As the leaves begin to fall, art lovers have much to look forward to in autumn 2024. From London to Cambridge, this season’s exhibitions span the sublime, the surreal, and the socially poignant. Whether you’re drawn to Van Gogh’s emotional turmoil, the timeless works of the Renaissance masters, or contemporary explorations of identity, this year’s offerings promise a wealth of unforgettable experiences.
Van Gogh: Poets and Lovers
National Gallery, London, 14 September – 19 January
The National Gallery’s Van Gogh: Poets and Lovers provides a rare opportunity to witness over 50 of the artist’s works, including some rarely seen in public. Focusing on the two years Van Gogh spent in Arles and the Saint-Paul asylum in Saint-Rémy, this show journeys from euphoria to despair, encapsulating the turbulence that defined the artist’s later years.
Why Do We Take Drugs?
Sainsbury Centre, University of East Anglia, 14 September – 27 April
In a provocative series of exhibitions, Why Do We Take Drugs? invites viewers to reflect on global drug cultures. From a Japanese tea ceremony to raw depictions of addiction by photographer Graham MacIndoe, the exhibition confronts our complex relationship with substances. Ceramicist Lindsey Mendick contributes an immersive work, Hot Mess, drawing from her struggles with alcohol and antidepressants, while a VR ayahuasca trip promises a psychedelic adventure.
Marlene Dumas: Mourning Marsyas
Frith Street Gallery, London, 20 September – 16 November
Loss, mourning, and myth collide in Mourning Marsyas, the UK’s first major Marlene Dumas exhibition since 2015. This Amsterdam-based artist, celebrated for her emotive brushwork and thematic boldness, presents gods and spectres alike in works that evoke the tension between life, death, and the inescapable presence of myth.
Turner Prize 2024
Tate Britain, London, 25 September – 16 February
The Turner Prize returns with works addressing some of today’s most urgent social and cultural themes. With a diverse group of artists—Delaine Le Bas, Pio Abad, Claudette Johnson, and Jasleen Kaur—the exhibition spans media from sculpture to installation. These artists explore topics ranging from Roma identity to the history of the Philippines, and Blackness to Sikh culture, offering a fresh perspective on the complexities of modern life.
Uncanny Visions: Rego and Goya
Holburne Museum, Bath, 27 September – 5 January
What happens when two of art’s darkest visionaries collide? Uncanny Visions pairs the macabre fairytales of Portuguese artist Paula Rego with the grotesque surrealism of Spain’s Francisco Goya. Together, these artists delve into themes of psychological torment, political upheaval, and personal nightmares in an exhibition that is both terrifying and thrilling.
Monet and London: Views of the Thames
Courtauld Gallery, London, 27 September – 19 January
Monet’s iconic depictions of London’s foggy Thames River take center stage in Views of the Thames, where cosmic sunsets and ghostly reflections transform the familiar into the sublime. Painted from his hotel room at the Savoy, Monet’s views of parliament and the surrounding city will dazzle both art historians and casual visitors alike.
Nairy Baghramian: Jumbled Alphabet
South London Gallery, 27 September – 12 January
The abstract meets the intimate in Nairy Baghramian’s Jumbled Alphabet. With works that yawn, droop, and collide, Baghramian’s playful yet intricate sculptures offer a tactile engagement with form and space, blurring the lines between abstraction and personal narrative.
Francis Bacon: Human Presence
National Portrait Gallery, London, 10 October – 19 January
Francis Bacon’s haunting portraits come to life once more in Human Presence, a show that reexamines the artist’s relationship to flesh, form, and human fragility. Bacon’s raw genius, often uncomfortable to behold, is a visceral reminder of the power of portraiture in the hands of a master.
Michelangelo, Leonardo, Raphael
Royal Academy, London, 9 November – 16 February
Florence in 1504 was a battlefield of genius. In Michelangelo, Leonardo, Raphael, the Royal Academy invites visitors to witness the legendary rivalry between these three Renaissance titans. Featuring works from their famous “battle paintings,” the exhibition offers a rare glimpse into the competitive energy that fueled their masterpieces.
