Here’s LLLC’s top ten exhibition picks of the year….
- Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams, Victoria and Albert Museum: this is just one of the major fashion exhibitions that the V&A will be presenting in 2019 – but this is the one Love London Love Culture is particularly looking forward to. Spanning from 1947 to the present day, the V&A will examine the impact of Christian Dior on the world of fashion and his relationship with Britain. It is based on the exhibition Christian Dior: Couturier du Rêve, organised by the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris – but has been reimagined specifically for the London display. (on display from the 2nd February).
- Leonardo da Vinci: A Life in Drawing, The Queen’s Gallery: in May, the Queen’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace will present an exhibition to mark the 500th anniversary of the death of Leonardo da Vinci. Bringing together over 200 pieces of the artist’s drawings, the display will offer an insight into da Vinci’s mind as well as the variety of interests that he had. (on display from the 24th May- 13th October).
3. Gauguin Portraits, National Gallery: on display from the 7th October, the national Gallery’s exhibition will be the first ever to concentrate on Paul Gauguin’s portraits to trace the artist’s move away from Impressionism towards Symbolism. Formed of fifty works, the exhibition is made of paintings, works on paper, and three-dimensional objects in a variety of media.
4. Van Gogh & Britain, Tate Britain: this major 2019 exhibition aims to reveal how the artist was inspired by Britain. Bringing together 45 pieces of Van Gogh’s work, this display is an opportunity for visitors to see some of his most famous work in one place including Shoes and Starry Night on the Rhône, L’Arlésienne. But the exhibition will also reveal how his vision helped to inspire a number of British artists including Francis Bacon and David Bomberg.
5. Bill Viola/Michelangelo, Royal Academy of Arts: this new exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts will highlight how two artists who born many years apart explore similar themes throughout their work. This exhibition will feature a range of work in different forms of media from Michelangelo’s drawings of the Crucifixion to twelve installations created by Viola. It will be on display from the 26th January.
6. Pre-Raphaelite Sisters, National Portrait Gallery: on display from next Autumn, the National Portrait Gallery will shed light on the untold stories of the women of Pre-Raphaelite art. It will bring to life twelve stories who helped to contribute to Pre-Raphaelite art including Evelyn de Morgan, Effie Millais(nee Gray), Elizabeth Siddal and Joanna Wells (nee Boyce).
7. Mary Quant, Victoria and Albert Museum: the V&A’s second major fashion exhibition of 2019 celebrates the career of the fashion designer between 1955-1975. Featuring over 200 garments, the display uncovers how Mary Quant helped to transform fashion on the British high street. (On display from the 6th April).
8. William Blake: The Artist, Tate Britain: on display from the 11th September, Tate Britain will offer a comprehensive survey on the poet’s achievements as a visual artist. The display will reveal the stories behind some of the best known pieces of the period in which he worked and will include watercolours, paintings and prints.
9. Writing: Making Your Mark, British Library: taking visitors on a journey through the history of writing, the British Library’s exhibition is set to feature more than 100 objects to follow how writing has evolved over thousands of years.
10. Manga, British Museum: on display from the 23rd May, the British Museum will present one of the largest exhibitions devoted to the world of Manga outside of Japan. It will uncover Manga’s global appeal and how it has crossed different cultures to entertain and inspire.