Must-see London art exhibitions closing in February 2025
As February unfolds, several compelling art exhibitions across London are nearing their final days. From Renaissance masterpieces to contemporary photography and thought-provoking installations, these are the last opportunities to experience some of the most compelling shows the city has to offer.
Joan Snyder: Body & Soul
Body & Soul by Joan Snyder at Thaddaeus Ropac London.
#FLODown: This dynamic exhibition explores the rich and emotive paintings of Joan Snyder, a pioneering figure in American art. Blending abstraction with deeply personal storytelling, Snyder’s works explore themes of femininity, love, grief, and resilience through expressive brushstrokes and layered textures.
Date: until 5 February 2025. Location: Thaddaeus Ropac London, Ely House, 37 Dover St, London W1S 4NJ. Price: Free.
Michelangelo, Leonardo, Raphael: Florence, c. 1504
Michelangelo, Leonardo, Raphael: Florence, c. 1504. Image credit David Parry/ Royal Academy of Arts.
#FLODown: A rare and extraordinary exhibition uniting the works of three Renaissance titans—Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Raphael—at a defining moment in their artistic journeys. Featuring exquisite drawings, paintings, and sculptures, this show illuminates the creative rivalries and groundbreaking innovations that shaped art history.
Date: until 16 February 2025. Location: Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BD. Price: from £19. Book here
Turner Prize 2024
Jasleen Kaur © Tate (Oli Cowling).
#FLODown: As one of the UK’s most prestigious contemporary art awards, the Turner Prize exhibition showcases bold and experimental work from four shortlisted artists: Pio Abad, Claudette Johnson, Jasleen Kaur, and Delaine Le Bas. In December 2024, Jasleen Kaur was named the winner for her deeply personal sculptures, crafted from everyday objects to explore cultural heritage and personal identity. This exhibition is the last chance to see the work of all shortlisted artists before it closes.
Date: until 16 February 2025. Location: Tate Britain, Millbank, London SW1P 4RG. Price: from £14 (free for members). Book here
Taylor Wessing Photo Portrait Prize 2024
The Stranger, 2015 by Diana Markosian From the series Father © Diana Markosian.
#FLODown: A must-see for photography enthusiasts, this renowned competition highlights the most compelling portrait photography from around the world. From intimate personal moments to striking social commentary, the exhibition presents a diverse collection of images capturing the human experience.
Date: until 16 February 2025. Location: National Portrait Gallery, St. Martin's Pl, London WC2H 0HE. Price: from £8.50. Book here
Hew Locke: what have we here?
Hew Locke with The Watchers, the British Museum © Richard Cannon.
#FLODown: Hew Locke reimagines historical narratives through striking sculptures and mixed-media installations. By repurposing found materials and colonial iconography, Locke reflects on issues of migration, power, and national identity, offering a fresh perspective on Britain’s past and present.
Date: 17 October 2024 – 9 February 2025. Location: The Joseph Hotung Great Court Gallery, The British Museum, Great Russell St, London WC1B 3DG. Price: Adults from £12, Members and under-16s free. Book here
Silk Roads
An exceptional embroidery was found depicting Buddha emerging from a rocky mountain in red robes. Photo by MTotoe.
#FLODown: The British Museum’s expansive exhibition unravels the interconnected histories of the ancient Silk Road, featuring over 300 remarkable artefacts. From intricate textiles to rare manuscripts, the exhibition brings to life the vast cultural and commercial exchanges that shaped civilisations.
Date: until 23 February 2025. Location: The British Museum, Great Russell St, London WC1B 3DG. Price: from £22 (free for members and under-16s). Book here
Jack Jubb: Later Works
Jack Jubb, Exhibition view, Later Works, 2024, Cell Project Space.
#FLODown:This exhibition traces the evolving artistic style of the late Jack Jubb, whose work blended abstraction and figuration with a distinct sensitivity to form and texture. A deep and reflective look into his later creations, this show offers insight into his unique visual language.
Date: until 23 February 2025. Location: Cell Project Space, 258 Cambridge Heath Rd, Cambridge Heath, London E2 9DA. Price: Free.
Greg Carideo: groundwork & 00:00:01
Greg Carideo, NOP, 2024, T-shirt, found parking sign, steel, enamel paint, acrylic paint, silver brazing, lost/found shoe heel. 21 1/2 × 16 × 12 1/5 in | 54.6 × 40.6 × 31.1 cm.
#FLODown: Public Gallery presents two exhibitions exploring materiality and process-driven art. Greg Carideo’s groundwork focuses on the physicality of surfaces and textures, while 00:00:01 examines themes of time, repetition, and ephemeral moments.
Date: until 15 February 2025. Location: Public Gallery, 89, 91 Middlesex St, City of London, London E1 7DA. Price: Free.
Matthias Groebel: Skull Fuck
Matthias Groebel, collective memories, 2003, Acrylic on canvas, 315 × 200 cm. Courtesy the artist and Modern Art, London.
#FLODown: Matthias Groebel’s provocative and unconventional works explore the intersection of technology and art. Using early computer-generated painting techniques, Groebel challenges the boundaries of artistic creation, pushing forward a dialogue about digital aesthetics and automation.
Date: until 22 February 2025. Location: Modern Art 4-8 Helmet Row London EC1V 3QJ. Price: Free.
Letizia Battaglia
Igra morilec : Killer pretend play, Palermo, 1982 © Letizia Battaglia.
#FLODown: A powerful retrospective of legendary Italian photojournalist Letizia Battaglia, whose unflinching black-and-white images document the harsh realities of Sicilian life, including her fearless exposé of the Mafia. This exhibition offers a raw and poignant look at crime, resistance, and everyday existence in Sicily.
Date: until 23 February 2025. Location: The Photographers' Gallery, 16-18 Ramillies St, London W1F 7LW. thephotographersgallery.org.uk.
Holly Herndon & Mat Dryhurst: The Call
Holly Herndon and Mat Dryhurst conducting a recording session with London Contemporary Voices in London, 2024. Courtesy: Foreign Body Productions.
#FLODown: The Call, the first UK solo exhibition by Holly Herndon and Mat Dryhurst, explores the intersection of AI and collaborative art. Through polyphonic AI models and vocal datasets, the exhibition reimagines AI as a “coordination technology” similar to group singing. Visitors can engage with the evolving relationship between human and machine voices.
Date: 4 October 2024 – 2 February 2025. Location: Serpentine North and The Magazine, West Carriage Drive, W2 2AR. Price: Free. serpentinegalleries.org.
Looks Delicious! Exploring Japan’s food replica culture
Looks Delicious! Exploring Japan’s food replica culture to open at Japan House.
#FLODown: Explore the fascinating world of shokuhin sanpuru, the realistic food replicas displayed outside restaurants in Japan, at the exhibition currently on display at Japan House. It features specially made models from Iwasaki Group, showcasing dishes from all 47 prefectures, including Okinawan goya chanpuru and Ainu ohaw from Hokkaido. There’s also an interactive zone where you can create your own bento box of replica food.
Date: until 16 February 2025. Location: Japan House, 101-111 Kensington High St, Kensington, W8 5SA. Price: Free. japanhouselondon.uk.
