This article is a seasonal preview of the best art and architecture exhibitions opening in autumn 2025, primarily in London and other UK venues. It highlights major shows including Mona Hatoum's dialogue with Giacometti at the Barbican, a Picasso exhibition at Tate Modern, Kerry James Marshall's first major European retrospective at the Royal Academy, and the Turner Prize 2025 at Cartwright Hall Art Gallery in Bradford. Other featured exhibitions cover Hilary Lloyd's work on Dennis Potter, Marie Antoinette's image through art and fashion at the V&A, Basel Abbas and Ruanne Abou-Rahme's new commission at Nottingham Contemporary, and a Lee Miller retrospective at Tate Britain.
The article matters because it provides a curated guide to the most anticipated visual art events of the season, signaling which artists and themes are considered culturally significant. The inclusion of the Turner Prize and major retrospectives for living artists like Kerry James Marshall and Mona Hatoum reflects ongoing conversations about diversity, political engagement, and the canon of modern art. The piece also underscores the UK's role as a hub for international contemporary art, with institutions like Tate, the Barbican, and the Royal Academy driving public discourse through ambitious programming.