Art Exhibitions to Visit in 2024 – Discover Our Top Picks

In 2023, there have been many special exhibitions that you may have missed but fear not! In this article, we will prepare you by providing you with a list of the top 31 art exhibitions to visit in 2024. This way, you will not miss out on the many spectacular and artistically innovative programs set to redefine contemporary art. Included in this list are also a few shows that will soon highlight the best artworks of many famous artists from the past. Read on to discover some of the much-anticipated art shows for 2024!

Art Shows You Cannot Miss in 2024

From retrospectives of past masters to contemporary discourses and reflections on current societal values, 2024 brings art enthusiasts much to look forward to. The close of 2023 signals new collaborations between commercial giants of popular culture and prominent art institutions that seek to make art more accessible to the wider public and even bridge the gap between fashion, architecture, music, and design. Hopefully, these 31 art exhibitions to visit in 2024 will give you more to look forward to in the coming year and loads more inspiration for curating your own works!

Victoria and Albert Museum in London, England, United Kingdom (2023); DiscoA340, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

31 Highly Anticipated Art Exhibitions to See in 2024

From the Metropolitan Museum of Art to the Royal Academy of Arts in London, this Winter you will be nothing short of art entertainment and education as you embark on a series of art show hopping.

Below, we will jump right into our list of the most anticipated art exhibitions for 2024, that you simply need to catch.

John Waters: Pope of Trash (2023 – 2024)

For $25 per visitor, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures is currently exhibiting the work of film director John Waters, who is considered an icon in cult film and a luminary of independent cinema. Focusing on the creative processes, from archival images to costumes and props, the comprehensive exhibition is sure to attract many film enthusiasts, including those who would love to see the exploding wig worn by Debbie Harry in Hairspray.

Marina Abramović (2023 – 2024)

If you enjoy performance art and wish to see the works of Marina Abramovic in the flesh, then be sure to catch the best of her work before 1 January 2024. The show, held at the Royal Academy of Arts in London went up on 23 September 2023 and features only the best of the artist’s career in performance art, from The Artist is Present to The House with the Ocean View.

The rotating performances make for unique visits if you see the show more than once.

Marina Abramović: The Artist Is Present at the Museum of Modern Art, New York (2010); Andrew Russeth from New York, New York, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Pokémon x Van Gogh Museum (2023 – 2024)

At $21 per visitor, the Pokémon x Van Gogh Museum is one show you need to see before it closes on 7 January 2024. With a face and character like Pikachu from Pokémon coupled with one of the world’s most loved artists, Vincent van Gogh, you cannot expect anything but a combination of nostalgia for an impressive visual display that will unite young and senior art lovers alike.

For more Van Gogh artworks, one can also look forward to the Van Gogh: Poets and Lovers show set for 14 September 2024 at the National Gallery for the institution’s 200^th birthday.

The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam (2017); Steven Lek, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Spike Lee: Creative Sources (2023 – 2024)

If you are in Brooklyn, do not miss this immersive exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum, which launched on 7 October 2023. The show offers viewers a unique opportunity to view the inner workings and creative minds of one of America’s most famous contemporary filmmakers and directors Spike Lee.

One can expect to encounter critical themes relevant to current societal issues and collective histories, including race, Black identity, and personal insight into the creative’s life that shaped his films.

Brooklyn Museum exhibit (nd); National Archives at College Park, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Picasso in Fontainebleau (2023 – 2024)

With tickets from $14, the Museum of Modern Art in New York is currently exhibiting four massive canvases alongside other works by Pablo Picasso from his period working in his studio in Fontainebleau, France in 1921.

The show will also feature archival documents and images and rarely-seen images of his family and studio life.

Pablo Picasso in Canada (2017); Intermedichbo, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Yayoi Kusama: Infinite Love (2023 – 2024)

Catch the latest mirror room Dreaming of Earth’s Sphericity, I Would Offer My Love (2023) by Yayoi Kusama at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art in 2024. If you have not been able to see the brilliant works of Kusama’s genius and kaleidoscopic vision, you can be sure to catch it in time before summer.

The museum also offers a dining package for a more immersive experience.

