Travelling is a perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in breathtaking art around the world. Whether you’re planning a city break or an overseas adventure, adding a museum visit to your itinerary is always a great idea. That’s why we prepared a carefully selected list of eleven must-see exhibitions for the upcoming year for you.
In a Light Breeze, Bianca Bondi in Fondazione Memmo
When: 14.12.2024 – 30.03.2025
Where: Rome, Italy
Conversation Piece, an annual series curated by Marcello Smarrelli, aims to showcase artworks of Italian and foreign artists whose artistic practice took place in Rome. The 10th edition’s title – In a Light Breeze – refers to the light summer wind that blows from the sea to the west, a typical occurrence in Rome. Among the five artists featured in this year’s edition is Bianca Bondi, a South African visual artist currently based in Paris and a 2024-2025 scholarship recipient at the French Academy in Rome – Villa Medici. Her artistic practice involves transforming ordinary objects by the use of chemical reactions, exploring interconnectedness and the cyclical nature of time, life, and death. Along with the works by other featured artists – Enzo Cucchi, Vanessa Garwood, Richard Mosse, and Sidival Fila – the exhibition initiates a dialogue between contemporary art and thousands of years of Rome’s history and invites reflection on the soulfulness of art pieces.
Friends In Love And War – L’éloge Des Meilleur·es Ennemi·es at Ikon Gallery
When: 02.10.2024 – 23.02.2025
Where: Birmingham, UK & Lyon, France
Spanning painting, drawing, photography, printmaking, textile, film, sculpture, and installation, at this collaborative exhibition, Ikon and macLYOn combine forces to showcase the works of over twenty artists from the British Council Collection. The theme of the exhibition explores friendship and its meaning in contemporary life. Taking place in the partner cities of Birmingham and Lyon, the show also reflects on diplomatic friendships – how major cities and cultural organisations can create new ways of living and working together post-Brexit. The artists include Tereza Bušková, Lola Gonzàlez, Géraldine Kosiak, Niek van de Steeg, and Goshka Macuga.
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Tereza Bušková, Clipping the Church (2016), Video, colour, sound. Duration_ 8 minutes 14 second. courtesy of the artist -
Pogus Caesar, See Dat. -
Francis Upritchard, Marianne, 2016, Steel and foil armature, paint, modelling material, papier mache, 55 x 40 x 35 cm, British Council Collection, Courtesy of the artist and Kate MacGarry, London. -
Lubaina Himid, _Have Courage in the Crisis Set Yourself Free_ (2016), Acrylic on paper. 102 x 72 cm. ©Lubaina Himid. Courtesy of the artist and Hollybush Gardens, London. Photo ©British Council Collection -
Tereza Bušková, Clipping the Church (2016), Video, colour, sound. Duration_ 8 minutes 14 second. courtesy of the artist -
Pogus Caesar, See Dat. -
Francis Upritchard, Marianne, 2016, Steel and foil armature, paint, modelling material, papier mache, 55 x 40 x 35 cm, British Council Collection, Courtesy of the artist and Kate MacGarry, London. -
Lubaina Himid, _Have Courage in the Crisis Set Yourself Free_ (2016), Acrylic on paper. 102 x 72 cm. ©Lubaina Himid. Courtesy of the artist and Hollybush Gardens, London. Photo ©British Council Collection -
Tereza Bušková, Clipping the Church (2016), Video, colour, sound. Duration_ 8 minutes 14 second. courtesy of the artist -
Pogus Caesar, See Dat. -
Francis Upritchard, Marianne, 2016, Steel and foil armature, paint, modelling material, papier mache, 55 x 40 x 35 cm, British Council Collection, Courtesy of the artist and Kate MacGarry, London. -
Lubaina Himid, _Have Courage in the Crisis Set Yourself Free_ (2016), Acrylic on paper. 102 x 72 cm. ©Lubaina Himid. Courtesy of the artist and Hollybush Gardens, London. Photo ©British Council Collection -
Tereza Bušková, Clipping the Church (2016), Video, colour, sound. Duration_ 8 minutes 14 second. courtesy of the artist -
Pogus Caesar, See Dat. -
