If you haven’t decided on a New Year’s resolution yet, visiting more exhibitions may be one to consider. Forget pledging to hit the gym every day, cutting down on carbs or learning a new skill, the arts are not only a feast for the eyes but also a workout for the mind. London offers a hoard of galleries and cultural institutions to choose from for contemporary and classic art lovers alike, but spending your time wisely and navigating the copious amounts of exhibits available can often be overwhelming. With this in mind, Because has compiled a list of the must-see exhibitions showing in January to set 2024 off on the right foot.

Much like 2023, these exhibitions won’t last forever, so visit them now!

Women in Revolt!
Tate Britain, Until April 7th 


Women in Revolt offers an insight into the history of the women’s liberation movement bringing together over 100 female artists working in the UK. Amongst these works are Helen Chadwick’s In the Kitchen, a photographic series which satirically challenges gender stereotypes, and The Affair, a painting by Bhajan Hunjan about her struggle to express herself as a South Asian woman living in the UK. This exhibition proves that art can be a powerful tool in influencing social and political narratives. Visit Women in Revolt at the Tate Britain to marvel at this historic collection of work, elevating the voices of women campaigning for their rights!

Find out more at tate.org.uk...

Daidō Moriyama: A Retrospective
The Photographers Gallery, Until February 11th 


Daidō Moriyama’s retrospective provides an unprecedented look at the Japanese photographer’s illustrious and influential career. The 85-year-old photographer has spent his life encouraging audiences to reconsider conventional perceptions of photography with his powerful black-and-white imagery. Moriyama uses the lens as a tool to interpret the world around him, framing art-making as a way of life rather than an isolated practice. The result is a haphazard photography style which uncovers the gritty reality of his life in both Japan and overseas. Visitors can indulge in over 200 pieces, alongside a reading room featuring Moriyama’s published works from books and magazines. This is the first time Moriyama’s work is being exhibited in the UK –so you’d be a fool to miss it.

Find out more at thephotographersgallery.org.uk...

Jenny Saville: Ekkyklema
Gagosian, Until February 10th


Few contemporary artists are as recognisable for their gestural depictions of the naked female figure as Jenny Saville. The artist's latest exhibition at the Gagosian titled Ekkyklema, offers a vibrant visual feast of new paintings and drawings. Taking its name from the ekkyklema, a screen rolled out in ancient Greek theatre to change scenes, Saville uses the object to illustrate our constant over-exposure to screens. The window-like boxes she places around the Greek-inspired figures also replicate the appearance of browser windows, allowing digital and ancient worlds to live concurrently in her work.

Find out more at gagosian.com...

Re/Sisters
Barbican, Until January 14th (so, hurry!)


50 female and gender non-conforming artists have assembled from around the world to present Re/Sisters at the Barbican, a new major exhibition drawing parallels between the continual destruction of “Mother Earth” and the oppression of women. Two of the many works on display are Pamela Singh’s Chipko Tree Huggers of the Himalayas, a heartwarming image depicting the photographer’s involvement in a female-led demonstration of the Gandhian practice of tree-hugging, and Judy Chicago’s Immolation, a comment on the sacrifices that women have made on account of gender roles. A new take on how gender and ecology connect the struggles of women and the planet to decipher why environmental activism is largely a female-dominated field.

Find out more at barbican.org.uk...

Philip Guston
Tate Modern, Until February 25th


Upon first glance, audiences are enticed by the child-like, cartoonish, brightly coloured paintings of Philip Guston, but after further inspection, they learn that the meaning behind them is in stark contrast to their playful exteriors. The Canada-born artist tackles social and political subjects in his work including war and racism, illuminating the tensions of his time. Guston’s ground-breaking work is on display at the Tate Modern until the 25th of February, so be sure to visit before you miss the first major retrospective on the artist in the UK in almost 20 years.

Find out more at tate.org.uk...

Julianknxx: Chorus in Rememory of Flight
Barbican, Until February 11th


Sierra Leonian poet, filmmaker, and artist Julianknxx is dedicated to rewriting conventional understandings of African art, culture and history. His first solo show at the renowned Barbican marks a big step in his blooming career. In Chorus in Rememory of Flight, Julianknxx uses the mediums of voice and music gathered from cities around Europe to communicate a sense of kinship between different communities, backgrounds, and races. Audiences are treated to a visceral series of video projections, which plunge them into the world of Julianknxx’s collaborative and inclusive work.

Find out more at barbican.org.uk...

Turmoil: Douglas de Souza
Kupfer, Until February 3rd


Brazilian artist Douglas de Souza juxtaposes the robust masculinity of a motorbike with the soft drape of satin material in Turmoil, the first UK exhibition by the artist that questions what it means to be masculine. Turmoil is an eclectic collection of oil paintings depicting proud swans, gleaming stallions and sports helmets emblazoned with delicate illustrations. Woven through these large-scale works are visual indications of the artist’s desire to come to terms with his identity –a beautiful and reflective process to witness.

Find out more at kupfer.co...

Judith Godwin: Expressions of Life
Pippy Houldsworth Gallery, Until March 9th 


Judith Godwin’s work lent a heavy hand in reconfiguring perspectives on womanhood and gender when such discussions were considered taboo. The late US-born artist was grouped under the Abstract Expressionist movement at the beginning of her career and has since influenced the canon of American art despite facing alienation and discrimination on account of her sexuality. Godwin’s work is provocative yet soothing and brings light to issues in a way that eases audiences into necessary conversations.|

Find out more at houldsworth.co.uk...

By Emma McDonough