Every month, we look ahead to major London openings and select the 10 must-see art exhibitions. Here are our top picks for March, which will be another very busy month for art openings in London.
1. Venturing Beyond @ Somerset House (3 March-2 May)
As part of its UTOPIA '16 season, Somerset House dedicates an exhibition to graffiti and street art, exploring these art forms as intrinsically utopian practices. A series of events including talks, workshops, film and performances will accompany the exhibition. Free admission
2. Botticelli Reimagined @ V&A, (5 March-3 July)
Botticelli is one of our favourite Renaissance artists; the Birth of Venus is stunning. But how did he inspire artists who came after him, and what did the worlds of film and fashion take from him too? This promises to be a diverse and engaging exhibition. £15/concessions available
3. Hilma af Klint & Das Institut @ Serpentine Galleries (3 March-15 May)
Discover the work and life of Swedish female painter Hilma af Klint and her pioneering work in abstract painting. The exhibition includes never-before exhibited artworks as well as some of the artist's masterpieces. Free admission
4. I Am the Greatest: Muhammad Ali @ The O2 (4 March-31 August)
From his humble beginnings in Kentucky where he was known as The Louisville Lip, to becoming the three-times heavyweight champion of the world, explore the life and career of 'The Greatest' at this one-off exhibition. £18/£9
5. In the Age of Giorgione @ Royal Academy of Arts (12 March-5 June)
Titian and Giorgione were the leading artistic figures of the Venetian Renaissance. But how does this artistic period compare to the wider Italian phenomenon? And what role did Giorgione play in it? This exhibition finds out for you. £10/concessions available
6. Charlotte Brontë @ Sir John Soane's Museum (15 March-7 May)
Celebrating 200 years since Brontë's birth, the museum displays a unique series of the writer's treasured possessions. Most of the objects on display come from the London trips she made to see her publisher — including a guidebook she used to explore the city, and an evening dress. Free admission
7. Strange and Familiar @ Barbican Art Gallery (16 March-19 June)
Curated by acclaimed photographer Martin Parr, this exhibition gives a vibrant and deep portrait of modern Britain through the lens of world-famous photographers such as Henri Cartier-Bresson, Rineke Dijkstra and Robert Frank. £12/£10
If you're a Parr fan, don't miss Unseen City at Guildhall Art Gallery (4 March-31 July).
8. Russia and the Arts @ National Portrait Gallery (17 March-26 June)
The late 1800s was a vital time for Russian culture. It was the era of Leo Tolstoy, Fyodor Dostoevsky and Anton Chekhov. This rich exhibition beings it all back to life. £5/£4
9. Clangers, Bagpuss & Co @ V&A Museum of Childhood (19 March-9 October)
The first major retrospective celebrating the work of the great children's television creators Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin. See original puppets, read scripts from Clangers episodes and marvel at Postgate’s stop-motion film camera, adapted using a small motor and bits of Meccano. Free admission
10. Paul Strand: Photography & Film for the 20th Century @ V&A (19 March-3 July)
Enjoy this major retrospective of the American photographer and filmmaker, the first to be hosted in the UK since his death in the late 70s. Strand's incredible work helped define the way fine art and documentary photography is understood today.
To find more about what's on in London, visit Londonist's Museum & Galleries and Art & Photography pages.
