In May, fueled by the energy of spring, London transforms into a vast art gallery. The month’s agenda—ranging from the master brushes of the past to the speculative architectures of the future—offers a deeply satisfying experience for those eager to explore. The city’s leading institutions invite viewers on both an aesthetic journey and a historical and social reckoning.
The Power of the Classics
At The National Gallery, Francisco de Zurbarán, a master of Spanish painting, is showcased with over 50 works. Produced in a Seville enriched by the era’s maritime trade, Zurbarán’s striking depictions of saints and delicate still lifes bring the magnificent yet introspective world of the 17th century to the present day (May 2 – August 23). Another tribute to a master takes place at Tate Britain. James McNeill Whistler, the American painter who bent the rules of portraiture by focusing on the individual rather than the narrative, is presented in his most comprehensive European exhibition in 30 years. His famous Whistler’s Mother and the “nocturne” series, reflecting London’s foggy nights, will be open to visitors from May 21.
Nature, History, and New Frontiers
Kew Gardens crowns the refreshing greenery of spring with the sculptures of Henry Moore. Thirty monumental bronze works scattered throughout the gardens focus on Moore’s ongoing dialogue between the fragility of nature and humanity’s complex relationship with ecosystems (May 9 – September 27). Another exciting opening is in Clerkenwell, where the Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration opens its doors on the site of a formerly private 18th-century waterworks. The center’s inaugural guest is Sri Lankan artist Murugiah, with his wild works blending Hollywood, anime, and pop-punk.
The Wallace Collection sheds light on a lesser-known side of Winston Churchill. Ranging from gloomy wartime scenes to bright Mediterranean landscapes and personal sketches of his sanctuary at Chartwell, the exhibition (May 23 – November 29) reveals how the former Prime Minister both escaped the world and bore witness to it through painting. Meanwhile, the Natural History Museum turns the clock much further back to the Jurassic oceans. Offering a chance to come face-to-face with prehistoric sea monsters—from giant pliosaurs to swift ichthyosaurs—the exhibition (May 22, 2026 – January 3, 2027) appeals to both adults and children.
Social and Cultural Discoveries
Good news for those who don’t want to limit the idea of the future to dystopian darkness: the Barbican presents Liam Young’s “In Other Worlds.” As a filmmaker and speculative architect, Young uses current technological and climatic data to ask: “Can the future be hopeful?” (May 21 – September 6). At Somerset House, the “Holy Pop!” exhibition focuses on modern-day temples—the fanatical devotion and sanctification created by popular culture. Exploring subjects from Princess Diana to the Harry Potter universe, it questions how our sense of belonging has become objectified in the digital age.
Another destination where the past and present meet in a delicate balance is the Wellcome Collection. The “Tenderness and Rage” exhibition (May 29, 2026 – January 3, 2027) traces a line from the devastating days of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the 80s and 90s to the present, showing how everyday care practices and activism are intertwined while making marginalized voices visible. Finally, the V&A Museum (note: the original V&A, not V&A East) provides space for contemporary artists from Asia, Australia, and the Pacific region with its “Rising Voices” exhibition (May 16, 2026 – January 10, 2027). These works, which address regional sensitivities from migration to political conflict using local materials and spiritual contexts, showcase the powerful artistic stance of the Global South.
In addition to these major shows, May plays host to various festivals and short-term fairs celebrating all forms of production, including London Craft Week, the Affordable Art Fair, and Photo London. Simply put, with the arrival of spring, London’s streets are calling you to both breathe and contemplate art.
