The Best London Exhibitions To Visit This Autumn
Looking to get your culture fix? We’ve put together an edit of the best London exhibitions landing this autumn. From giant fashion retrospectives at the V&A and Design Museum to interactive music exhibits at the Science Museum, these are the exhibitions to book.
London Exhibitions To Book This Month & Beyond
Accidentally Wes Anderson: The Exhibition
Love everything Wes Anderson does? You’ll want to book tickets to the new exhibition from the Anderson-inspired Instagram page, Accidentally Wes Anderson.
Visitors will be taken on a visual journey through the world of photography, exploring over 200 real-life images that incorporate the charm and eccentric aesthetic of Anderson’s films. Displayed across seven distinctly themed rooms, it’s a chance to immerse yourself in the pastel-hues, idyllic landscapes and grandeur that the film director is inspired by.
When: From 08.12.2023
Where: 85 Old Brompton Road, South Kensington, SW7 3LD
Website: www.feverup.com
REBEL: 30 Years of London Fashion, The Design Museum
A wave of fashion exhibitions are opening up this autumn, including the Design Museum’s epic retrospective celebrating London as the powerhouse of global fashion.
Running until February 2024, it’s the first major exhibition to focus solely on the creativity of young designers in Britain. Created in collaboration with the British Fashion Council, it will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the BFC’s NEWGEN programme, a space that supports the best-emerging designers and talent in fashion.
The work of over 300 designers will be on display, featuring over 100 objects from trailblazing garments to films and memorabilia. Deconstructing the creative process, it hopes to inspire a future generation of fashion designers by exploring the behind-the-scene processes of how to kickstart a career in the competitive industry.
When: 16.09.2023 – 11.02.2024
Where: The Design Museum, 224-238 Kensington High Street, W8 6AG
Website: www.designmuseum.org
Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto, V&A
The first UK exhibition dedicated to the work of French couturière, the V&A has opened a brand new exhibition centred around the work of the pioneering fashion designer, Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel.
Running until the end of February 2024, the exhibit will explore the evolution of her iconic designer style and the establishment of the House of CHANEL. From its early millinery boutique in Paris in 1910 to her final collection in 1971, there will be over 180 looks seen together for the first-ever time.
Split across eight themed sections, the space will explore Chanel’s approach to fabric, silhouette and construction, creating clothes for an independent and active lifestyle.
When: 16.09.2023 – 28.02.2024
Where: Victoria & Albert, Cromwell Road, SW7 2RL
Website: www.vam.ac.uk
Japan: Myths to Manga, Young V&A
Following the successful redevelopment of the V&A Museum of Childhood earlier this summer, the now-called Young V&A has unveiled its first major exhibition. Titled Japan: Myths to Manga, the exhibition is set to take visitors on a playful journey revealing the influence of folklore on Japan’s art and design.
From manga-making to Taiko drumming, there are plenty of hands-on activities for little ones to get involved with alongside the displays and artwork. Expect over 150 historic and contemporary objects to be on display, from the 15th century through to the modern day.
When: 14.10.2023 – 11.08.2024
Where: Young V&A, Cambridge Heath Road, Bethnal Green, E2 9PA
Website: www.vam.ac.uk
Miho Kajioka: How Long is Now?, The Photographers’ Gallery
This autumn, The Photographers’ Gallery welcomes fine art photographer Miho Kajioka and her series of new works titled How Long is Now?
The Japanese photographer’s work is delicate and simple, conjuring up “memories, half-remembrances and faded yet still discernible images”. This series of new works sees Kajioka delve into explorations with colour, following a solo figure and their journey through dreamlike landscapes.
When: 15.09.2023 – 19.11.2023
Where: The Photographers’ Gallery, 16-18 Ramillies Street, W1F 7LW
Website: www.thephotographersgallery.org.uk
Capturing the Moment, Tate Modern
The boundaries of traditional art were blurred when the introduction of photography came around. Now in an all-new exhibition, Tate Modern explores the relationship between painting and photography through some of the most iconic artworks in recent history.
Explore how the two mediums have shaped one another over time, from epic paintings by Pablo Picasso and Paula Rego to photographs by Hiroshi Sugimoto and Jeff Wall.
On display will also be other newer mediums inspired by the two processes, including Andy Warhol’s silkscreen prints, Pauline Boty’s pop paintings and Andreas Gursky’s panoramic photographs.
When: Until 28.01.2024
Where: Tate Modern, Bankside, SE1 9TG
Website: www.tate.org.uk
Turn It Up: The Power of Music, Science Museum
Where would we be without music? The Science Museum’s newest exhibition is set to explore the mysterious hold music has over us while allowing family visitors to play with beat, melody and harmony.
Following a successful run at the Science and Industry Museum, Turn It Up: The Power of Music lands at the Science Museum this October. You’ll be able to uncover interactive installations, instruments and pioneering inventions, as well as first-hand accounts from musicians and the public. Expect to really examine why music impacts our emotions, our psychology and our well-being, as well as what the future holds for melody-making.
When: 19.10.2023 – 06.05.2024
Where: Science Museum, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, SW7 2DD
Website: www.sciencemuseum.org.uk
The Missing Thread, Somerset House
Titled The Missing Thread, Somerset House’s autumn exhibition explores the stories of Black British fashion, from the 1970s to the present day.
Curated by the Black Orientated Legacy Development Agency (BOLD), it will take a look at the impact of the cultural, counter-cultural, political and socio-economic backdrop of the 20th and 21st centuries that have shaped the identity of Black style, and in turn, mainstream fashion culture.
When: Until 07.01.2024
Where: Somerset House, Strand, WC2R 1LA
Website: www.somersethouse.org.uk
A Young South Africa – Human Stories, NOW Gallery
NOW Gallery’s annual Human Stories exhibition returns this October and will once again spotlight some of the finest talent in photography. This year’s series brings together the work of six photographers from South Africa. Each documents the diverse culture of their homeland, from turbulent political to socio-economic and cultural landscape.
This year’s photographers include Bee Diamondhead, Fede Kortez, Aart Verrips, Nikki Zakkas, Anita Hlazo, Ben Moyo and Karabo Mooki.
When: 11.10.2023 – 19.11.2023
Where: NOW Gallery, The Gateway Pavilions, Peninsula Square, Greenwich Peninsula, SE10 0SQ
Website: www.nowgallery.co.uk
Burma to Myanmar, The British Museum
This autumn sees the British Museum welcome the UK’s first major exhibition to focus on telling the story of Myanmar – also known as Burma.
Marking the 75th anniversary of its independence, the exhibition offers visitors the chance to learn more about the country’s history behind the headlines, including the impact of British colonial rule.
Featuring over 110 objects, the space is split into four sections: an abundance of riches – geography and natural resources; a landscape of states and networks; the British colonial take-over; and the independence era.
When: 02.11.2023 – 11.02.2024
Where: The British Museum, Great Russell Street, WC1B 3DG
Website: www.britishmuseum.org