Top 2023 exhibitions and installations happening across international museums that are not to be missed
Judy Chicago: Herstory
When: Until 14 January 2024
Where: New Museum, New York
The retrospective honoring the American feminist artist showcases over 60 years of her multidisciplinary art. The comprehensive exhibition highlights overlooked women in art history, further emphasizing Chicago’s role in feminism. Privileged partner Dior kicked off the event with an inventive and elegant dinner, reinforcing the strong affinity between the luxury Maison and art.
Nothing Still About Still Lifes: Three Centuries Of Floral Compositions
When: Until 17 March 2024
Where: Deji Art Museum, China
The inaugural edition of the “World of Flowers” exhibition exhibits over a hundred floral compositions by Chinese and Western masters, spanning from the 19th century to today. Exploring the global circulation of flower species and their impact on artistic styles through four chapters, it examines the dynamic relationship between “stillness” and “movement”, as well as the ongoing cultural dialogue between the Eastern and Western world over time.
Nothing Still About Still Lifes: Three Centuries Of Floral Compositions
Metropolis II
When: Ongoing
Where: LACMA, Los Angeles
Having only ever been exhibited at LACMA, Chris Burden’s masterpiece is an intense kinetic sculpture, modeled after a dynamic, frenetic modern city. Every hour, up to 100 thousand miniature cars speed through the dense network at 240 scale miles per hour. The modern marvel weaves an elaborate system of 18 roadways, including train tracks. All the activity within the eclectic grid is meant to induce the stress of living in a fast-paced 21st century city.
Van Gogh in Auvers-sur-Oise: The Final Months
When: Until 4 February 2024
Where: Musée d’Orsay, Paris
Vincent Van Gogh’s transformative two-month stay in Auvers-sur-Oise in 1890, where he sought renewal and creative energy, is the focus of an exhibition. The artist, influenced by Dr. Gachet’s presence, produced 74 paintings and 33 drawings during this crucial period, addressing themes of landscapes, portraits, still lifes, and the surrounding countryside. The exhibition, the first exclusively dedicated to this stage, showcases iconic works like “Portrait of Dr Paul Gachet” and “Wheatfield with Crows” in a thematic arrangement.
Van Gogh in Auvers-sur-Oise: The Final Months
A Tale Of Three Cities
When: Until 17 December 2023
Where: Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong
China’s historical significance as the birthplace of silk traces its export through maritime trade routes during the Ming and Qing dynasties. 108 exhibits from three museums including a virtual fashion show—jointly organised and presented by cultural authorities from Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao—features the Greater Bay Area’s landscape, silk production, and cultural exchange between East and West.
Picasso Sculptor: Matter and Body
When: Until 14 January 2024
Where: Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Spain
Marking the 50th anniversary of the visionary’s death, both French and Spanish governments have put in place a binational commission to honour his legacy across some 50 exhibitions and events. While much of Picasso’s 2D work will be shown at Paris’ Centre Pompidou, the wide range of his sculptures spanning formats and materials like wood, iron, plaster, cement, metal, and bronze will be commemorated at the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao.
Picasso Sculptor: Matter and Body
Michelangelo and Beyond
When: Until 14 January 2024
Where: The Albertina Museum, Vienna
See the evolution and decline of the human nude inspired by Michelangelo through a Greco-Roman lens. Focusing on the Renaissance master’s influence, it showcases works by artists like Raffael, Dürer, Rembrandt, and more, each interpreting the ideal body uniquely. Spanning from the 15th to the 20th century, the exhibition traces the adoption, evolution, and eventual decline of Michelangelo’s paradigm.
Marina Abramović
When: Until 1 January 2024
Where: Royal Academy of Arts, London
The iconic performance artist, renowned for pushing her physical and mental boundaries, presents key moments throughout her career. The exhibit features archived footage, sculpture, and live performances. New artists trained in Abramović’s method will also reprise her impactful works, offering a dynamic and interactive experience for visitors. There will be no repeats so no two visits will be the same.
Coco Fusco: Tomorrow, I Will Become an Island
When: Until 7 January 2024
Where: KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin
The first major retrospective of the Cuban-American artist spans over three decades. A key voice in racial representation, feminism, and postcolonial discourse, Fusco’s work is shown across videos, photography, texts, installations, and live performances, exploring intercultural dynamics and their impact on self-construction. The show highlights her influence on contemporary art discourses in the Americas and Europe, addressing relevant political and cultural debates.
Tomorrow, I Will Become an Island
Kaws: Family
When: Until 31 March 2024
Where: Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto
The Brooklyn-based artist famed for bringing double x’s into pop culture makes his Canadian museum debut. Merging art and commerce with wit and appropriation, he blurs the lines between populist and elite art, pushing mass media into traditional spaces. Expect over 75 works including vibrant murals, sketches, cartoon-inspired pieces, and a larger-than-life bronze sculpture depicting Kaws’ recurring figures as a nuclear family.
