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2025 EXHIBITIONS

It’s the time of year when museums and galleries announce their exhibition programmes for the coming year.  We asked the Smith Greenfield team to pick some of their favourites and we’re delighted to share them with you here!

Turner in January: The Vaughan Bequest from the National Gallery of Ireland, National Galleries of Scotland, 1-31 January 2025

In 2025 the National Galleries of Scotland will commemorate the 250th birthday of beloved British artist JMW Turner (1775 – 1851) with a once in a lifetime, free exhibition at the Royal Scottish Academy building.  For the first time, visitors will be able to marvel at over 30 Turner watercolours from Dublin spanning the breadth of Turner’s career.  Visitors can roam through sweeping seascapes, dramatic landscapes and spectacular cities, many displayed in their original frames. As part of this special partnership, the Turner works from the Scottish national collection will go on display at the National Gallery of Ireland allowing visitors in both Scotland and Ireland to connect with works from the Henry Vaughan Bequest they don’t often get to see.

Anselm Kiefer: Early Works, Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, 14 February–15 June 2025

The Ashmolean’s spring 2025 exhibition will be a landmark survey of the early output of the towering figure of postwar art, Anselm Kiefer. The group of 45 early works made during the period 1969–82 will feature paintings, watercolours, artist books, photos and woodcuts, rarely displayed in the UK before. The exhibition will also include three new paintings from Kiefer’s own collection, chosen by the artist especially for the Ashmolean show, which is organised in partnership with the Hall Art Foundation

Somaya Critchlow: The Chamber, Dulwich Picture Gallery, London, 4 February – 20 July 2025

London-based painter Somaya Critchlow (b. 1993) grew up visiting Dulwich Picture Gallery. Since then, Critchlow’s work has been exhibited internationally and is held in public collections across the UK, Europe and North America including ICA, Miami; Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam; and the British Museum, London.

She now returns to Dulwich for her debut solo show in a UK public institution, creating a new body of work in response to Old Master paintings. Captivated by the highly charged episodes which unfold across the Gallery’s narrative paintings, Critchlow probes how historic art — telling familiar yet epic stories of myth and religion — can mask complex power structures.

Siena: The Rise of Painting 1300 – 1350, National Gallery, London, 8 March – 22 June 2025  

Paintings by some of the greatest Italian artists of the 14th century will be reunited at the National Gallery in 2025 – having been dispersed throughout the world for centuries. Some of the most innovative works in the Western painting tradition, many of which were part of larger ensembles before they were separated, are being brought back together. These influential and precious paintings, many in gold ground, will be among the highlights of a rarely staged exhibition of art of the first half of the 14th century.

Cartier, V&A, London, 12 April 2025 – 16 November 2025

The V&A will stage the UK’s first major exhibition in almost 30 years dedicated to the creations of Cartier, exploring how the Maison became an unparalleled force in the jewellery and watch world. Featuring more than 350 objects, it will chart the evolution of the house’s legacy of art, design and craftsmanship since the turn of the 20th century, when the three grandsons of founder Louis-François set out to create the first globally recognised jewellery house, establishing branches in Paris, London and New York. With an enviable client list of royalty and aristocracy from all over the world, Cartier was ‘the jeweller of kings and king of jewellers’ and later broadened its appeal thanks to the devotion of eminent creatives from the worlds of cinema, music and fashion. The exhibition will include precious jewels and showstopping objects, historic gemstones, iconic watches and clocks from the V&A and Cartier Collection as well as previously unseen drawings from the V&A and Cartier archives, together with works lent by His Majesty The King from the Royal Collection, major UK and international museums, and private collections.

Hiroshige, British Museum, London, 1 May – 7 September 2025

Join Hiroshige on a lyrical journey through Edo Japan, exploring the natural beauty of the landscapes and the bustle of urban life. The exhibition also considers his lasting influence on modern and contemporary artists. Born into a humble home during an unsettled time in Japan’s history, Utagawa Hiroshige (1797– 1858) went on to become one of Japan’s most talented, prolific and popular artists. His calm artistic vision of Japan connected with – and sustained – people at every level of society through uncertain times. The exhibition will explore Hiroshige’s art and legacy through a significant gift and loan of prints from a major US collector of Hiroshige’s work, as well as prints, drawings, illustrated books and paintings from the British Museum collection, and additional important loans. The exhibition is the first of Hiroshige to be held at the British Museum and the first on the artist in London for more than a quarter of a century.

Summer Exhibition 2025, Royal Academy of Arts, London, 17 June – 17 August 2025

The Royal Academy’s annual Summer Exhibition, the world’s largest open submission contemporary art show, will be in its 257 th year. It will provide a unique platform for emerging and established artists to showcase their works to an international audience, comprising a range of media from painting, printmaking and photography, to sculpture, architecture and film. It has been held each year without interruption since 1769. Around 1200 works will go on display, the majority of which will be for sale offering visitors an opportunity to purchase original work. Funds raised support the exhibiting artists, the postgraduate students studying in the RA Schools and the work of the Royal Academy.

Herbert Smith Freehills Portrait Award, National Portrait Gallery, London, 10 July – 12 October 2025

The Herbert Smith Freehills Portrait Award is a prestigious painting competition that celebrates the very best in contemporary portraiture. 2025’s exhibition will display captivating works from around the world, by both self-taught and more established painters, that provide a snapshot of portrait painting today. Since its inception, the long-standing competition has attracted over 40,000 entries from more than 100 countries and has been seen by over 6 million people. Artists demonstrate an impressive range and complexity of skill, with artworks exploring both classical and innovative techniques that show the enduring relevance of portraiture today.

Wes Anderson, Design Museum, London, 21 November 2025 — 04 May 2026

The first retrospective exhibition of the work of film director Wes Anderson will follow the evolution of his films from his first experiments in the 1990s, right up to his most recent, Oscar-winning frescoes. Each Wes Anderson picture plunges the viewer into a world with its own codes, motifs, references, and sumptuous and instantly recognisable sets and costumes. This exhibition will be the first time museum visitors have the opportunity to delve into the art of his complete filmography, examining his inspirations, homages, and the meticulous craftsmanship that define his work. From the melancholic charm of The Royal Tenenbaums to the youthful adventure of Moonrise Kingdom, discover how Anderson’s unique vision and dedication to detail have created some of the most visually and emotionally compelling films of recent times. Through a curated collection of original props, costumes, and behind-the scenes insights, including from his personal collection, this exhibition offers an unprecedented look into the world of Wes Anderson, celebrating his enduring influence on contemporary cinema.

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