Art exhibitions to see in London in May 2023
London's vibrant art scene is in full bloom this spring, showcasing an abundance of great art exhibitions throughout the city. With so much to choose from, we have carefully curated a selection of twelve must-see art exhibitions taking place in May. From the debut UK exhibitions of international artists such as Morgan Otagburuagu, to Steven McQueen's film examining the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower tragedy, and the highly anticipated exhibition about the Sari at the Design Museum, there is something for every art lover to enjoy this month.
The Offbeat Sari
Image: Guler sari from Angoori collection, 2019. Raw Mango. Photo Ritika Shah
#FLODown: This exhibition celebrates the contemporary sari and its metaphorical significance for modern India. Curated by Priya Khanchandani, it brings together numerous saris from designers, wearers, and craftspeople in India, showcasing how the traditional unstitched drape has morphed and absorbed cultural influences. The sari is no longer just a formal or uncomfortable garment; it's now worn as an everyday outfit by some and as a symbol of resistance and protest by others. Young people in urban areas have reinvented the sari by pairing it with sneakers for their daily commutes to work. The exhibition highlights the sari's design innovation, expression of identity, and cultural meanings, representing the complexities of modern India.
Date: 19 May - 17 September 2023. Location: 224-238 Kensington High Street, Kensington, W8 6AG. Price: from £12.60. Book now.
Dr. Esther Mahlangu: Where two rivers meet
Image: Dr. Esther Mahlangu, Almine Rech Gallery, April 2023. MTotoe
#FLODown: Almine Rech Gallery present an exhibition featuring the works of the renowned artist and cultural icon, Dr. Esther Mahlangu. Dr. Mahlangu's artistic journey began at a tender age, as she watched her mother and grandmother create beautiful designs on the walls of their home.Today, art remains an integral part of Dr. Mahlangu's identity, and she sees it as a lifelong passion that she will continue to pursue with unwavering dedication.
Date: 20 April — 20 May 2023. Location: Almine Rech, Broadbent House, Grosvenor Hill, London W1K 3JH. Price: Free.
Steve McQueen: Grenfell
Image: Steve McQueen: Grenfell
#FLODown: Grenfell by Steve McQueen is a film created in response to the tragic fire that occurred on14 June 2017, at Grenfell Tower in North Kensington, resulting in the death of 72 people. The film is a record of the tower before it was covered with hoarding. In the aftermath, the government launched an inquiry in two phases, and four years since the publication of the Phase One report, the recommendations are yet to be implemented. The findings of the second and final phase of the Inquiry are due to be reported in late 2023. There is an ongoing criminal investigation.
Date: 7 April – 10 May 2023. Location: Serpentine South Gallery, London W2 3XA. Price: Free. Book now.
Morgan Otagburuagu: In Bloom
Image: Blush (2023) by Morgan Otagburuagu. Courtesy of the artist and Doyle Wham
#FLODown: Doyle Wham is showcasing the first global exhibition of Nigerian self-taught photographer, Morgan Otagburuagu, featuring his latest series In Bloom, which explores the cyclical nature of life and death through the symbolism of flowers. The series represents a move towards rebirth and re-emergence after the artist's personal tragedy of losing both parents in 2021. In Bloom also has a powerful message about the beauty of dark Black skin, reflecting the artist's commitment to combating colourism in his work.
Date: 21 April -10 June 2023. Location: 91a Rivington Street,EC2A 3AY. Price: Free.
Soojin Kang: To be you, whoever you are
Image: Soojin Kang. Markus Schroder.
#FLODown: To be you, whoever you are features new textile sculptures by Korean artist Soojin Kang that explore the sculptural possibilities of textiles through weaving, knotting, winding, and unwinding. The sculptures, made from hand-dyed linen, jute, and silk, resemble totems and busts on the first floor and larger-than-life-sized bodies on the ground floor. Kang's use of textiles blurs the boundaries between the natural and synthetic, human and organic, and interior and exterior. She challenges the assumption that weaving is a subordinate art form associated with femininity, instead creating unruly forms that erupt into sculpture. The sculptures embody emotions and vulnerability, demanding the viewer's recognition.
Date: 11 May –17 June 2023. Location: Gathering, 5 Warwick Street, London, W1B 5LU . Price: Free.
Hilma af Klint & Piet Mondrian: Forms of life
Image: Hilma af Klint, Group 4, No 3. The Ten Largest, Childhood 1907. Courtesy The Hilma af Klint Foundation
#FLODown: Discover the visionary work of Hilma af Klint and Piet Mondrian, who both invented their own languages of abstract art rooted in nature. They shared an interest in science, spirituality, and philosophy. The exhibition features rarely exhibited works of both artists and showcases their beautiful, complex work through vibrant signs, shapes, and colours.
Date: 20 April – 3 September 2023. Location: Tate Modern, Bankside London SE1 9TG Price: from £20. Book now.
Saint Francis of Assisi
Image: El Greco, 1541 - 1614, Saint Francis Receiving the Stigmata, 1590-95.© The National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin
#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.
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.
No Place Like Home (A Vietnamese Exhibition) Part II
Image: Courtesy of KV Duong
#FLODown: The Museum of the Home in the heart of the Vietnamese community on Kingsland Road presents a new contemporary art exhibition, , curated by KV Duong and Hoa Dung Clerget. The exhibition explores the theme of home through the Vietnamese cultural lens and features object-based works by Vietnamese diasporic artists. The exhibition highlights the significance of immigrant family meals as moments of connection and cultural transmission, with traditional foods being intertwined with memory, identity, and belonging. The exhibition also features a striking urban landscape installation made of Vietnamese plastic stools and a fluid, curvilinear table that encourages dynamic interaction with the artworks and each other.