Yayoi Kusama Exhibition at Helsinki Art Museum (2016); Helsinki Art Museum, The Broad, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Mark Rothko (1903-1970) (2023 – 2024)

If you need another reason to go to Paris, then this is it. The Mark Rothko exhibition is currently on show for all fans of Mark Rothko and his iconic color field paintings hung at the Fondation Louis Vuitton. The retrospective is the first of its kind in 24 years, dedicated to one of the world’s most famous modern painters of the 20^th century and revealing 115 of his works from collections across the globe.

The show ends on 2 April 2024 with ticket prices set at $17.

Tribute, Mark Rothko Art Centre, Daugavpils, Latvia (2017); Traqueurdelumieres, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Pesellino: A Renaissance Master Revealed (2023 – 2024)

Hosted in room 46, the National Gallery debuted the work of a previously forgotten Renaissance master named Francesco Pesellino, who thrived in the 15^th century. The museum opened its doors to the public on 7 December 2023 to reveal a selection of the painter’s key artworks from the collection and works on loan that best highlight his talents. Two artworks not to be missed from the collection are Pesellino’s Cassone panels entitled Stories of David (1445 – 1455) and Pistoia Trinity Altarpiece (1455 – 1460), which embody the main attraction of the show.

The show will be up until 10 March 2024, so if you are in London, do not miss this!

Annunciation (1445) by Francesco Pesellino; I, Sailko, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Caspar David Friedrich: Art for a New Age (2023 – 2024)

This recently opened exhibition commemorates the contributions of the master painter Caspar David Friedrich in a show titled Art for a New Age, which celebrates the artist’s 250^th birthday. In partnership with several other German institutions, the Hamburger Kunsthalle is hosting a selection of Friedrich’s paintings, including 90 paper artworks from the artists and his contemporaries to honor the contributions of the Romantic painter. Expect to see around 50 of his best paintings, including his most famous masterpiece Monk by the Sea (1808 – 1810).

Alongside this, you can also catch a glimpse of the artist’s influence on contemporary art through the lens of around 20 additional artists, who provide insight into how one views Romantic artworks like Friedrich’s in light of critical environmental issues. 

Wanderer above the Sea of Fog (1817) by Casper David Friedrich; Caspar David Friedrich, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Field of Light (2023 – 2024)

Requiring only a reservation and completely free, the Field of Light show by Bruce Munro is currently on view at the Freedom Plaza in New York until 15 December 2024.

Make sure to book your spot to witness the curated and extravagant display of 17,000 solar-powered fiber optic stems that light up to boost your mood this winter.

Eden Project with Field of Light by Bruce Munro (2008); Zero1752 at English Wikipedia, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Lacan, The Exhibition: When Art Encounters Psychoanalysis (2023 – 2024)

Calling all Surrealists and avid readers of psychoanalysis, this much-anticipated art exhibition at the Centre Pompidou Metz in France is set to open its doors on 31 December 2023. This fascinating art show demonstrates the impact of the psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan on the work of artists like Gustave Courbet and Caravaggio, among others, who relied on Lacan’s theories about the subconscious mind.

Lacan himself was also known to be an art lover and was also in possession of a racy Courbet painting made in 1866. You have until 27 May 2024 to find out more!

The Origin of the World (1866) by Gustave Courbet; Gustave Courbet, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons 

Zanele Muholi: Eye Me (2024)

If you have not seen the striking high-contrast self-portraits of South African artist Zanele Muholi, then now is your chance to start making plans. Featuring 100 works on display for the photographer’s first show on the West Coast, this winter you can expect to browse through their renowned collection Somnyama Ngonyama, which presents a subversion of Black history and the way it is represented, through the self-portraits of the artist. As a visual activist, Muholi is known for voicing the lived experiences of queer communities in South Africa.

The exhibition will be up until 11 August 2024, so you have more than enough time to make a stop at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art!

Zanele Muholi at the International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival «Side by Side» (2011); International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival «Side by Side», CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Tobias Spichtig: Everything No One Ever Wanted (2024)

Set to launch on 19 January 2024, the Kunsthalle Basel invites all to visit Tobias Spichtig: Everything No One Ever Wanted. The show will showcase a selection of Tobias Spichtig’s work and the artist’s examination of 1950s culture.

