13 art exhibitions opening in London in June 2023

Summer has arrived, bringing with it a vibrant array of new exhibitions opening in the city. Among the highly anticipated events is the Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition for 2023, promising a captivating showcase of artistic talent. Additionally, the prestigious V&A Museum will pay tribute to the influential performers who have shaped our cultural landscape. Furthermore, there are thought-provoking exhibitions that shed light on the pressing issue of the climate crisis. Get ready for an exciting month of June in London, as we present our comprehensive guide to the diverse and inspiring exhibitions awaiting your exploration.

Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition 2023

Image: Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition 2022, © MTotoe

#FLODown: The Royal Academy of Arts presents the 255th Summer Exhibition, featuring contemporary art and architecture. Coordinated by David Remfry RA, the exhibition explores the theme of "Only Connect," inspired by E.M. Forster's novel Howards End. It provides a platform for artists at all stages of their careers, showcasing new works by a diverse range of artists including Lindsey Mendick, Paul Dash, Jenkin van Zyl, Harminder Judge, Ida Applebroog and more. The exhibition also features works by Royal Academicians and Honorary Royal Academicians, including Frank Bowling, Tracey Emin, Gillian Wearing, Mimmo Paladino, Pipilotti Rist, Kiki Smith, and newly elected members Roger Hiorns, Hew Locke, Veronica Ryan, and Barbara Walker.

Date: 13 June – 20 August 2023. Location: Burlington House,
Piccadilly, London, W1J 0BD
. Price: from £20; concessions available. Book now.

DIVA

Image: Whitney Houston performing at Wembley Arena, London 5 May 1988. © David Corio

#FLODown: From the Opera goddesses of the Victorian era to today’s global megastars, DIVA will celebrate the power and creativity of iconic performers, exploring and redefining what it means to be a diva and how this has been subverted or embraced over time across opera, stage, popular music, and film. Featuring fashion, photography, design, costumes, music and live performance drawn from the V&A collection and loans from across the world, the exhibition looks at how the performer has intersected with society and driven change through their voice and art. It will consider how the diva has been reclaimed and redefined and will examine the external and internal forces that contribute to shaping and worshipping the diva. Date: 24 June 2023 - 7 April 2024. Location:  Victoria and Albert Museum, South Kensington, Cromwell Road, SW7 2RL. Price: £20. Book now.

 Dear Earth: Art and Hope in a Time of Crisis

Image: Andrea Bowers, Step It Up Activist, Sand Key Reef, Key West, Florida, Part of North America's Only Remaining Coral Barrier Reef, 2009. © Andrea Bowers. Courtesy of artist and Andrew Kreps Gallery. Photo credit: Thomas Mueller.

#FLODown: Dear Earth: Art and Hope in a Time of Crisis will showcase the ways in which artists will help reframe and deepen our psychological and spiritual responses to the climate crisis. The exhibition will inspire care, empathy, and promote a sense of political and social activism. Through the works of 14 artists, including Ackroyd & Harvey, Andrea Bowers, and Cornelia Parker, it will explore the interdependence of ecologies and ecosystems, as well as our emotional connection with nature. Dear Earth aims to foster environmental awareness and encourage positive change.

Location: Southbank Centre, Hayward Gallrey Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX. Date: 21 June - 3 September 2023. Price:from £15. Book now.

Carrie Mae Weems: Reflections for Now  

Image: Carrie Mae Weems, portrait by Jerry Klineberg. © Carrie Mae Weems. Courtesy of the artist, Jack Shainman Gallery, New York / Galerie Barbara Thumm, Berlin.

#FLODown: The Barbican Art Gallery will host a groundbreaking exhibition on Carrie Mae Weems, an influential American artist. It's her first major UK exhibition, exploring her work on identity, power, and social justice. The exhibition includes photographs, films, objects, and installations spanning three decades. Weems critically examines representations of race and challenges systemic racism. Her work is performative and cinematic, featuring iconic pieces like the Kitchen Table Series and The Shape of Things, which explores the history of violence in the US. She confronts dominant narratives in science, architecture, photography, and mass media.

