with each finalist receiving £5,000.
Date: 7 March – 15 June 2025. Location: The Photographers' Gallery, 16-18 Ramillies St, London W1F 7LW. Price: £10 / £7 concessions (members go free). Advance online booking: £8.50 / £6 concessions. Ticket covers entry to all exhibitions on the day of your visit. Book now.
Edvard Munch: Portraits
Käte and Hugo Perls, 1913 by Edvard Munch © Foto Munchmuseet / Ove Kvavik.
#FLODown: Edvard Munch Portraits will be the first UK exhibition to focus on the artist’s portraiture, showcasing his intimate depictions of family, friends, lovers, and others. Known for his energetic brushstrokes and bold colours, Munch’s portraits blend personal commissions with reflections on the human condition, influencing the genre significantly. The exhibition, held at the National Portrait Gallery, explores both his commissioned works and those created for personal reasons, offering insight into his deep engagement with his sitters.
Date: 13 March - 15 June 2025. Location: The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN. Price: from £21. Concessions available. npg.org.uk.
Click here to discover more exhibitions opening at the National Portrait Gallery in 2025.
Jorge Jobim: Fantastical Autonomy
Jorge Jobim, Borderline Psychedelic, 2023, oil on canvas, 140 x 140 cm, courtesy of the artist and Todd-White Photography.
#FLODown: Jorge Jobim’s Fantastical Autonomy opens on 7 March 2025, featuring a series of vivid, psychedelic oil paintings that embrace both spontaneity and precision, much like his approach to jazz. His large-scale works, filled with swirling patterns and recurring motifs like twisting branches and octopuses, create a sense of movement and improvisation, drawing viewers into a world where the boundaries of self continuously shift. The exhibition is the inaugural show at Tache, a new contemporary gallery in Fitzrovia dedicated to championing emerging artists. Founded to remove barriers that often hinder early-career creatives, Tache offers mentorship, advocacy, and an artist-first commission model, fostering a space for bold experimentation.
Date: 7 March - 10 April 2025. Location: Tache Gallery, 33 Percy Street, London W1T 2DF. Price: Free. tachegallery.com
The Craft of Carpentry: Drawing Life from Japan’s Forests
Structural model of Sa-an Teahouse (Orig. 1742) © Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum.
#FLODown: The Craft of Carpentry: Drawing Life from Japan’s Forests, at Japan House, will explore Japan’s rich carpentry culture, which is deeply connected to nature and the forests. It will highlight the revered practice of daiku carpentry, showcasing techniques developed over centuries to build structures that withstand the elements, including earthquakes. The exhibition will reveal the spiritual connection between artisans and the forest kami (spirit-deities). A full-scale construction of the Sa-an tea house will also be featured, demonstrating the elegant sukiya architectural style. Over 80 tools will be displayed, and an interactive area will allow the experience of traditional carpentry techniques, such as kigumi joinery.
Date: 12 March 2025 – 6 July 2025. Location: Japan House London, 101-111 Kensington High St, London W8 5SA. Price: Free.
Grayson Perry: Delusions of Grandeur
Grayson Perry © Richard Ansett, shot exclusively for the Wallace Collection, London.
#FLODown: Grayson Perry’s Delusions of Grandeur will open at the Wallace Collection, featuring over 40 new works, including ceramics, tapestries, and works on paper. Displayed alongside the museum’s masterpieces, the exhibition will explore the tension between handcrafted and digital art, raising questions about authenticity and the artist’s role. It will also highlight the influence of outsider artists Aloïse Corbaz and Madge Gill on Perry’s practice. Timed to coincide with Grayson Perry’s 65th birthday, the show promises a thought-provoking exploration of creativity and tradition.
Date: 28 March – 26 October 2025. Location: The Wallace Collection, Hertford House, Manchester Square, London W1U 3BN. Price: from £15. Concessions available. Book now.
Textiles: The Art of Mankind
Victor Hugo, The Cheerful Castle, c. 1847. Pen, brush, pencil, stencil, ink and cardboard on paper, 15.8 x 22.2 cm. Maisons de Victor Hugo, Paris / Guernsey. Photo: CCØ Paris Musées / Maison de Victor Hugo.
#FLODown: Textiles: The Art of Mankind, opening this March at the Fashion and Textile Museum, celebrates the deep connection between textiles and human culture. The exhibition explores how textiles have been used throughout history to tell stories, express cultural identity, and preserve traditional craftsmanship. It highlights the vital role textiles play in conveying both personal and collective meaning, while also examining sustainability and collaboration.
Date: 28 March – 7 September 2025. Location: Fashion and Textile Museum, 83 Bermondsey St, London SE1 3XF. Price: £12.65 (Concessions may apply). fashiontextilemuseum.org.
Eunjo Lee
Eunjo Lee, The Lullaby of the Ruins, 2024, courtesy of the artist.
#FLODown: Eunjo Lee is the latest artist to participate in Goldsmith CCA’s ongoing commissioning series Episodes. Based between London and Seoul, Lee works primarily with 3D experimental animation and video art to create immersive digital worlds. Her work explores ecological narratives, emphasising the interconnectedness of all beings through theoretical and mythological ideas. By merging ancient stories with contemporary reinterpretations, Lee aims to create a new mythology that fosters a deeper, more spiritual connection with the Earth.
Date: 21 March - 4 May 2025. Location: Goldsmith CCA, St James’, New Cross, London SE14 6AD. Price: Free. goldsmithscca.art.
Siena: The Rise of Painting 1300‒1350
Duccio Maestà - Panels, 1307/8-11 - The Annunciation © The National Gallery, London.
#FLODown: The National Gallery will host a landmark exhibition, Siena: The Rise of Painting 1300–1350, bringing together a rare collection of 14th-century Italian paintings. Featuring around one hundred works, the exhibition will highlight the pivotal role of Sienese artists in shaping Europe’s artistic landscape. Key pieces include Duccio di Buoninsegna’s Maestà panels, Simone Martini’s Orsini Polyptych, and works by Pietro and Ambrogio Lorenzetti. Curated by Dr. Laura Llewellyn and Dr. Caroline Campbell, this comprehensive exhibition will explore the radical experimentation and far-reaching influence of Sienese art, offering a fascinating journey through history and culture.
Date: 8 March ‒ 22 June 2025. Location: The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN. Price: from £20. Book now.
Art Space - London Art Fair 2025
Dan Pearce. Image courtesy of Art Space Art Fair.
#FLODown: Art Space Art Fair debuts in London this March, redefining the art fair experience by prioritising artists and their work. Held at Dockside Vaults, St Katharine Docks, the event will run across two consecutive shows from 14 –18 March and 21 –25 March 2025, showcasing exclusive pieces from renowned artists such as Michael Dargas, Nigel Cooke, Dan Pearce, and Mr Brainwash, alongside emerging talents like Monica Popham, Nancy Whitehead, and Colin Banks. The Art Space Art Fair offers a unique environment for art lovers, collectors, and connoisseurs to discover groundbreaking work—and best of all, entry is free.
Date: 14 – 18 March 2025; 21 - 25 March 2025. Location: Dockside Vaults, Ivory House, Dockside Vaults Docks London E1W 1AT. Price: Free. Book now.