Francis Upritchard, Marianne, 2016, Steel and foil armature, paint, modelling material, papier mache, 55 x 40 x 35 cm, British Council Collection, Courtesy of the artist and Kate MacGarry, London. -
Lubaina Himid, _Have Courage in the Crisis Set Yourself Free_ (2016), Acrylic on paper. 102 x 72 cm. ©Lubaina Himid. Courtesy of the artist and Hollybush Gardens, London. Photo ©British Council Collection -
Tereza Bušková, Clipping the Church (2016), Video, colour, sound. Duration_ 8 minutes 14 second. courtesy of the artist -
Pogus Caesar, See Dat. -
Francis Upritchard, Marianne, 2016, Steel and foil armature, paint, modelling material, papier mache, 55 x 40 x 35 cm, British Council Collection, Courtesy of the artist and Kate MacGarry, London. -
Lubaina Himid, _Have Courage in the Crisis Set Yourself Free_ (2016), Acrylic on paper. 102 x 72 cm. ©Lubaina Himid. Courtesy of the artist and Hollybush Gardens, London. Photo ©British Council Collection
Belladonna by Tatiana Wolska in Drawing Lab
When: 24.01 – 24.04.2025
Where: Paris, France
Drawing Lab is a space for experimentation and private exhibitions entirely dedicated to the promotion of contemporary drawing. Starting in January, it showcases the exhibition of the recipient of the Drawing Now Award, an initiative supporting contemporary creation for 14 years. This year, the award was granted to Tatiana Wolska, a Polish artist, currently based in Brussels. Her practice is defined by organic growth, proliferation of forms, and multidisciplinarity. At the Belladonna exhibition, she presents graphic and three-dimensional works created by merging drawings with sculptures. The theme of the exhibition refers to the witch’s plant and a herb known since antiquity, which can serve both as a remedy and a poison.
Patrizia Sandretto Re Rebaudengo Collection in Manetti Shrem Museum
When: 26.01 – 22.06.2025
Where: Davis, California
The Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art at UC Davis presents Through Their Eyes: Selections from the Sandretto Re Rebaudengo Collection, the first U.S. exhibition of one of Europe’s most renowned private contemporary art collections. Featuring over 60 works by leading and emerging women artists, the exhibition explores identity, gender, and sexuality through painting, photography, sculpture, and video. With iconic pieces by Nan Goldin and Barbara Kruger alongside fresh perspectives from rising talents, this exhibition offers a rare opportunity to experience groundbreaking global art.
Beneath the Soft Ground, Hard Ground by Alicja Biała at the European Council
When: 14.01 – 30.06.2025
Where: Brussels, Belgium
Beneath the Soft Ground, Hard Ground is an art installation by Alicja Biała, a multidisciplinary and multimedia artist based between Poland, the Netherlands, and the UK. Her work is showcased at the headquarters of the Council of the European Union in the Europa Building, as a part of the cultural programme of the Polish presidency of the EU Council. The installation consists of twelve large brass panels, where the artists present Central European plants with generative properties with the use of one of the oldest graphic techniques – etching. Biały’s work is part of a larger series of Polish contemporary works showcased under the theme of Regeneration. The theme alludes to the need to care for our shared resources, build resilience, practice interpersonal and interspecies solidarity, and foster a sense of security and comfort.
Ilona Keserü’s Flow at Museum Susch
When: 13.12.2024 – 26.10.2025
Where: Zernez, Switzerland
The paintings of Ilona Keserü, a prominent Hungarian abstract visual artist, are characterised by an experimental approach, vibrant colours, and distinctive wavy and tangled shapes, often exploring the themes of female identity. Her stylistic approach is a blend of European modern art with Hungarian folk culture. Celebrating her 91st birthday and continuing her artistic practice, the Flow retrospective at Museum Susch explores all of the above-mentioned recurring motifs that defined the over 70 years-long artistic practice of Keserü, while showcasing her latest works.
