Support Us Login

Things to do

Best exhibitions on in London, September highlights

By CW Contributor on 21/8/2017

New York darling Jean-Michel Basquiat makes his UK debut at the Barbican, ancient Siberian warriors settle at the British Museum, and the Royal Academy showcases the best of 20th-century American heavyweight Jasper Johns: the art world is finally back in full swing this September. Here are the best exhibitions on in London this month to book now

Jean-Michel Basquiat, Untitled (Pablo Picasso), 1984, Private collection, Italy. © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat. Licensed by Artestar, New York

Basquiat, Barbican Centre

Truly one of the greats: at long last the late New York artist Basquiat gets the recognition he deserves, with this massive Barbican retrospective

WHEN

21 Sep 2017 – 28 Jan 2018, Sunday to Wednesday, 10am – 6pm Thursday to Saturday, 10am – 10pm (last entry 9.30pm)

WHERE

Barbican Centre
Silk Street, London, EC2Y 8DS

Jasper Johns, 0 through 9 (1961) (Tate, London 2016. © Jasper Johns / VAGA, New York / DACS, London 2016)

Jasper Johns, Royal Academy

20th century American heavyweight Jasper Johns is one of the most famous living creators. Drink in his remarkable works at this very rare UK exhibition

WHEN

23 Sep 2017 – 10 Dec 2017, Mon - Sun 10am - 6pm, Friday 10am - 10pm

WHERE

Royal Academy
Burlington House, Piccadilly, London, W1J 0BD

Nadja Michael as Salome Royal Opera House, London, 2008 ROH © Robbie Jack - Corbis. Corbis Entertainmen. Getty Images

Opera: Passion, Power and Politics at the V&A

400 years, 7 operas, and a display spanning geography, history and art: the V&A and Royal Opera House collaborate to stage the first blockbuster exhibition on opera

WHEN

30 Sep 2017 – 25 Feb 2018, 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM

WHERE

V&A
South Kensington, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 2RL

A gold plaque depicting a Scythian rider with a spear in his right hand; Gold; Second half of the fourth century BC; Kul’ Oba. © The State Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg, 2017

Scythians, Warriors of ancient Siberia, British Museum

In this long overdue retrospective, the monumental power of the Scythian warriors will reign once more

WHEN

14 Sep 2017 – 14 Jan 2018, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

WHERE

British Museum
Great Russell St, London, WC1B 3DG

Jean Dubuffet, Les données de l'instant, 1977, © ADAGP, Paris and DACS, London 2017

Jean Dubuffet, Theatres of memory, Pace Gallery

Jean Dubuffet's Theatres of memory paintings are to be displayed in the first non-selling exhibition dedicated to the series in three decades

WHEN

13 Sep 2017 – 21 Oct 2017, Tues- Sat, Fri 10-4, from 7-29 July 2017 only

WHERE

Pace Gallery
6 Burlington Gardens , London, W1S 3ET

Open House London 2017: What to expect

Open House London invites the curious to explore the city's private buildings for one weekend only: from bronze mosquitoes to the Shard, London has it all

WHEN

16 Sep 2017 – 17 Sep 2017, Times vary between events

WHERE

Various Locations

© Rachel Whiteread, Ghost, 1990 exhibition rachel whiteread

Rachel Whiteread exhibition, Tate Britain

Explore the work of Rachel Whiteread: Tate Britain welcomes this UK Turner Prize-winning artist for exciting Autumn exhibition

WHEN

12 Sep 2017 – 04 Feb 2018, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

WHERE

Tate Britain
Millbank, London, SW1P 4RG

START Art Fair 2017, Saatchi Gallery

Discover the brightest rising stars of the contemporary art market at the fourth edition of Saatchi Gallery's START Art Fair

WHEN

14 Sep 2017 – 17 Sep 2017, Sunday 17th September 11:00 - 17:00

WHERE

Saatchi Gallery
Duke of York's HQ, King's Road, London, SW3 4RY

Antonio Pereda y Salgado, Tobias Restoring his Father’s Sight, 1652 © The Bowes Museum

El Greco to Goya – Spanish Masterpieces from The Bowes Museum

Spanish Old Masters from The Bowes Museum come to The Wallace Collection this autumn in a once-in-a-lifetime collaborative exhibition

WHEN

27 Sep 2017 – 07 Jan 2018, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

WHERE

The Wallace Collection
Hertford House, Manchester Square, London, W1U 3BN

Suzan Frecon, 'Red Oxides Presenting Enigmas', 2014. Photo courtesy of the artist and David Zwirner Gallery, New York.

Suzan Frecon, David Zwirner Gallery

Vivid colour, meticulous composition: unsung artist Suzan Frecon comes to the David Zwirner Gallery

WHEN

01 Sep 2017 – 22 Sep 2017, Open Monday - Friday

WHERE

David Zwirner
24 Grafton Street, London, W1S 4EZ

London Design Festival, 2017

Celebrating London as the design capital of the world, London Design Festival returns for its fifteenth year

WHEN

16 Sep 2017 – 24 Sep 2017, Times vary between events

WHERE

Various Locations

Best exhibitions on in London, September highlights

Basquiat, Barbican Centre

Jasper Johns, Royal Academy

Opera: Passion, Power and Politics at the V&A

Scythians, Warriors of ancient Siberia, British Museum

Jean Dubuffet, Theatres of memory, Pace Gallery

Open House London 2017: What to expect

Rachel Whiteread exhibition, Tate Britain

START Art Fair 2017, Saatchi Gallery

El Greco to Goya – Spanish Masterpieces from The Bowes Museum

Suzan Frecon, David Zwirner Gallery

London Design Festival, 2017

Art

Exhibition

Autumn

London

British Museum

Royal Academy

September Highlights

Autumn Exhibitions

Barbican

Discuss, debate, consider and learn at the best talks in London 2017

Modigliani Exhibition 2017, review ★★★★★, Tate Modern

Five Dance Shows to See in September

Impressionists in London, Tate Britain, review ★★★★★

The best art exhibitions, autumn 2017

London Design Festival 2022: highlights to catch