Art exhibitions to see in London this Summer 2023

London is set to host a plethora of exciting exhibitions this summer. From the prestigious annual Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts, to a thought-provoking showcase at the Southbank Centre that examines how contemporary artists are reshaping our approach to the climate crisis. Meanwhile, the National Gallery will pay tribute to the remarkable life and legacy of Saint Francis of Assisi and Somerset House will present a powerful exhibition that explores the representation and legacy of Black women in visual culture. Here are our top nine picks of the must-see exhibitions in London this summer 2023.

Martin Wong: Malicious Mischief

Image: Martin Wong, Tell My Troubles to the Eight Ball (Eureka), 1978–81. Courtesy of the Martin Wong Foundation and P.P.O.W, New York

#FLODown: The Camden Art Centre is hosting an exhibition of the work of Martin Wong, a Chinese-American artist known for his depictions of social, sexual, and political scenes from the 1970s, 80s, and 90s. Wong's work offers a countercultural voice that challenged the art establishment's reactionary discourse at the time. Wong's practice is influenced by Chinese iconography, urban poetry, graffiti, carceral aesthetics, sign language, and the Latin American community he became involved with. The exhibition titled Martin Wong: Malicious Mischief presents over 100 of his works, including early paintings and sculptures, his iconic paintings from the 1980s and 1990s, and his reminiscences on East and West Coast Chinatowns.

Date: 16 June -17 September 2023. Location: Camden Art Centre, Arkwright Road, London, NW3 6DG. Price: Free.

BLACK VENUS

Image: Delphine Diallo, Highness Blue (Hybrid 1), 2011 © Courtesy of MTArt and the artist.

#FLODown: Somerset House will host BLACK VENUS, a curated exhibition by Aindrea Emelife that examines the representation and legacy of Black women in visual culture. Over 20 Black women and non-binary artists' work will be showcased, including contemporary and archival photographic artworks dating back to 1793. The exhibition focuses on three archetypes of Black womanhood: the Hottentot Venus, the Sable Venus, and the Jezebel, and contrasts colonial-era exploitation and commodification of the Black body with the portraiture of contemporary Black image-makers. The exhibition also explores the complex narratives of Black womanhood and features works by renowned artists such as Josephine Baker, Renee Cox, Ayana V. Jackson, and Lorna Simpson.

Date: 20 July – 24 September 2023, Location: Terrace Rooms & Courtyard Rooms, Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 1LA. Price: In order to make the exhibition as accessible as possible. It is ‘Pay What You Can.’ Visitors who are able to do so are asked to consider making a donation to support the work of Somerset House.Book now.

Saint Francis of Assisi

Image: Francisco de Zurbarán. Saint Francis in Meditation. © The National Gallery, London

#FLODown: The National Gallery will host the first major art exhibition exploring the life and legacy of Saint Francis of Assisi. Curated by National Gallery Director Dr Gabriele Finaldi and Dr Joost Joustra. The exhibition will showcase over 40 works of art from European and American collections, spanning more than seven centuries, and explore how Saint Francis inspired artists and how his image has evolved over time. The exhibition will also highlight how Francis's life and miracles lent itself to image making, and will include works by Botticelli, Caravaggio, El Greco, and a new commission from Richard Long, amongst others.

Date: 6 May – 30 July 2023. Location: Ground Floor Galleries, The National Gallery Trafalgar Square London WC2N 5DN. Price: Free.

RA Summer Exhibition 2023

Image: Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2022, MTotoe

#FLODown: The Royal Academy's Summer Exhibition is set to return this June, marking the eagerly anticipated annual open-submission contemporary art show that has graced our calendars since 1769. This exhibition provides a coveted platform for both emerging and established artists to showcase their works to an international audience. Art enthusiasts can expect a diverse range of media, from painting and printmaking, to photography, sculpture, architecture, and film. Over 1200 captivating pieces will be on display, with the majority available for purchase. Proceeds from the exhibition support exhibiting artists, postgraduate students in the RA Schools, and the Royal Academy's work. This year's Summer Exhibition will explore the theme Only Connect, taken from the famous quote in Howards End by E.M. Forster.

Date: 12 June – 20 August 2023. Location: Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BD. Price: £20-22. Book now.

