This summer, the art world is set to deliver a season of must-see exhibitions, offering a mix of daring contemporary works, long-awaited retrospectives and fresh curatorial perspectives.
From thought-provoking installations to rediscovered masterpieces, these shows promise to define the cultural conversation, drawing in both dedicated collectors and casual visitors alike. Whether exploring the boundaries of new media, revisiting iconic figures or spotlighting rising talent, each exhibition tells a story that resonates beyond the gallery walls.
Here’s a look at the defining art events of the season, from Paris and New York to London, Mumbai and Hong Kong.
London
National Portrait Gallery: “Edvard Munch Portraits”
While Norwegian painter Edvard Munch may be best known for the psychologically tense painting "The Scream," the artist built a career around portraits. With a total of 45 paintings, this exhibition explores an oft-overlooked aspect of Mr. Munch’s career while exploring the artist’s distinctive style.
Until June 15, 2025
National Gallery: “Siena: The Rise of Painting, 1300-1350”
While Florence is often considered the center of the Italian Renaissance, this exhibition highlights Siena’s pivotal contributions to art and culture. With over 100 artworks, viewers should keep an eye out for pieces by the Italian artists Duccio, Simone Martini and the Lorenzetti brothers.
Until June 22, 2025
Tate Modern: “Leigh Bowery!”
Australian artist and performer Leigh Bowery lived for only 33 years, but left an unforgettable mark on London’s underground art scene with his boundary-pushing performances and persona. The retrospective mixes archival images, costumes and video to commemorate his everlasting influence.
Until August 31, 2025
New York
The Frick Collection
Following a four-year, $300 million renovation, the museum has reopened its doors at its original mansion setting. Museum goers can bask in Gilded Age opulence while studying the works of Old Masters, from Vermeer to Goya to Bellini, and then indulge their taste buds with a coffee; the institution was previously one of the few New York museums to abstain from in-museum refreshments.
Salon 94: “Kennedy Yanko Retro Future”
The innovative gallery’s latest exhibition considers form with a solo exhibition by American sculptor and painter Kennedy Yanko. The artist’s bent and warped sculptures draw inspiration from antiquity to 1940s and ‘50s America.
Until May 3, 2025
The Met: “Caspar David Friedrich: The Soul of Nature”
This landmark exhibition celebrates the 250th anniversary of German painter Caspar David Friedrich by bringing together the artist’s haunting landscapes. His sublime paintings capture the transformative power of nature while immortalizing the bond between the individual and nature.
Until May 11, 2025
View this post on Instagram
Paris
Centre Pompidou: “Paris Noir”
The exhibition memorializes 300-plus works by 150 artists of African heritage who called Paris their home between the years 1950 and 2000.
Until June 30, 2025
Musée du Louvre: “Art and Fashion: Statement Piece”
The historic museum’s first-ever exhibition dedicated to couture contextualizes garments in conversation with the institution’s enviable collection of historical furniture and objets d’art.
Until July 21, 2025
Fondation Louis Vuitton: “David Hockney 25”
The late-career retrospective of the celebrated English painter David Hockney is the largest the artist has ever done and includes more than 400 works spanning seven decades.
Until August 31, 2025
View this post on Instagram
Hong Kong
Para Site: ”Take Turns”
Hong Kong artist Wing Po So draws on her family’s experience in Chinese medicine to create artworks that examine the relationship between nature, the body and materiality. The exhibition pieces repurposed drawers from defunct Chinese pharmacies to tell a story of decay and regeneration.
Until May 25, 2025
M+: “The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Picasso for Asia — A Conversation”
The exhibition evaluates the legacy of Spanish artist Pablo Picasso within the context of the continent. More than 60 artworks from the artist will be in dialogue with 130 pieces by Asian and Asian-diasporic artists.
Until July 13, 2025
Hong Kong Museum of Art: “Eying East, Wondering West”
Chinese artist Xu Bing developed a unique square-word calligraphy practice in 1993, in which English is written to resemble Chinese characters. The exhibition also includes an interactive classroom component where museum-goers can learn and practice the calligraphy style.
Until July 30, 2025
View this post on Instagram
Athens:
Rebecca Camhi Gallery: “Forecasting: Days as Surfaces”
The exhibition spotlights the artwork of Greek painter Zisis Bliatkas, who turns to technicolor hues to paint canvases that explore a natural world inspired by the internet.
Until May 23, 2025
Michael Werner Gallery: “Thief”
German artist Raphaela Simon's first solo show in Athens includes new paintings and sculptures exploring space and emotion through the interplay of form and feeling.
Until June 7, 2025
National Museum of Contemporary Art: “We Betrayed the Horses”
Greek artist Janis Rafa’s first solo institutional exhibition in her home country consists of an assortment of new works exploring the relationship between humans and horses. The immersive installation spans sculpture, text and video.
Until October 5, 2025