He does this through the uncanny and icy visual language of his paintings, installations, and sculptures. 

Cute (2024)

In collaboration with renowned Japanese entertainment company Sanrio and the Hello Kitty brand, one can look forward to a culmination of cuteness at Somerset House in London on 25 January 2024. The exhibition is one that contemporary art lovers need to pay attention to since it exposes the many elements of contemporary popular culture that have seemed to take over the world.

From commissioned artworks to video games and fashion, this show will be the destination for many art influencers, artists, students, and those who appreciate cute culture.

Hello Kitty Display at the Hong Kong Plaza (2017); Halokattiez, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Entangled Pasts, 1768–now: Art, Colonialism, and Change (2024)

To be hosted at the Royal Academy of Arts in London, Entangled Pasts, 1768 – now: Art, Colonialism, and Change are among the most anticipated art shows of 2024 that address the dark history of British colonialism, which has been at the forefront of the art world multiple times in 2023. With around 100 works to explore, the show is set to feature the artworks of J. M. W. Turner, Hew Locke, and Kara Walker in a complex yet intriguing curatorial dialogue.

The exhibition opens on 3 February and closes on 28 April 2024.

A Subtlety, or the Marvelous Sugar Baby (2014) by Kara Walker; Adjoajo, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Yoko Ono: Music of the Mind (2024)

If you are a fan of modern and contemporary icon Yoko Ono, then you will want to catch her 200-work show at Tate Modern scheduled for 15 February 2024. From Cut Piece (1964) to many famous works from her Fluxus era and recent sculptures, you can look forward to the many wonderful contributions of Yoko Ono!

This is a must-see for any fans of this impactful artist. 

Exhibition of Yoko Ono’s work of conceptual art at the Metropolitan Cultural Center of Quito (2018); GARY FLORES CADENA, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Frans Hals (2024)

Closely following the end of the Rijksmuseum’s most successful exhibition on Johannes Vermeer, in 2024, you can look forward to marveling at the works of Frans Hals, who was another prolific master of Dutch Golden Age painting.

The show will run between 16 February and 9 June 2024, and feature a special work on loan from the Wallace Collection, that is said to debut in Amsterdam for the first time since over 150 years ago in a review of around 50 paintings by the master artist.

Banquet of the Officers of the Calivermen Civic Guard (1627) by Frans Hals; Frans Hals, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Henok Melkamzer: Telsem Symbols and Imagery (2024)

On 24 February, you must see Henok Melkamzer: Telsem Symbols and Imagery hosted by the Sharjah Art Foundation, which promotes the talismanic and contemporary art practice of Henok Melkamzer. The show presents a unique blend of Ethiopian tradition with the artist’s modern exploration of Orthodox Christian symbols and the zodiac.

The show closes on 16 June 2024 and is simply one that will surely leave an impact on your imagination!

The Harlem Renaissance and Transatlantic Modernism (2024)

If you are not in New York in February, you are missing out big time. The Metropolitan Museum of Art is scheduled to host one of the most influential cultural exhibitions focusing on the Harlem Renaissance.

With works displayed in collaboration with the Studio Museum, the MET aims to provide keen art enthusiasts with a fresh perspective on one of the 20^th century’s greatest art movements.

Roy Lichtenstein: A Centennial Exhibition (2024)

You may be all too familiar with the works of 20^th century Pop artist Roy Lichtenstein and his comic-book-inspired aesthetic that became an important study for how such elements of popular culture were melded into modern art. On 8 March 2024, you can look forward to visiting The Albertina in Vienna, where you will find a selection of Lichtenstein’s enamel artworks, including works that are less-publicized like his still-life paintings and woodcuts.

This is certainly a show that will give you a fresh perspective into the artist’s creative range.

Exhibition Roy Lichtenstein in Stedelijk Museum (1967); Ron Kroon for Anefo, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Ingres and Delacroix: Artists’ Objects (2024)

Ingres and Delacroix: Artists’ Objects is one show to add to your list if you are visiting Paris in 2024. The show opens on 20 March 2024 and debuts not only the former apartment and now transformed museum of Eugène Delacroix but also the works of the French Romantic school leader and his contemporaries, including the Neoclassicist Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, which provides a great juxtaposition to the Romantics.