Date: 19 April – 11 July 2023. Location: Museum of the Home, 136 Kingsland Road, London E2 8EA. Price: Free.
Maro Gorky: A Life Painting
Image: Image: Maro Gorky, Saskia on a Rocking Horse, 1983
#FLODown: Long & Ryle are showcasing A Life Painting, an exhibition celebrating Maro Gorky's 80th birthday. It showcases her use of bold colours in oils, watercolours, and works on paper to depict the Tuscan countryside where she has lived for 50 years with her husband. Gorky's artistic journey from romantic landscapes to abstract patterns is reflected in the exhibition.
Date: 19 April – 12 May 2023. Location: 4 John Islip St, London SW1P 4PX. Price: Free.
Caro and Music
Image: Horizon (Park Avenue Series), 2012. Anthony Caro, Annely Juda Fine Art
Annely Juda Fine Art is exhibiting Caro and Music, a selection of sculptures by Anthony Caro inspired by music. The exhibition features works dating from 1971-2010, including the Concerto Series from the late 1990s and early 2000s. The exhibition will be accompanied by the music Caro listened to while creating his sculptures. Caro was inspired by classical music, particularly Mozart, and incorporated discarded musical instruments into his sculptures. The exhibition celebrates the intersection of feeling and form in Caro's work.
Date: until 6 May 2023. Location: Annely Juda Fine Art, 23 Dering St, London W1S 1AW. Price: Free.
Aladdin Sane: 50 Years Exhibition
Image: Photo Duffy © Duffy Archive & The David Bowie ArchiveTM
#FLODown: The Southbank Centre is showcasing Aladdin Sane: 50 Years, an exhibition curated by Chris Duffy that explores the impact of David Bowie's iconic portrait and his relationship with photographer Brian Duffy. Additionally, the Southbank Centre Archive will display never-before-seen material, and visitors can enjoy live performances, talks, and poetry events. It's a must-see for Bowie fans and culture enthusiasts.
Date: 6 April – 28 May 2023. Location: Exhibition Space, Level 1, Royal Festival Hall. Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX. Price: from £5. Book now.
Todd Gray : On Point
Image: Todd Gray: On Point, Lehmann Maupin, Cromwell Place
#FLODown: Lehmann Maupin presents On Point, the first exhibition of Todd Gray. Gray's photo-based work challenges the assumptions about the authenticity of photography and examines the African diaspora, colonialism, societal power structures, and cultural beliefs. He creates lush photo assemblages using images of European gardens, Baroque architecture, Ghanian landscapes, rock icons, seascapes, and self-portraits. His collages utilise multiple frames, and he layers them to obscure certain elements of his photographs. The exhibition features images of the Atlantic Ocean, contemporary Ghanaian landscapes, symbols of imperial France, and views from Ghana's slave castles. The artist intertwines historical imagery with pictures of the present to transport the viewers through time.
Date: until May 6, 2023. Location: Lehmann Maupin First Floor, Cromwell Place, SW7 2JE. Price: Free. Book now.
Crown to Couture
Image: A Giambattista Valli Gown from the Spring 2020 Haute Couture Collection. © Historic Royal Palaces / Giambattista Valli Paris
#FLODown: The Crown to Couture exhibition at Kensington Palace explores the connections between the worlds of the Georgian court and the modern-day red carpet. Featuring over 200 objects displayed across the State Apartments and intimate exhibition spaces, the exhibition will showcase both historic court dress and iconic contemporary red carpet looks worn by high-profile celebrities such as Lizzo and Lady Gaga. Through this display, visitors will learn about the preparation and styling required for attending such events, as well as the subtle messages conveyed by clothing and the design influences that inspire outfits. With the help of Emmy award-winning production designer Joseph Bennett, the exhibition is sure to provide a truly unforgettable experience for all visitors.
Date: until 29 October 2023. Location: Kensington Palace, Palace Green, London, W8 4PZ. Price: from £ 24.50. (The exhibition is included in Palace admission price).Concessions available. Book now.
Northern Ireland: Living with the Troubles
Image: © IWM CT 622
#FLODown: The Imperial War Museums (IWM) London is holding a free exhibition that aims to provide visitors with a deeper understanding of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, a period of conflict that lasted almost 30 years. Although a fragile cease-fire was signed in 1998, many aspects of the conflict remain unresolved and highly contested. The exhibition is organised into four sections, each exploring the Troubles from multiple perspectives and showcasing objects that shed light on the experiences of those involved. The exhibition includes a glossary to help visitors understand the complex nature of the conflict.
Date: 26 May 2023 - 7 January 2024. Location: IWM London, Lambeth Rd, London SE1 6HZ. Price: Free
Last chance
Abdulrazaq Awofeso: Broad Streets
Image: Abdulrazaq Awofeso, Peace, Love and Light 2023.
#FLODown: Ed Cross Fine Art is currently showcasing Broad Streets, a collection of new portrait works by Abdulrazaq Awofeso, a British-based Nigerian artist. Awofeso's pallet portraits, made from discarded wooden pallets used for transporting goods around the world, represent human figures through wall reliefs, freestanding sculptures, and installations. Inspired by his encounters with people from different cities and subcultures, Awofeso's portraits are individually carved and painted by hand, showcasing the diversity of individuals and challenging cultural and racial categorisation. Broad Streets draws parallels between the two roads of the same name in Birmingham, UK, and Lagos, Nigeria, underscoring the distinctiveness of the individuals who frequent them.
Date: 6 May 2023. Location: Ed Cross 19 Garrett Street, EC1Y 0TY. Price: Free.