As you may have spotted in our August Agenda, art galleries are opening their doors this month, and we couldn’t be more excited. As we all discovered this year, our souls are fed by art and artists' ideas to help survive in times of crisis: books, music and film became our lockdown lifelines. But one thing we truly missed was the experience of admiring physical art; taking an afternoon hiatus from reality, switching off your phone and being transported to a different time and place. Whilst online exhibitions have allowed us to "visit" galleries and museums around the world, there is nothing quite like the pleasure of an artfully curated exhibit, and we cannot wait to soak up the hushed tones and reverent murmurs of fellow culture-buffs in a gently lit room.

With so much to choose from and so much to catch up on, from traditional display to immersive experience, we’ve curated a list to guarantee that you won’t miss out.

P.S. Don't forget to always check tickets and book before visiting.

Cao Fei: ‘Blueprints’ at Serpentine Gallery, until 13 September
Step off London concrete and into an alternate dimension in this multimedia exhibition, which is housed in a recreation of Fei’s Beijing studio. Dystopic images of amplified capitalism are undercut with atmospheric neon lighting, and you'll be quick to realise the experience is worryingly relatable to our current reality.


Free entry. Book a slot here.

'Kimono: Kyoto to Catwalk' at the V&A, 27 August – 25 October
The V&A can always be relied upon for thoughtfully curated exhibitions that interweave history with art, and this one is no exception. Having been open for a short duration in our pre-Coronavirus life at the beginning of the year, August sees the the exhibit reopen their doors to continue educating on the symbolism of this Japanese garment. Follow the journey of the Kimono throughout time, from sacred symbol to fashion icon, and explore the aesthetic and social significance of the piece through sumptuous silks and vibrant prints.


Tickets start at £16, with £12 for concessions. Book tickets here.

Andy Warhol at Tate Modern, until 15 November
Iconic in all senses of the word, Andy Warhol has been the familiar face of 20th Century art since he coined the Pop Art movement that is still synonymous with American consumerism today. As the first major retrospective of the artists work at the (equally as iconic) Tate Modern in over 20 years, expect an aesthetic whirlwind that includes Warhol’s Marilyn Monroe portrait among other lesser known works.


Free for members, or £22. Book tickets here.

Toyin Ojih Odutola: 'A Countervailing Theory' at Barbican Centre, until 24 January
In the first UK exhibition of the American-Nigerian artist's work, Odutola tells fantastical, uncanny stories through her art. Subverting our perceptions of reality, the exhibitions challenges both ancient history and our contemporary experience, with an immersive soundscape by Peter Adjaye. 


Free entry. Book a slot here.

'Titian: Love, Desire, Death' at The National Gallery, until 17 January
The most famous European painter of the 16th Century explored and portrayed Classical Roman mythology in his work, capturing moments of melodrama with impressionistic accuracy: expect raw emotion, decadent fabrics, dramatic landscapes and dazzling goddesses. 


Tickets start from £12, and can be found here.

Aubrey Beardsley at Tate Modern, until 20 September
Aesthetic illustrator Beardsley ran in circles with the likes of Oscar Wilde, and his visceral drawings tell such a tale. Filled with sex, death and gluttony, the illustrations are undercut with humour, contradicting all we thought we knew about the Victorians.


Free for members, or £16. Book tickets here.


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Tags: art , gallery , august