Date: 22 June – 3 September 2023. Location: Barbican Art Gallery, Silk St, Barbican, London EC2Y 8DS. Price: from £16. Concessions available. Book now.

To Bend the Ear of the Outer World: Conversations on contemporary abstract painting

Image: Jadé Fadojutimi. And willingly imprinting the memory of my mistakes, 2023. © Jadé Fadojutimi. Photo: Mark Blower. Courtesy the artist and Gagosian

#FLODown: Curated by Gary Garrels, this exhibition showcases new and recent works by over forty artists from the Americas, United Kingdom, and Germany. Spanning across Gagosian's two galleries in Mayfair, the exhibition explores the significance of abstract painting today, bringing together diverse approaches from three generations of artists. Notable participants include Tomma Abts, Mark Bradford, Cecily Brown, Gerhard Richter, and Christopher Wool, among others. To Bend the Ear of the Outer World continues the exploration of abstract painting initiated by Garrels' previous exhibition Oranges and Sardines in 2008-09. The exhibition aims to highlight the individuality of each artist's work while fostering connections between them. It showcases the ongoing dialogue on the possibilities of abstraction and the artists' commitment to pushing its boundaries.

Date: 1 June – 25 August 2023
. Location: 20 Grosvenor Hill and 17–19 Davies Street, London. Price: Free.

22nd Serpentine Pavilion: À table

designed by Lina Ghotmeh 

Image: Serpentine Pavilion 2023 designed by Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture Design render, exterior view Photo © Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture Courtesy: Serpentine

#FLODown: French-Lebanese architect Lina Ghotmeh will design the 22nd Serpentine Pavilion, which will be unveiled in June 2023 at Serpentine South. Titled À table, the Pavilion draws inspiration from Ghotmeh's Mediterranean heritage and aims to create a sustainable kinship with the land through food and our primal relationship to the Earth. The circular table in the Pavilion's interior invites visitors to convene, share ideas, concerns, joys, and cultural memories. Through this design, Ghotmeh seeks to offer a space for reflection on our relationship with nature and environment. Date: 9 June- 29 October 2023. Location: Serpentine Pavilion. Price: Free. Website: serpentinegalleries.org

Kensington + Chelsea Art Week (KCAW) 2023

Image: Alex Chinneck Alphabeti Spaghetti. Photo by Marc Wilmot

#FLODown: Kensington + Chelsea Art Week (KCAW) returns in June 2023 with an incredible programme of public art. Free and open to all, this vibrant celebration showcases over 100 venues, offering a diverse range of installations, exhibits, murals, tours, events, and talks. The curatorial theme, ‘The Art of Change,’ inspires exploration of embracing change and its positive impact. With the renowned KCAW Public Art Trail and a focus on community engagement, this annual festival brings the borough's rich artistic heritage to life, creating an unforgettable experience for visitors. Date: 22 June – 2 July 2023. Price: Free. Website: kcaw.co.uk

The Lost Warhols

Image: Consumer Art and Karen Bystedt, Flower Soup Bananas. Mixed media

#FLODown: The Ad Lib Gallery presents The Lost Warhols, an exclusive exhibition showcasing unique interpretations of Andy Warhol by international contemporary artists. Curated by Karen Bystedt, the exhibition features her archival photographs of Warhol, taken in 1983 for a book project. Bystedt's images capture a vulnerable side of Warhol, known for being the one behind the camera. As a prominent female street artist, Bystedt's works have gained global recognition, sparking discussions on women breaking barriers in art, hip hop, and pop culture.

Click here to read our interview with Karen Bystedt.

Date: until 18 June 2023. Location: 10 Church Road, Wimbledon Village, London, SW19 5DL. Price: Free. Website: adlib.online

Tate Britain

Image: Tate Britain rehang, installation view 2023 © Tate (Madeleine Buddo)

#FLODown: After a decade, Tate Britain has rehung its collection, unveiling a fresh and enthralling narrative in British art. Embark on a vibrant 500-year journey, as over 800 artworks by 350 artists come to life. Witness the seamless blend of beloved classics and newfound treasures, showcasing a diverse range of talents, including women and emerging artists.