The show will also display selected objects from antiquity, musical instruments, furniture, and Moroccan weapons.

View of the interior of Delacroix’s studio (Musée national Eugène-Delacroix) (2009); Musée du Louvre / Angèle Dequier, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Anselm Kiefer: Fallen Angels (2024)

Taking center stage at the Palazzo Strozzi in 2024 are the most celebrated works of Anselm Kiefer that showcase the artist’s exploration of post-war German history. If you catch this show, you will also be able to see some of the artist’s unseen works, curated by Arturo Galansino.

This will offer a unique experience. 

A.E.I.O.U (2013) by Anselm Kiefer; Anselm Kiefer, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Paris 1874: Inventing Impressionism (2024)

Another must-see exhibition debuting on 24 March 2024 is Paris 1874: Inventing Impressionism by the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, which will showcase around 130 artworks by the world’s most celebrated Impressionists. The show is perfect for those looking to gain a comprehensive insight into the impact of Impressionism, which celebrates the 150^th anniversary of the original show in 1874.

The exhibition features works by artists Claude Monet and Alfred Sisley among many others from the French Impressionist group.

The Meadow at Veneux-Nadon (1881) by Alfred Sisley; Alfred Sisley, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Edvard Munch: Horizons (2024)

Expected to run from 13 April 2024, the Munch Museum in Oslo is set to host a comprehensive exhibition that traces the contributions of Edvard Munch and his influence on European art between 1880 and 1950. Alongside works by artists such as Raoul Dufy, Olav Strømme, and numerous others, one can expect to enjoy a psychological display of distinct artistic styles.

All of these works are shaped by the influence of Munch and European Modernism.

Melancholy (1892) by Edvard Munch; Edvard Munch, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Willem de Kooning and Italy (2024)

The Gallerie dell’Accademia is set to host a show curated by Gary Garrels and Mario Codognato that focuses on the work of the famous Dutch-American artist Willem de Kooning and his experiences in Italy. The show opens on 16 April 2024 and will showcase a selection of artworks that De Kooning produced in 1959 and 1969.

Capturing both the artist’s critical moment of commercial success, as well as his collaboration with Hertzl Emanuel in bronze sculpture, one can hope to enjoy the experimental trajectory of De Kooning’s practice in Italy.

The artist Willem de Kooning in his studio (1961) by Antony di Gesu; Antony di Gesu Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Caspar David Friedrich: Infinite Landscapes (2024)

An exciting time to catch the landscapes of Caspar David Friedrich in Berlin, the Nationalgalerie will be exhibiting a selection of the Romantic painter’s works between 19 April and 4 August 2024. The show also coincides with separate exhibitions at the Hamburger Kunsthalle and the Pommersches Landesmuseum.

These offer different perspectives on the artist’s work and local relations.

The Sea of Ice (The Wreck of Hope) (1824) by Casper David Friedrich; Caspar David Friedrich, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Expressionists: Kandinsky, Münter and the Blue Rider (2024)

If you ever wished to see some of the best highlights of art from Der Blaue Reiter, then this show is one that you need to catch. From 25 April 2024, Tate Modern in London will be exhibiting the work of the renowned Expressionist group that was founded in 1911. In partnership with Lenbachhaus, over 130 artworks from the group will be on display at the museum to present the group’s contributions to birthing the genre of abstraction.

With names like Franz Marc and Wassily Kandinsky, you cannot go wrong.

Orange Violet (1935) by Wassily Kandinsky; Wassily Kandinsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

When We See Us: A Century of Black Figuration in Painting (2024)

Masterfully curated by the director of Zeitz MOCAA Koyo Kouoh in 2022, the Zeitz MOCAA first presented this comprehensive exhibition of more than 150 artworks by Black artists from around the world. If one did not find themselves in South Africa in 2022, you will soon catch the show in 2024 in May at the Kunstmuseum Basel in Switzerland.

