<Petal passion, super-surreal Polaroids and Billy Childish’s California – the week in art — Art News
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museum exhibitions calendar_today Friday, April 17, 2026

Petal passion, super-surreal Polaroids and Billy Childish’s California – the week in art

This week’s art roundup highlights several major exhibitions across the UK, including a floral-themed survey at Kettle’s Yard featuring artists from Henri Rousseau to Lubaina Himid. Other notable openings include Billy Childish’s expressionistic California desert paintings at Carl Freedman Gallery, Katharina Grosse’s site-specific installations at White Cube, and Steve McQueen’s new photography book, 'Bounty', which explores the colonial history of Grenada through its flora.

The selection reflects a diverse cross-section of the contemporary art world, ranging from established masters of conceptualism like the late Ceal Floyer to emerging voices like Racheal Crowther. By juxtaposing McQueen’s politically charged botanical photography with the broader history of flower painting, the report emphasizes how traditional subjects are being recontextualized to address historical trauma and modern identity.