A World in Common: Contemporary African Photography

Image: Kudzanai Chiurai, We Live in Silence IV, 2017. Courtesy the Artist and Goodman Gallery

#FLODown: The Tate Modern will showcase an exhibition celebrating contemporary African photography and features artists from different generations. It aims to explore how photography, film, audio, and more have been used to reimagine Africa's diverse cultures and historical narratives. The exhibition goes beyond traditional photography displays and focuses on themes such as spirituality, identity, urbanism, and climate emergency, leading the viewer through dream-like utopias and bustling cityscapes. The exhibition showcases how photography can reveal the past and future, coexisting in powerful and transformative ways, and follows artists across the varied landscapes, borders, and time zones of Africa.

Date: 6 July 2023 – 14 January 2024. Location: Bankside, London SE1 9TG. Price: £17. Concessions available. Book now.

Dear Earth: Art and Hope in a Time of Crisis

Image: Andrea Bowers, Step It Up Activist, Sand Key Reef, Key West, Florida, Part of North America's Only Remaining Coral Barrier Reef, 2009. © Andrea Bowers.Courtesy of artist and Andrew Kreps Gallery. Photo credit: Thomas Mueller.

#FLODown: This timely exhibition at the Hayward Gallery features more than 15 international artists, including Hito Steyerl, Cornelia Parker, and Richard Mosse. The exhibition highlights the ways in which artists are helping to reframe and deepen our psychological and spiritual responses to the climate crisis, hoping to inspire joy and empathy as well as promoting a sense of political and social activism.The exhibition includes new commissions and marks the first time that Daiara Tukano and Aluaiy Kaumakan have shown their work in a major UK art institution.

Location: Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX. Date: 21 June - 3 September 2023. Price: from £15. Book now.

Civilization: The Way We Live Now

Image: Olaf Otto Becker, Point 660, 2, 08/2008 67°09’04’’N, 50°01’58’’W, Altitude 360M, from the series Above Zero, 2008 © Olaf Otto Becker

#FLODown: The Saatchi Gallery is set to showcase Civilization: The Way We Live Now, an exhibition that provides a fascinating insight into the lives of people across the globe. Featuring an exceptional collection of never-before-seen images by 150 contemporary photographers, the exhibition has been curated by William A. Ewing and Holly Roussell. The experience is designed to take visitors on a journey through eight thematic chapters that explore key aspects of civilisation such as the urban environment, social relationships, and the movement of peoples and ideas. Through striking and thought-provoking imagery, the photographers have captured telling moments that offer a glimpse into the complexities and contradictions of our world. The exhibition has already toured major museums across the globe and includes a new selection of works specifically curated for its London edition at the Saatchi Gallery.

Date: 2 June – 17 September 2023. Location: Saatchi Gallery, Duke of York's HQ, King's Rd, Chelsea, London SW3 4RY. Price: from £16. Concessions available. Book now.

Luxury and power: Persia to Greece

Image: Armlet © The Trustees of the British Museum

#FLODown: The British Museum will hold a major exhibition titled Luxury and Power: Persia to Greece exploring the relationship between luxury and power in the Middle East and southeast Europe between 550-30 BC. The exhibit is set to showcase a range of fascinating objects from Afghanistan to Italy, including the exceptional Panagyurishte Treasure from Bulgaria, as well as several other remarkable artefacts from the British Museum collection. It will delve into the complex story of luxury and power in ancient Iran, Athens, and the world of Alexander, highlighting how the Persian court used objects of exquisite luxury as markers of authority, defining a distinct style that was copied by different social classes throughout the empire. The exhibit provides an excellent opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of how Persians wielded luxury as a political tool across a vast and complex empire, moving beyond biased accounts and opening up a new world of understanding.

Date: 4 May – 13 August 2023
. Location: Joseph Hotung Great Court Gallery, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG. Price: from £12. Concessions available. Book now.

Tomás Saraceno In Collaboration: Web(s) of Life

Image: Details of Web.Life 202.3. Courtesy the spider/webs. Photography by Studio Tomás Saraceno.

#FLODown: The Serpentine will present Web(s) of Life, the first UK exhibition of Tomás Saraceno's work, focusing on the interconnectedness of life forms and ecosystems in the face of the climate emergency. The exhibition will highlight the use of bioindicators and will adapt the infrastructure of the Serpentine building to accommodate animal and plant sensitivities. Visitors will encounter interactive sculptures in the Royal Parks and be invited to log onto a web portal for spider divination. The exhibition will also feature an immersive filmic installation, examining the environmental impact of lithium extraction.

Date: 1 June – 10 September 2023. Location: Serpentine North Gallery West Carriage Drive, London W2 2AR. Price: Free.