Call and Response by Natasza Niedziółka at the Galerie nächst St. Stephan Rosemarie Schwarzwälder
When: 31.02 – 15.03.2025
Where: Vienna, Austria
For the first time, the Galerie will host a comprehensive solo exhibition of Natalia Niedziółka, a Polish artist and Kunstakademie Düsseldorf graduate. Niedziółka works primarily with embroidery thread applied at a stretched canvas, resulting in works oscillating between textile pictures and tapestry. The exhibition will focus on her group of works called Zero, referring to the German artist group with the same name, founded in 1958. Their principles of a new beginning and reduced aesthetics in art are integrated in Niedziółka’s works.
Have a Nice Doomsday by Si On at Elektrownia w Radomiu
When: 31.01 – 16.03.2025
Where: Radom, Poland
From January until mid-March, Elektrownia Contemporary Art Centre in Radom invites the biggest exhibition of Si On. She is a visual artist born in Korea. She received her doctorate from the Kyoto City University of Arts in Japan. Afterwards, she spent some time living in New York and is currently based in Poland. This nomadic past finds reflection in Si On’s art. Her practice is a blend of different cultures, perspectives, and aesthetics. What further diversifies her artistic practice is the mix of various artistic media, creating an intricate meeting point for painting, sculptures, and installations. The themes she addresses in her art are no less complex, as she often focuses on the exploration of internal life and its inevitable conflicts.
Banu Cennetoğlu at Kunsthal Charlottenborg
When: 19.03 – 10.08.2025
Where: Charlottenborg, Denmark
Kunsthal Charlottenborg, one of the largest spaces showcasing contemporary art in Northern Europe is opening the first solo exhibition of Banu Cennetoğlu, an Instambul-based visual artist working mainly with photography, installation, and printed matter. Through her artistic practice, she conducts a critical exploration of how the distribution of information, data, and knowledge shapes our reality. Her critical investigations connect daily life with global issues, bridging the intimate and societal spheres. The upcoming exhibition includes installations that dive into the topics of the daily press, migration flows, and human rights.
On and Off the Loom by Tadek Beutlich in Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft
When: 18.01 – 22.06.2025
Where: Ditchling, UK
On and Off the Loom is an exhibition showcasing the distinctive works of visionary textile artist, printmaker, and teacher Tadek Beutlich (1922-2011). Born in Poland, he graduated from Camberwell School of Art and Crafts in London. The Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft exhibition brings together his diverse and ever-evolving creations. From monumental tapestries to intricate textile constructions, Beutlich’s artistic practice was defined by constant transformation. Continually seeking reinvention and experimentation, he pushed the boundaries of his craft. His approach to printmaking was no less innovative, reflecting the same spirit of exploration that shaped his textile work. Many of the works from the exhibition will be available to buy from Emma Mason Gallery once the exhibition has finished.
Rita Mawuena Benissan’s One Must Be Seated in Zeitz MOCAA
When: 13.11.2024 – 5.10.2025
Where: Cape Town, South Africa
One Must Be Seated is part of an ongoing series of exhibitions organised by the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA). The main aim of this series is to promote art by creators from Africa and the diaspora, contextualising their practice in Africa’s tradition and its presence. Currently, MOCAA offers its visitors an opportunity to dive into the artistic practice of Ghanaian-American visual artist Rita Mawuena Benissan, whose art is deeply rooted in Ghanaian culture. One Must Be Seated highlights two particularly relevant traditions – the royal umbrella and the process of enstoolment, both relevant in the context of chieftaincy. Benissan explores those customs with the use of various artistic media such as tapestry, sculpture, photography, and video.
