Exhibitions in London in August

I recently spent a holiday in London gallivanting around artsy exhibitions, learning loads and occasionally getting stared at by a giant sad-eyed cartoon child. Here are 3–4 exhibitions that made August unforgettable (without breaking the bank... unless you bought ALL the postcards).

1. Yoshitomo Nara – Hayward Gallery

Dates & Hours: 10 Jun – 31 Aug 2025.

Open: Tue–Fri 10am–6pm, Sat till 8pm, Sun 10am–6pm (closed Mondays, apart from selected bank holidays)

Tickets: £11 for students, free for Southbank Centre members

What I saw: Over 100 works spanning drawings, paintings, sculptures, installations, and ceramics over four decades—like gazing into the soul of a giant-eyed kid with attitude. Themes? Punk, peace, isolation, mythology and the significance of home, surprisingly deep stuff under all that cartoon charm

Vibe: Equal parts adorable and unsettling—imagine being watched by cheeky figures that seem to know your deepest thoughts. A total treat for both your eyes and mind.

2. Kiefer / Van Gogh – Royal Academy of Arts

Dates: 28 Jun – 26 Oct 2025

Tickets: Standard RA pricing (check Royal Academy site for concessions).

What I saw: A bold mashup of Van Gogh’s emotionally charged landscapes and Anselm Kiefer’s heavy material reinterpretations. Paint as philosophy—canvas as memory.

Vibe: Think Van Gogh meets industrial apocalypse in an existential power ballad. Perfect for deep thinkers or anyone wanting post‑exhibition existential crisis.

3. Millet: Life on the Land – National Gallery

Dates: 7 Aug – 19 Oct 2025

Tickets: Entry to National Gallery is free (special exhibitions sometimes charge modest fees).

What I saw: Quiet, atmospheric scenes of rural life by Jean‑François Millet—sower, shepherds, woodcutters. Rustic beauty that whispers “pause and reflect.”

Vibe: Zen farm vibes, soul-soothing, and a great follow-up to the emotional heavyweights at Hayward.

4. Giuseppe Penone: Thoughts in the Roots – Serpentine South Gallery

Dates: 3 Apr – 7 Sep 2025

Tickets: Free (check gallery website for exact booking info).

What I saw: Arte Povera master Penone uses wood, bronze and organic materials to explore nature, memory, and sculpture’s body-like presence.

Vibe: Earthy, tactile and surprisingly emotional, seriously makes you want to hug a tree.

📝 A Few Notes on My Art‑Stroll Experience

• I used my holiday to zigzag across London, hitting one to two exhibitions per day.
• At Hayward Gallery's Nara show, I felt oddly moved by giant cartoon characters with punk rock attitudes.
• The Royal Academy show? Loud and heavyweight, like art that packs a punch. I left feeling like I’d just done mental weightlifting.
• Millet’s pastoral paintings were like inhaling fresh country air.
• Penone’s sculptures whispered secrets from ancient trees.

If you’re in London this August and craving waffles, wide-eyed punks, existential Van Gogh riffs, or meditative countryside art, these shows won’t disappoint.

Happy art‑hunting, and may your muse never ghost you! 🎨