London


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracey-emin-a-second-life-tate-modern-27-feb-31-aug"><a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-modern/tracey-emin" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tracey Emin: A Second Life</a>, Tate Modern (27 Feb &#8211; 31 Aug)</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="718" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/eminmybed-1.width-1200-1024x718.jpg" alt="Tracey Emin My Bed " class="wp-image-17512" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/eminmybed-1.width-1200-1024x718.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/eminmybed-1.width-1200-300x210.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/eminmybed-1.width-1200-768x539.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/eminmybed-1.width-1200.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>Remember controversial Turner Prize-nominated <em>My Bed</em> by Tracey Emin in the 90s? Back then it rocked the art world and challenged what we thought art could and should be. Emin&#8217;s continued to push boundaries ever since, which is why this retrospective covering 40 years of her work is unmissable. Tickets £20. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-schiaparelli-fashion-becomes-art-v-amp-a-28-march-8-nov"><a href="https://www.vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/schiaparelli" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art</a>, V&amp;A (28 March &#8211; 8 Nov) </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="882" height="1024" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-07-at-15.45.29-882x1024.png" alt="Schiaparelli at the V&amp;A " class="wp-image-17519" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-07-at-15.45.29-882x1024.png 882w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-07-at-15.45.29-258x300.png 258w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-07-at-15.45.29-768x891.png 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-07-at-15.45.29-1323x1536.png 1323w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-07-at-15.45.29.png 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 882px) 100vw, 882px" /></figure>



<p>The UK&#8217;s first exhibit dedicated to Italian fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli&nbsp;is bound to be a hit. Taking us on a journey from the 1920s through to present day, when the brand is headed by creative director Daniel Roseberry, it promises to be a fascinating insight into this iconic label, with more than 200 beautiful objects to browse, from jewellery to paintings, photographs, clothes and sketches. How chic. Tickets on sale soon. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lucian-freud-drawing-into-painting-national-portrait-gallery-12-feb-4-may"><a href="https://www.npg.org.uk/whatson/exhibitions/2026/lucian-freud-drawing-into-painting" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lucian Freud: Drawing into Painting</a>, National Portrait Gallery (12 Feb &#8211; 4 May) </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="842" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-07-at-15.23.45-1024x842.png" alt="Lucian Freud " class="wp-image-17516" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-07-at-15.23.45-1024x842.png 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-07-at-15.23.45-300x247.png 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-07-at-15.23.45-768x632.png 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-07-at-15.23.45.png 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Portrait of a Young Man, 1944 (black crayon &amp; white chalk on paper) © The Lucian Freud Archive. All Rights Reserved 2025 / Bridgeman Images. Private Collection.</figcaption></figure>



<p>A deep dive into how Freud used to shape his work, this much-anticipated exhibition allows us a glimpse of rarely seen sketches and drawings alongside iconic paintings. A previous Lucian Freud exhibit was the NPG&#8217;s most-visited in its history, so best book tickets (£23) asap. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-marilyn-monroe-a-portrait-national-portrait-gallery-4-june-6-sept"><a href="https://www.npg.org.uk/whatson/exhibitions/2026/marilyn-monroe-a-portrait" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait</a>, National Portrait Gallery (4 June &#8211; 6 Sept) </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="791" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-07-at-15.27.06-1024x791.png" alt="Marilyn Monroe at National Portrait gallery " class="wp-image-17517" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-07-at-15.27.06-1024x791.png 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-07-at-15.27.06-300x232.png 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-07-at-15.27.06-768x593.png 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-07-at-15.27.06.png 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Marilyn Monroe, by Cecil Beaton, 22 February 1956, NPG x40269, © Cecil Beaton Archive</figcaption></figure>



<p>Another blockbuster exhibition from the National Portrait Gallery, this one In celebration of the Hollywood icon&#8217;s 100th birthday. Exploring the life and legacy of the star, there&#8217;ll be snaps by era-defining photographers like Cecil Beaton and Eve Arnold, books, scripts, clothes and paintings of the pin-up by Andy Warhol. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-frida-the-making-of-an-icon-tate-modern-25-june-3-jan"><a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-modern/frida-kahlo-the-making-of-an-icon" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Frida: The Making Of An Icon</a>, Tate Modern (25 June &#8211; 3 Jan) </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="916" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-07-at-15.38.07-1024x916.png" alt="Frida: The Making of an Icon, Tate Modern " class="wp-image-17518" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-07-at-15.38.07-1024x916.png 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-07-at-15.38.07-300x268.png 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-07-at-15.38.07-768x687.png 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-07-at-15.38.07.png 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>More than just a look at her work, this in-depth exhibition reveals the extraordinary story of how Frida Kahlo became an international artist and cultural phenomenon. With more than 130 works to check out, including paintings by artists inspired by Kahlo, plus photos and memorabilia, it promises to be an unforgettable display well worthy of your time this summer. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-90s-tate-britain-8-oct-14-feb"><a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-britain/the-90s" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The 90s</a>, Tate Britain (8 Oct &#8211; 14 Feb)</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Juergen_Teller_Young_Pink_Kate_London_1998_Ju.width-1440-1024x683.jpg" alt="Pink Kate Moss by Juergen Teller " class="wp-image-17509" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Juergen_Teller_Young_Pink_Kate_London_1998_Ju.width-1440-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Juergen_Teller_Young_Pink_Kate_London_1998_Ju.width-1440-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Juergen_Teller_Young_Pink_Kate_London_1998_Ju.width-1440-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/01/Juergen_Teller_Young_Pink_Kate_London_1998_Ju.width-1440.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Young Pink Kate, London 1998 © Juergen Teller</figcaption></figure>



<p>Saving the best til last. To say we&#8217;re excited about this look back at 90s culture curated by former <em>Vogue</em> editor Edward Enninful is a major understatement. Expect iconic images by photographers likeJuergen Teller, Nick Knight and Corinne Day, alongside art works by Damien Hirst, Gillian Wearing, and Yinka Shonibare, as well as fashion collections by the decade&#8217;s pioneers including Vivienne Westwood, Alexander McQueen, and Hussein Chalayan. If it&#8217;s anything like as good as last year&#8217;s <a href="https://london.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/art-culture/review-the-face-exhibition/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Face Magazine: Culture Shift</a> exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery, it&#8217;s going to be a sell-out success. Can&#8217;t wait. </p>


6 unmissable London exhibitions to see this year

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