Art exhibitions in London this winter
Winter is a great time to explore London, with its festive lights, cosy pop-ups and warm atmosphere to make you forget all about the plummeting temperatures. It seems that there’s endless carol singing, festive parties and ice-themed events springing up around the capital, but there’s plenty of other exciting things around this season if you fancy a break from Christmassy goings-on. Take in some culture and explore the best art exhibitions happening right now across the city.
Wildlife Photographer of the Year
If you’ve not seen this exhibition before, what have you been doing? Now in its fifty-third year, the celebrated annual wildlife photography competition exhibition returns to the Natural History Museum until May 2018. 100 images have been chosen for exhibition from almost 50,000 entries, with professional and amateur photographers competing to have their work displayed.
Winning images have been chosen for their creativity, originality and technical excellence, and the result is a breathtaking collection. Images record the extraordinary beauty and wonder of the natural world, with photographs of tiny insects through to massive mammals.
Cézanne Portraits
Famous Post-Impressionist painter Paul Cézanne made almost 1,000 paintings in his lifetime and is best-known for his incredibly varied painting style and the way in which he influenced 20th century abstract art. Around 160 of his paintings are portraits, and this major international exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery enables visitors to see over fifty of them together for the first time, with portraits sourced from collections across the world. The exhibition includes works which have never been on public display in the UK, so don’t miss your chance to experience it before it closes in February 2018.
Sculpture in the City
Sculpture in the City is an annual free outdoor exhibition of sculptures, this year returning to the Square Mile for the seventh time. Sculptures have been on display since June and will stay on display until May 2018, so there’s still plenty of time to fit this one in. The urban sculptures on display include works by Paul McCarthy, Ryan Gander and Damien Hirst, so it’s a great opportunity to wander around and discover some world-class public art. There are 16 artworks in 18 locations across the Square Mile, and you can find a handy map of the trail online to make sure you don’t miss any.
The City is Ours
The Museum of London brings us an interactive exhibition, the focus of which asks how and why our cities are transforming and how urban communities around the world are responding to these changes. Using dramatic visualisations, the exhibition explores the challenges posed by urbanisation and highlights the ways in which individuals, communities and governments are working to improve city life. The City is Ours is part of City Now City Future, a year-long season of exhibitions, creative commissions, public events and debates tackling all-important questions about urban life. It’s a fascinating insight into how our world is changing, with 25 London projects featured. Originally created by the Cité des sciences et de l’industrie in Paris, the exhibition will be presented in both English and French. Entry is free and it’s on until January.
… And then seek out sustenance at M Restaurant Victoria
If you’re looking for more cultural events in London after visiting these exhibitions, why not spend an evening at the theatre? Enjoy a pre-theatre dinner in London at M Restaurants to make the night extra special, taking advantage of our Menu 28, which offers 2 courses and coffee for £28. For conveniently located restaurants near Apollo Theatre, visit M Victoria Street.
