Tabish Khan, the London-based art critic, selects five must-see museum exhibitions in London this summer. The list includes Hurvin Anderson's vibrant paintings of diaspora and migration at Tate Britain, David Hockney's iPad-based seasonal series 'A Year in Normandie' at Serpentine North (noted as sold out following Hockney's recent death), a survey of Estonian artist Konrad Magi at Dulwich Picture Gallery, a display of small-scale historical works alongside Glenn Brown's own pieces at The Brown Collection, and the annual Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition at the Natural History Museum. All shows run through July or August 2025, with some requiring tickets.
This roundup matters because it offers a curated guide to London's diverse summer art offerings, from major institutional retrospectives to niche historical discoveries. The inclusion of Hockney's posthumous exhibition underscores his enduring legacy, while the spotlight on lesser-known artists like Konrad Magi highlights the role of smaller museums in broadening public art knowledge. The list also reflects current trends in museum programming, such as the integration of digital art (Hockney's iPad works) and the continued popularity of nature-focused photography exhibitions.