June's Most Talked About Art Exhibitions

You might have heard the buzz surrounding these exhibitions, plus we’ve picked a few you may like — if you’re undecided about whether or not to see them, here’s our guide to which are worth it. All but one are free to visit.

Dolly Thompsett at Art First
We've always been massive fans of her magical realism style of painting — it's bonkers and brilliant. Whether it be a fortress surrounded by flora and fauna or a boatload of soldiers travelling down a dark jungle river, head downstairs in this gallery and enter Dolly Thompsett's fantastical world. Free, until 14 August

Londonist Rating: ★★★★☆

Corin Sworn at Whitechapel Gallery
After winning the Max Mara Art Prize for Women, Sworn has heavily researched 16th century Italian Commedia dell'Arte theatre to create an installation that includes costumes, a rabbit, lights and other theatrical props. However, it's presented with very little context and if there is a message within this work it struggles to make it out. Free, until 19 July

Londonist Rating: ★★☆☆☆

Justin Mortimer: Kult at Parafin
These paintings tackle the big issues of the world of war, disease and death. It's the latest showing from talented painter Justin Mortimer and the men in biological hazard suits are his most powerful and arresting series. Free, until 27 June

Londonist Rating: ★★★☆☆

Richard Prince: New Portraits at Gagosian, Davies St
Richard Prince has had legal action taken against him for taking Instagram photographs and selling them as his work. These latest works are very much in his style of appropriation for art and a clever way to draw attention to the narcissism and self obsession that have come to dominate our society and our online personae. It's fun but it feels like he could have done a lot more with this theme rather than simply taking these photographs and enlarging them. Free, until 1 August

Londonist Rating: ★★★☆☆

Reflections on the Self at Christie's Mayfair
This auction house does know how to put on some stellar shows and in this latest exhibition, focusing on portraiture, it delivers once more. Durer, Rembrandt, Lucien Freud, Henri Matisse and Andy Warhol are just some of the A-list artists that can be found within this high quality showing. Free, until 5 September

Londonist Rating: ★★★★☆

David Hockney at Annely Juda Fine Art
One of Britain's greatest living artists tries his hand at playing with perspectives in a show of paintings mixed with photographs. It's always nice to hear of an established artist turning his hand at something new, but these works are plain awful. Free, until 27 June

Londonist Rating: ★☆☆☆☆

Sophie Derrick: Shifting States at DegreeArt
Our favourite face painter returns with a new series of works that blend painting with photography so they appear semi-abstract. They are impressive pieces, though we do prefer her earlier works. Free, until 10 August

Londonist Rating: ★★★☆☆

Sean Lynch — DeLorean: Progress Report at Ronchini Gallery
We may have all become fans of the DeLorean car in the Back to the Future movies, but the Irish factory that built them went bankrupt after two years of operation. Sean Lynch's photographs explore the remnants of this factory including some of the machinery being re-purposed as an anchor for a fish farm. It's effective documentary photography that catalogues the downfall of a Hollywood icon. Free, until 27 June

Londonist Rating: ★★★★☆

Hide and Seek — Drawings by Eileen Cooper at Royal Academy
The drawings in this exhibition are primal with a tribal feel to them — the darker works really pack a punch and are unsettling to view. The drawings cover different times in Cooper's life and this progression from youth to maturity can be charted in the pieces on display. £3 or free with a main exhibition ticket, until 23 August

Londonist Rating: ★★★☆☆