You can expect to witness 100 years’ worth of self-representation and Black history through five key themes: the everyday, repose, sensuality, joy and revelry, and triumph and emancipation.

Building of the Kunstmuseum (2005); Wladyslaw Sojka, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

I. M. Pei: Life is Architecture (2024)

This major retrospective is not to be missed in 2024. If you find yourself in Hong Kong, make sure to stop by the M+ Museum to explore the work of renowned architect Ieoh Ming Pei. The show presents a selection of Pei’s projects from the 20^th and 21^st centuries that made him an icon in the industries of art and architecture.

Through six themes, the show interrogates the aspects of architecture that make it inseparable from life alongside the works of commissioned photographers like Naho Kubota and Tian Fangfang.

The main hall of the Miho Museum, designed by I M Pei (2009); KimonBerlin, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Fragile Beauty: Photographs from the Sir Elton John and David Furnish Collection (2024 – 2025)

This impressive collection of over 8,000 photographs is worth exploring since it showcases the technical and artistic talents of select artists from the collection of Sir Elton John and David Furnish. The exhibition will run from 18 May 2024 until 5 January 2025 at the V&A South Kensington, which gives one more than enough time to plan a trip!

The show titled Fragile Beauty, will present 300 artworks from the couple’s private collection, presenting photographs from the 1950s onwards. 

Victoria and Albert Museum in London, England, United Kingdom (2023); DiscoA340, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Barbie®: The Exhibition (2024 – 2025)

Announced in the last quarter of 2023, the Design Museum is set to host one of the world’s highly-anticipated exhibitions, following the commercial success of the 2023 film Barbie. The exhibition is scheduled as a celebration of the Barbie brand during its 65^th anniversary and will trace the growth of the brand’s legacy since its establishment in 1959. Through the art forms of fashion, design, furniture, and architecture, the show will present a unique and exciting display of works on loan from the Mattel Inc. Barbie archive.

Design Museum, The Atrium (2016); Helen Ilus, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

These 31 art exhibitions to visit in 2024 have us excited to learn more about how contemporary art and exhibition curation is evolving. Before you visit, make sure to read up on many of the famous artists who will be featured in the coming year!

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Famous Modern Artists Are Having Exhibitions in 2024?

A few famous Modern artists who are hosting exhibitions in 2024 include Yayoi Kusama, Yoko Ono, Marina Abramovic, and Mark Rothko.

Which Famous Contemporary Artists Are Exhibiting Their Work in 2024?

There are numerous famous contemporary artists involved in major exhibitions in 2024. These include figures like Yoko Ono, Yayoi Kusama, John Akomfrah, Zanele Muholi, Renzo Martens, Lee Bul, and many others.

How Many Van Gogh Art Exhibitions Are There in 2024?

There are more than five shows focused on the work of Vincent van Gogh that extend into 2024. These include the shows at the Drents Museum, the Van Gogh Museum, the Sompo Museum of Art, and the Museo delle Culture, all of which end in January 2024. An additional show on Van Gogh’s work will be held at the National Gallery later in the year.

Jordan Anthony( Content Editor, Art Writer, Photographer )

Jordan Anthony is a film photographer, curator, and arts writer based in Cape Town, South Africa. Anthony schooled in Durban and graduated from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, with a Bachelor of Art in Fine Arts. During her studies, she explored additional electives in archaeology and psychology, while focusing on themes such as healing, identity, dreams, and intuitive creation in her Contemporary art practice. She has since worked and collaborated with various professionals in the local art industry, including the KZNSA Gallery in Durban (with Strauss & Co.), Turbine Art Fair (via overheard in the gallery), and the Wits Art Museum.

Anthony’s interests include subjects and themes related to philosophy, memory, and esotericism. Her personal photography archive traces her exploration of film through abstract manipulations of color, portraiture, candid photography, and urban landscapes. Her favorite art movements include Surrealism and Fluxus, as well as art produced by ancient civilizations. Anthony’s earliest encounters with art began in childhood with a book on Salvador Dalí and imagery from old recipe books, medical books, and religious literature. She also enjoys the allure of found objects, brown noise, and constellations.

Learn more about Jordan Anthony and the Art in Context Team.