Exhibitions opening this February

Technically speaking, this one opened in January, but we simply had to include it in this our February roundup. IWM North’s major art commission, Chila Welcomes You, invites visitors to step into the imagination of multidisciplinary artist, Chila Kumari Singh Burman.

Known for her subversive feminist practice, this immersive and playful assemblage of photography, patterns, voices and sound, thread memories through Burman’s childhood, in an exploration of migration, and the Indian Independence Movement. Expect to see a light-based neon installation on IWM North’s façade, Burman’s first ever work in tapestry, and even a corner shop sculpture. Learn more

Tate St. Ives latest exhibition is a major retrospective of Ithell Colquhoun. One of the most radical artists of her generation, her works explored the possibilities of a divine feminine power as a path to personal fulfilment and societal transformation, often painting Surrealist landscapes that depict the female form.

Showcasing over 200 artworks and archival materials, this landmark exhibition traces Colquhoun’s evolution, including her fascination with the intertwining realms of art, sexual identity, ecology and occultism. It culminates in a room dedicated to Colquhoun’s interpretation of the Tarot deck – her most accomplished fusion of her artistic and magical practice.

If you can’t make it to Cornwall by the 5 May, fear not, this unmissable show will be moving to Tate Britain in June, where it will be on display until October 2025. Learn more

Arriving at The Courtauld from The Oskar Reinhart Collection ‘Am Römerholz’ in Winterthur, Switzerland – one of the most remarkable museums of its kind – are an exceptional collection of paintings by Impressionists, Post-Impressionists, and masters who predated them, including Romantic painter and printmaker, Francisco de Goya. On display outside of Switzerland for the first time, this is a unique opportunity to see these masterpieces here in the UK.

Opening with Goya, Géricault and Courbet, the main heart of the exhibition is centred around the Impressionists, including Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Édouard Manet, Pierre Auguste Renoir, Paul Cézanne and Vincent van Gogh. Learn more about this unmissable exhibition.

Those Millennials among us will remember the iconic and highly influential contemporary culture magazine, The Face. Between the years 1980-2004, The Face played a vital role in creating contemporary culture that saw the rise of our favourite musicians, including Liam Gallagher and André 3000, and championed models including 90s icon, Kate Moss – making them the most recognisable faces of their time. The magazine also gave creative freedom to their stylists and photographers, cultivating a space for creative freedom, where many careers in the industry flourished.

Relaunched in 2019, the magazine continues to provide a disruptive and creative space for image-makers, championing fresh talent in photography, fashion, music and graphic design.

This exciting exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery will bring together works by over 80 photographers, including Sheila Rock, Stéphane Sednaoui, Corinne Day, David Sims, Elaine Constantine and Sølve Sundsbø, and will feature over 200 photographs – creating a unique opportunity to see many of these images away from the magazine page for the first time. Learn more

Last and by no means least, opening on 27 February, the Leigh Bowery! exhibition at Tate Modern. Declared a celebration of the boundary-pushing career of the multi-talented artist’s undeniable mark on the art world and beyond, it promises to be an inspiring and insightful look at Bowery’s short but extraordinary life and career.

An artist, performer, model, TV personality, club promoter, fashion designer and musician, Bowery took on many different roles, all the while refusing to be limited by convention. The Australian born artist emerged in the 1980s London club scene, before his later daring and outrageous performances in galleries, theatres and even the street. Reimagining clothing and makeup as forms of painting and sculpture, his work still inspires artists today, including Lady Gaga, and the show also includes works by friends and fellow artists including a portrait by Lucien Freud, of whom each held a mutual respect and admiration. Head over to Tate’s page to learn more about this endlessly fascinating exhibit. Learn more