SPINDLY FIGURES: Alberto Giacometti is best known for his spindly figure sculptures. But he was also a talented portraitist and draughtsman. This exhibition brings together over 250 of his works in a blockbuster show celebrating a modern art master. Giacometti at Tate Modern. 10 May-10 September, £16.80.
DARK SIDE OF THE MOON: After the musical Bowie and 1960s exhibitions, the V&A is taking on rockers Pink Floyd in its big exhibition for the summer. The V&A is a master of locational audio so we're expecting an immersive exhibition of music, memorabilia and design. Pink Floyd: Their Mortal Remains at V&A. 13 May-1 October, £20-£24
VENETIAN CANALS: Canaletto was the master of capturing detailed daily life on the canals of 18th century Venice. An added bonus is that many of his paintings are in the UK within the Royal Collection. This will be a collection of fantastic paintings of Venetian waterways by Canaletto and his peers. Canaletto & the Art of Venice at The Queen's Gallery, Buckingham Palace. 19 May-12 November, £11.
FLOWERS UNDERWATER: Alexander James specialises in taking the existing genres of still life and vanitas and recreating them underwater. We loved his last major UK show and now he's taking on the subject of flowers. They will be distorted by the water so they look like abstract paintings. Alexander James: All Icons Are False at D-contemporary, 23 Grafton street, W1S 4EY. 19-30 May, free.
CALIFORNIA DREAMIN': Designed in California is what it says on the side of every iPhone box. It's a stamp of authority that suggests what modern design is all about. This show will look back at what California has contributed to the world of design from skateboards through to Apple products. California: Designing Freedom at Design Museum. 24 May-15 October, £16.
A TSUNAMI OF ART: Hokusai's Great Wave is one of the most recognisable works of art. This major exhibition will look at the last 30 years of this influential artist's life. There will be plenty of his renowned prints and an exploration of the spirituality within his work. Hokusai: Beyond the Great Wave at The British Museum. 25 May-13 August, £12.
SCI-FI ANIME: The architecture in anime can have just as much impact as the character design, a perfect example being the futuristic cityscape from Ghost in the Shell which is included in this show. We loved House of Illustration's last anime exhibition, so we have high hopes for this one as well. Anime Architecture: Backgrounds of Japan at House of Illustration. 26 May-10 September, £7.50.
ELEGANT FASHION: This year marks the centenary of French luxury fashion house Balenciaga. To mark the occasion, the V&A will be examining the brand's evolution, featuring many of its designs and delving into how the clothing lines are made. One for the fashion fans. Balenciaga: Shaping Fashion at V&A. 27 May-18 February, £12.
Art Fairs & Festivals
It's not just major exhibitions opening this month, as there are plenty of short run events too.
Photo London (18-21 May) returns to Somerset House for its third year. It's a must for photography fans — a massive fair that sprawls across all wings of the building. For photography by emerging artists, South Bank is the place to be. FIX photo festival (12-21 May) will be taking over the Oxo Bargehouse for just over a week.
Affordable Art Fair (11-14 May) is back with its Hampstead edition, a perfect starting point for budding collectors with many reasonably priced artworks. Prefer to deal with artists directly? Then head over to Wimbledon Art Studios (11-14 May) and explore artist's studios with a chance to buy directly from them. Want the big names then head over to snap up some of their editions at the London Original Print Fair at Royal Academy of Arts (4-7 May)
Finally if performance art is more to your liking, you'll want to check out Block Universe (29 May-4 June). Performances will be carried out all across the city, including in esteemed venues such as the Royal Academy of Arts and Somerset House.