Date: Ongoing. Location: Tate Britain, Millbank, London SW1P 4RG.

Tomás Saraceno: Web(s) of Life 

Image: Details of Web.Life 202.3. Courtesy the spider/webs. Photography by Studio Tomás Saraceno.

#FLODown: Opening in the South Gallery at the start of next month is Web(s) of Life, an exhibition by artist Tomás Saraceno and collaborators. This is the first major exhibition of Saraceno's work in the UK. The exhibition explores the interconnectedness across ecosystems and the ways in which life forms, extractive technologies, and energy regimes are linked to the climate emergency. Saraceno's work prompts visitors to consider different forms of knowledge and non-human perspectives. In the exhibition, Saraceno poses challenging questions about techno-diversity, biodiversity, systems of power, and the need for a just, eco-social, energy transition. Saraceno also draws attention to bio-indicators, which are organisms that can signal shifts in weather, climate, pollution levels, and ecological well-being. Date: 1 June - 10 September 2023. Location: Serpentine South, London W2 3XA. Price: Free.

Brian Clarke: A Great Light

Image: Brian Clarke, World without End, 2017 Courtesy Brian Clarke Studio

#FLODown: Newport Street Gallery will host an exhibition of works by renowned stained glass artist Brian Clarke in June 2023. Presented by HENI, the exhibition titled "A Great Light" celebrates Clarke's 70th year and showcases an extraordinary collection spanning from 2002 to the present. The exhibition highlights the versatility and creative possibilities of stained glass, featuring pieces like the graphically etched Stroud Ossuary and intimate Kabinettscheiben based on his latest collages and drawings. Clarke's earlier works, including vibrant folding screens and poignant leadworks, will also be on display. Known for pushing the boundaries of stained glass, Clarke's career has encompassed architectural installations worldwide, as well as exhibitions of paintings and drawings. Date: from 9 June 2023. Location: Newport Street Gallery, 1 Newport Street, London, SE11 6AJ. Price: Free.

Civilization: The Way We Live Now

Image: Reiner Riedler, Wild River, Florida, from the series Fake Holidays, 2005 © Reiner Riedler

#FLODown: Saatchi Gallery presents Civilization: The Way We Live Now, an international exhibition showcasing 350 original prints by 150 renowned artists. Offering a unique perspective on humanity's rapidly changing collective life worldwide, the exhibition explores various aspects of civilization through eight thematic chapters. Curated by William A. Ewing and Holly Roussell, the exhibition features previously unseen images that highlight the complexity and contradictions of contemporary civilization. As a celebration of photography as a collective civilizational endeavour, the exhibition captures the way we live, work, and interact in today's world. Civilization: The Way We Live Now brings together diverse perspectives and portrays the emerging global civilization and our collective behaviour and achievements.

Date: 2 June – 17 September 2023. Location: Saatchi Gallery, Duke of York's HQ, King's Rd, Chelsea, London SW3 4RY. Price: from £16. Concessions available. Book now.

Dancing in Outer Space

Image: Bill Daggs, Clio 2001. Image courtesy of the sudio/chapple and the artist.

#FLODown: Presented by studio/chapple, Dancing in Outer Space is an exhibition inspired by Atmosfear's iconic club track. It features works by artists Bill Daggs, Harold Offeh, Rene Matić, and Sola Olulode. Exploring the transformative power of sonic worldbuilding on the dancefloor, the exhibition challenges societal divisions and oppressive turbulence. Through acts of collective resistance, the artists intercept and magnify moments of community and joy, redefining the influence of parallel sonic worlds. This celebration of cultural production invites visitors to experience the heterotopian joy of the dancefloor.

Date: 1 June - 1 July 2023. Location: Enclave 7, 50 Resolution Way, London SE8 4NT. Price: Free