Art girl autumn: Here are six London exhibits you can’t miss this month

It is easy to take for granted as a London student that you are living in the art capital of the UK. What’s more, you are living in one of the art capitals of the world.

The city is alive with artistry, playing host to more than 850 art galleries and 170 museums, the majority of which offer free general access and exhibitions. In fact, the accessibility of art here makes it a perfect activity for the ever-tightening London student budget.

In a place that is brimming with creativity, it would be a shame not to make time in your busy schedule (amidst course reading, essay writing, and wild Wednesday nights out) to soak in the best of what the capital has to offer creatively.

So, for the culture vultures among us (or even just the wannabe influencers whose Instagram would benefit from an art gallery story snap), wrap up warm and head to an exhibition for the perfect Autumn activity. Here are six London art exhibits that you cannot miss this month and why!

‘Picasso: Printmaker’ at The British Museum

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Though many may already be familiar with Picasso’s painting and sculpture, The British Museum’s new exhibition is a chance to be reintroduced to the artist as a printmaker.

This exhibition boasts the UK’s largest collection of Picasso’s prints, spanning the entire length of his career and displaying his changing approaches to artistry. The collection demonstrates the range of the artist’s printmaking techniques, and offers a unique insight into Picasso’s life through his work (including his relationships!).

Whether you’re in it for the juicy take on his turbulent personal life, or for a genuine interest in the influence of classical art on his craft, ‘Picasso: printmaker’ is not one to miss. The exhibition opened this month at the museum, and is running all the way until the end of March next year. You can find information on opening hours and book your tickets here.

‘Kinship of the Soul’ at Pace Gallery

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This solo exhibition by Hank Willis Thomas is a must-see, opening on the 20th November and only available to view until December 21st.

In a collection of collages, Thomas works with retroreflective material, the kind used for street signs and hi-vis jackets. Because of the unique way in which this material reflects light back to its source, Thomas has managed to create pieces with concealed images that can only be viewed depending on lighting and the viewers’ perspective.

With this, he illuminates historically overlooked histories and narratives, approaching from perspectives such as colonisation and appropriation. The collection is free to view, and can be found at Pace Gallery, not far from Oxford Circus.

‘Francis Bacon: Human Presence’ at National Portrait Gallery

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Highly anticipated and highly praised, this exhibition of Francis Bacon’s portraiture opened last month and is here to stay at the National Portrait Gallery until mid-January.

The Irish painter was known for his unsettling and abstract portraits, which challenged the genre as it was traditionally known. The collection features more than 50 works, dating back to the 1940s, and ranging from self-portraits, to larger paintings dedicated to lost lovers, and even responses to portraits by earlier artists.

There are five pound tickets available on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays for Under-25s, so this is a great deal for students (and a great opportunity to feel smug at those who had to pay the standard £23 entry fee).

‘Drawn to Blue: Artists’ Use of Blue Paper’ at The Courtauld Gallery

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For those on Strand campus, The Courtauld Gallery is just a stone’s throw away in Somerset House, so there’s no excuse not to de-stress between seminars by taking in some artistic talent.

The Courtauld’s largest current exhibition, ‘Monet and London’, is unfortunately already sold out until its close in January 2025. ‘Drawn to Blue’, however, is also now showing, and definitely worth a visit!

The exhibit features a selection of drawings from The Courtauld’s collection specifically on blue paper, exploring the reasons behind blue paper becoming such a popular drawing canvas for artists by the late 16th century. For those especially interested in the technical aspects of art, this exhibition is a great one, displaying work by artists such as Jacopo Tintoretto, and Joseph Mallord William Turner.

‘Jameel Prize: Moving Images’ at Victoria and Albert Museum

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This exhibition is particularly enticing for the many mediums of art it presents to the viewer. From film, to photography, to animation, installation, sound, sculpture, and virtual reality, this collection is truly diverse. All in all, it reflects the ways in which artists address themes of personal history, identity, and community.

The Jameel Prize is an international award recognising contemporary art inspired by Islamic culture, society and ideas. The V&A museum houses one of the world’s best collections of Islamic art from the Middle East, and established the prize in 2009 to explore the relationship between contemporary art and Islamic tradition.

You can catch this one at the very end of the month, opening on the 30th November with free entry.

‘Michelangelo, Leonardo, Raphael’ at Royal Academy of Art

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No, we’re not talking about the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. We’re talking about three of the biggest names in the Italian Renaissance and, indeed, in art itself.

This exhibition is an interesting opportunity to consider the three artists side-by-side, as contemporaries, and even rivals. The collection of fine Italian Renaissance work is a testament not only to the genius of each individual artist, but to the relationship between them, with Michelangelo and Leonardo competing for business, whilst inspiring the younger Raphael.

The Royal Academy opened its doors for this collection only this week, so get your tickets now to be one of the first to see it.