Top 10 Art Exhibitions To See In June 2016

Tabish Khan
By Tabish Khan Last edited 93 months ago
Top 10 Art Exhibitions To See In June 2016

Every month we look ahead to major London openings and select the 10 must-see art exhibitions. Here are our picks for June.

One of Georgiana Houghton's spirit drawings. Courtesy Victorian Spiritualists' Union Melbourne, Australia

Alex Katz: Quick Light @ Serpentine gallery (2 June-11 September)
New York painter Katz has been creating work in his trademark flat style for decades. He may be better known for his portraits but this show focusses on his landscapes. Expect a minimalist representation of everyday life. Also look out for Etel Adnan at the Serpentine Sackler and the opening of the summer pavilion. Free.

Mary Heilmann: Looking at Pictures @ Whitechapel Gallery (8 June-21 August)
Beach life in Los Angeles and 1960s counter culture are just two of the inspirations for this collection of abstract paintings. It's been a while since there was a pure painting exhibition at Whitechapel Gallery, so we're looking forward to this one. Free.

Winifred Knights @ Dulwich Picture Gallery (8 June-18 September)
An exhibition dedicated to one of Britain's most pioneering artists in the early 20th century. This exhibition will reunite all of her completed paintings for the first time since their creation. This gallery is on a roll after Nikolai Astrup and MC Escher — let's hope they can maintain it. £12.50 / £7.

Summer exhibition @ Royal Academy of Arts (13 June-21 August)
This ever popular annual fixture returns with a huge array of artwork by varied artists, with most of it for sale. Richard Wilson will be curating the 2016 exhibition, and after the superb jobs by Michael Craig-Martin and Cornelia Parker over the last two years it's a high benchmark. £13.50

Georgiana Houghton: Spirit Drawings @ The Courtauld Gallery (16 June-11 September)
Georgiana Houghton was a spiritualist medium in the 1860s and 1870s and her claim was that her abstract watercolours were guided by the spirits of renaissance painters and angelic beings. One of the strangest concepts for an exhibition we've ever heard, has left us eager to find out more. £9 / £8.

One the dynamic paintings of Winifred Knights. © The Estate of Winifred Knights

Opening of the new Tate Modern (17 June)
Anticipation is high to see what this expansion will look like. It will be a massive addition to the Tate Modern's permanent collections and will undoubtedly result in the gallery becoming even more popular. We've had a look around the outside. Free

Engineering the World: Ove Arup and the Philosophy of Total Design @ V&A (18 June-16 November)
Crossrail, Centre Pompidou in Paris and the Sydney Opera House are just some of the massive and recognisable projects that will be explored in this architectural exhibition. £7

BP portrait award @ National Portrait Gallery (23 June-4 September)
This divisive exhibition brings in portraitists from around the world. It may not always be as adventurous as we'd like it to be, but it's an annual stalwart we enjoy. Free

Painters Paintings: From Freud to Van Dyck @ National Gallery (23 June-4 Sept)
What paintings do painters own? Stretching over 500 years of art history this show looks at everyone from Henri Matisse through to Joshua Reynolds. This should offer some fascinating insights into the mind of a painter. £12/£6

Wounded: Conflict, Casualties and Care @ Science Museum (29 June onwards)
It's been nearly 100 years since the Battle of the Somme commenced. How were soldiers treated on the battlefield and how did they deal with returning home? Medical documents and first hand accounts will add narrative to this heavy exhibition. Free.

Also try...

The Art and Antiques Fair @ Olympia
An art fair full of luxury items. Last time we visited we were tempted by suits of armour and a cave bear skeleton. £15

Last Updated 03 June 2016