Art exhibitions on now in London: May 2025 and June 2025

So many vibrant art exhibitions have opened in London this spring, with many more to come in May and June 2025. This post is a guide through the highlights of free exhibitions in London, as well as current art exhibitions at museums like the National Gallery, V&A and Tate. Read on to find the must-see art exhibitions as well as hidden gems and don’t miss exhibitions coming up this summer.

Free art exhibitions in London: Spring 2025

There are always loads of free exhibitions on at commercial galleries in London. I use ArtRabbit to find out what’s on, and here are some that caught my eye.

Arpita Singh

Serpentine North, 13 March – 27 July 2025

Arpita Singh’s first solo exhibition outside India spans over 60 years of her career, showcasing vibrant watercolours, intricate ink drawings, and bold oil paintings. Blending figuration and surrealism, Singh’s work explores themes of memory, gender, and identity, offering a deeply personal reflection on life in contemporary India.

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Current art exhibitions in London: May and June 2025

Siena: The Rise of Painting 1300–1350

The National Gallery, 8 March – 22 June 2025

Celebrating The National Gallery’s 200th anniversary, this exhibition highlights the bold creativity of 14th-century Sienese art. Over 100 objects, from gilded glass to luminous panel paintings, reveal how Siena’s artists shaped early Western art with their innovative storytelling and symbolism.

A standout moment is the partial reunion of Duccio di Buoninsegna’s Maestà, a masterpiece originally created for Siena Cathedral. Dismantled in the 18th century, fragments from The National Gallery, Madrid, and Washington DC will be shown together, offering a rare glimpse of this extraordinary double-sided altarpiece.

Edvard Munch: Portraits

National Portrait Gallery, 13 March – 15 June 2025

This landmark exhibition offers a fresh look at Edvard Munch, focusing on his portraits—many of which have never been displayed in the UK before. Known for The Scream, Munch’s work often explores raw human emotion, and his portraits are no exception.

Spanning paintings of family, close friends, and patrons, the exhibition reveals Munch not just as an introspective artist but as a deeply social figure. His portraits go beyond likeness, capturing the psychological intensity of his sitters and reflecting his own inner world.

A highlight is the series of works he called his ‘Guardians’, a group of Norwegian friends whose images he treasured and kept close throughout his life. This exhibition sheds light on Munch’s relationships and his unique approach to portraiture, offering an intimate glimpse into his world.

Textiles: The Art of Mankind

The Fashion and Textile Museum, 28 March – 7 September 2025

This exhibition explores the profound role of textiles in shaping human history, from everyday items to ceremonial and artistic creations. Featuring rare pieces never seen before in the UK, highlights include a Panamanian textile of a mermaid symbolizing fertility, a Sardinian wall hanging, and a ceremonial bag shaped like a hand. The show also includes Connecting Threads, a collaboration by Lynn Setterington that commemorates people and communities through stitch.

The Griffin Catalyst Exhibition: Goya to Impressionism

The Courtauld, February 14 – May 26, 2025

For the first time, masterpieces from the Oskar Reinhart Collection in Switzerland will be showcased in the UK at The Courtauld. This exceptional exhibition brings together works from renowned artists such as Van Gogh, Toulouse-Lautrec, and Goya. Highlights include Van Gogh’s depiction of patients at the Arles hospital, Toulouse-Lautrec’s portrait of the female clown Cha-U-Kao, and Goya’s striking still life of three salmon steaks.

These works, which span the transition from Classical to Modern art, join The Courtauld’s own collection of Impressionist masterpieces, offering a unique opportunity to explore the evolution of Western art during the 19th century.

Grayson Perry: Delusions of Grandeur

The Wallace Collection, 28 March – 26 October 2025

The Wallace Collection’s largest contemporary exhibition to date sees Sir Grayson Perry respond to the museum’s historic treasures with his signature wit and sharp social commentary. Opening on Perry’s birthday, the show explores themes of craftsmanship, collecting, and the gendered nature of decoration through ceramics, tapestries, furniture, and collage.

Highlights include works by outsider artists Madge Gill and Aloïse Corbaz, offering a rich dialogue between Perry’s creations and the Collection’s timeless opulence.

Leigh Bowery

Tate Modern, February 27 – August 31, 2025

This landmark exhibition celebrates the life and work of Leigh Bowery, one of the most flamboyant and influential figures in fashion, performance, and contemporary art. Known for his provocative performances and boundary-pushing designs, Bowery captivated audiences and redefined notions of identity and self-expression.

The show features an extensive collection of his costumes, photographs, and videos, alongside archival material that captures his vibrant creativity and cultural impact. From his bold club looks to his role as a muse for Lucian Freud, this exhibition illuminates Bowery's multifaceted contributions to art and performance.

Hiroshige: Artist of the Open Road

The British Museum, 1 May – 7 September 2025

This exhibition celebrates the work of Utagawa Hiroshige, one of Japan’s most renowned and prolific ukiyo-e artists. Known for his stunning depictions of landscapes, Hiroshige's prints offer a glimpse into life during the Edo period (1603–1868).

The show features iconic works, including his famous Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō, showcasing both tranquil rural scenes and vibrant cityscapes. In addition to his landscapes, the exhibition also explores his portrayals of fashionable figures and the social life of the time, offering a well-rounded view of Hiroshige's diverse body of work.

Ed Atkins

Tate Modern, 2 April – 25 August 2025

This is the first major UK exhibition of contemporary artist Ed Atkins, known for his thought-provoking videos and animations. For over a decade, Atkins has explored the shrinking divide between digital representation and lived experience. Using his own body and personal stories, his work critiques how technology has shaped our sense of self and images.

The exhibition brings together a range of Atkins’ works, from paintings and writings to embroideries and drawings, all alongside his iconic video installations. His creations, often darkly humorous and tinged with melancholy, contrast the weightless world of digital life with the tactile, physical one. The show focuses on themes of loss, intimacy, and love, offering a powerful reflection on the human experience.

The Genesis Exhibition: Do Ho Suh: Walk the House

Tate Modern, May 1 – October 19, 2025

Explore the world of Korean-born, London-based artist Do Ho Suh in this major survey exhibition. Through large-scale installations, sculptures, videos, and drawings, Suh invites visitors to reflect on the concept of "home"—whether it is a place, a feeling, or an idea.

The exhibition delves into themes of identity, belonging, and the movement between spaces. Suh’s iconic fabric architecture allows you to wander through life-sized replicas of homes from Seoul, New York, and London, while his delicate works on paper and thought-provoking videos further explore the intersection of architecture, memory, and the body.

Discover new and site-specific works alongside pieces from his extensive three-decade career, all questioning our relationship to space, collectivity, and individuality.

Cartier

V&A South Kensington, Opens April 12, 2025

This major exhibition at the V&A takes you through Cartier’s legacy of art, design, and craftsmanship, showcasing over 350 objects, including exquisite jewels, rare gemstones, and iconic timepieces. From the brand’s earliest creations to its present-day masterpieces, the exhibition highlights Cartier’s evolution in shaping luxury and innovation in jewellery and watchmaking since the early 20th century.

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