Every month, we look ahead to major London openings and select the 10 must-see exhibitions.
February is going to be a very busy month for art lovers. In addition to Leonardo Da Vinci, Vogue and Delacroix — which we included in our 2016 art exhibitions round-up — there are many more shows that are worth visiting. Have a look at our suggestions below.
Betty Woodman: Theatre of the Domestic @ ICA (3 February-10 April)
Famous for her revolutionary work in ceramics and clay, contemporary artist Betty Woodman hosts her first UK solo show at ICA. The exhibition focuses on work Woodman has created in the last 10 years, including a number of major new mixed media pieces. £1, tickets can be bought on the door
Out There @ Somerset House (3 February-10 April)
Historic England, formerly known as English Heritage, presents its first major exhibition focusing on key public art created between 1945 and 1985. Featuring works by Barbara Hepworth, Henry Moore, Ralph Brown and more, it will tell the fates and fortunes of site-specific sculptures and reliefs by pioneering artists. £6.50/£5, booking online suggested
Bruegel in Black and White @ Courtauld Gallery (4 February-8 May)
Get the chance to see Bruegel’s only three surviving grisaille paintings for the first time. The masterpieces, painted in shades of grey, will be accompanied by replicas made by Bruegel’s sons as well as other grisailles in order to shed light on the history of this painting genre in Northern Europe. £9.50/£8.50 (including entrance to the Permanent Collection), booking online suggested
Comic Creatix @ House of Illustration (5 February-15 May)
Explore the world of comics through 100 unique artworks made by female comic creators. Spanning from newspaper strips to modern graphic novels, this exhibition defines the role of women in creating comics from the 1800s to the present day. £7.70/£5.50, booking online suggested
Nikolai Astrup: Painting Norway @ Dulwich Picture Gallery (5 February-5 May)
Admire Astrup's colourful and vivid paintings depicting his homeland, Norway, as a mythological and fairytale landscape. Contemporary to Edvard Munch, he was a radical innovator in printmaking. £12.50/£11.50, booking online suggested
Curtain Up @ V&A (9 February-31 August)
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Olivier Awards in April 2016, the V&A will open its endless archive and showcase theatre props from multi award-winning productions such as The Phantom of the Opera and Wolf Hall, staged both in New York and London. Free admission
Pre-Raphaelites on Paper @ Leighton House Museum (12 February-29 May)
See an exceptional, privately-assembled collection of over 100 drawings made by the Pre-Raphaelites and their contemporaries. Hanging on the walls of the opulent Victorian studio-house, you will admire an array of works including portraits, landscapes, allegories and scenes from religious and literary works. £10/£8, booking online not required — tickets can be bought on the door
Botticelli and Treasures from the Hamilton Collection @ Courtauld Gallery (18 February-15 May)
If you're passionate about Renaissance art, this one is definitely for you. Around 30 drawings made by Botticelli to illustrate Dante's Divine Comedy will be on display, alongside a selection of illuminated manuscripts, originally from the 15th century. £9.50/£8.50 (including entrance to the Permanent Collection), booking online suggested
Imran Qureshi @ Barbican Arts Centre (18 February-10 July)
Pakistani artist Imran Qureshi has created a series of site specific works for The Curve, Barbican's unique exhibiting space. Expect a series of miniature paintings beginning with gentle scenes of nature and gradually evolving into darker elements, subtly implying the uncertainty of what lies around the bend. Free admission
Performing for the Camera @ Tate Modern (18 February-12 June)
Exploring the relationship between photography and performance, this exhibition displays works from over 50 seminal photographers who engaged with provocative yet serious topics through photography. £16/£14, booking online suggested
To find more about what's on in London, visit Londonist's Museum & Galleries and Art & Photography pages.
