What art exhibitions are you looking forward to in 2026

[MmeWorthington]

I currently have my eye on
Tracey Emin
Whistler
Frida Kahlo
Vanessa Bell
Julio le Parc (All Tate in London)

Ai Weiwei - Manchester

Bridget Riley - Margate (maybe - saw the big BR exhibition at the Haywood a few years ago - will it be different works?)

Hockney - Serpentine - maybe (have seen the Normandy work at the National Gallery and in Saltaire - will it be different?)

I loved the Emin, too, though was less keen on the Whistler.

I don't see anything wrong in the use of studio assistants. It's the way many artists work. It's nothing new, either. Rodin (since we're talking of Gwen John on this thread) didn't carve his own marbles, for instance. He just made small clay models, and employed a huge team of plaster casters, stonecarvers and founders to make the big marbles and bronzes he's famous for, under his supervision.

I don't see anything wrong in the use of studio assistants

Damien Hirst highlighted this - and gave it a bad name, along with changing the date on works also. To have the concept and to be able to execute the work is always best.

I saw the Royal Academy's Summer Show this year as my friend is a collector and the lack of technical ability on display is staggering. I wondered if this is intentional in order to appear more inclusive. I also wondered if it was to make the known artists work look better than what it is.

Lots of jokey cartoonish stuff; Gavin Turk's bronze car tyre & hub, identical to the real thing for £70K (what's the point?); Tracey Emin's paintings, which always remind me of the spidery doodles my mother used to do of naked women when she was on the phone - she also couldn't draw; a whole section devoted to very amateurish paintings & prints of cats; and a clear plastic water bottle (full) with its label label removed for £10K, loads of other crap. Came out thinking that I wouldn't want any of these works in my house. It's fun to see but to be honest, I've seen better contemporary paintings on Ebay and for the fraction of the price.

Having said that; the RA's Young Summer Show (done by kids) is not to be missed.

Recommend the Eileen Agar show at Alison Jacques.

Ooh I'm going to the RA summer show tomorrow - always a bit underwhelming. I usually like the architecture room best but last year they absorbed it into the main show and I missed it.

I was lucky enough to go around the Emin show with the curator and it was just brilliant. If you see the tiny photos of her drawings and paintings (she destroyed the originals after her abortion) you can't possibly think she can't draw. They are fantastic. She has a v minimalist home now apparently which I love in comparison to ...her bed, for example. I think she is just inspirational and really has had a literal second life as she was given v little hope after her cancer diagnosis.

Went to the Hockney mural at the Serpentine yesterday. V poignant memory now.

I have been to a private viewing at the Arc in Winchester. Lovely exhibition, worth a trip to Winchester. Ot opens tomorrow.
https://www.arcwinchester.org.uk/event/scottish-colourists-radical-perspectives
Outside the gallery space, they're showing local artists, the Colour Factory.
https://www.arcwinchester.org.uk/event/colour-factory-artists-everyday

@EBearhug oh wow, I'd love to see that I LOVE the Scottish Colourists. How big is it? Trying to decide if it's worth the overnight that we'd need. I think it's worth it but gotta persuade my DH, he's the driver.

It's not huge, but there's lots to do in Winchester besides the Arc. It's works from the Fleming collection. If you're up north, then somewhere like the Kelvingrove might be a better bet.

Thanks for info re: The Fleming Collection. They are contributing to several exhibitions, the Saatchi one is striking:

Current and Past Events & Exhibitions | Events & Exhibitions | Fleming collection

Damien Hirst may have highlighted it for you, but it’s a very old practice. Giotto did it. Rubens did it. Rodin essentially ran a production line where other people produced marbles and bronzes of his small clay models. He only signed his name on them.

I really liked the RA summer exhibition yesterday. I thought it started off really strong but the ending in the main (Wohl) hall was weak.There was lots to like, a few naff things but much more good stuff and somehow not as overwhelming. Better than last year.

Thanks, we're in Bristol so Glasgow would be a major expedition. Saw many of the colourists on a holiday in Scotland years ago and excited to see them again more in this neck of the woods so we're going to try and get to it.

I've done day trips to Cardiff from here, so it's definitely do-able from Bristol.