The best arty things to see in 2023
Looking for must-see art exhibitions in the UK? You’ve come to the right place. There are oodles of galleries spread across the country where you can find a fantastic array of artworks and designs. Here are the ones to look out for in 2023.
Art Exhibitions Across The UK To Check Out In 2023
- Open now–2 September 2024: Damien Hirst at Yorkshire Sculpture Park
- 7 January–28 January 2023: Ten Years of Modern Masters at the Scottish Gallery
- 21 January–12 February 2023: Grace Lau, Portraits In a Chinese Studio at Flourish
- 19 January–26 March 2023: A Sense of Place at Watts Gallery
- 28 January–8 May 2023: The New Bend at Hauser & Wirth Somerset
- 18 March–1 October 2023: Mirror Mirror: Reflections on Design at Chatsworth
Wakefield: Damien Hirst
Where? Yorkshire Sculpture Park
When? Open now until 2 September 2024
Four of Damien Hirst’s major sculptures are on display at Yorkshire Sculpture Park until 2024 as part of the Yorkshire Sculpture International partnership with The Hepworth Wakefield, the Henry Moore Institute, Leeds, and Leeds Art Gallery. Wander the expansive grounds of Bretton Hall to see Charity (2002-2003), Myth (2010), The Hat Makes the Man (2004-2007) and The Virgin Mother (2005-2006). ysp.org.uk
Edinburgh: Ten Years of Modern Masters
Where? Scottish Gallery
When? 7 January–28 January 2023
To celebrate 10 years of the Scottish Gallery’s Modern Masters series of exhibitions, Ten Years of Modern Masters will draw together paintings, tapestry and furniture from the likes of Robert Henderson Blyth, Donal Morison Buyers and Victoria Crowe to explore the contemporary dialogue of 20th century Scottish art. scottish-gallery.co.uk

Grace Lau, 21st Century Types, 2005. Image courtesy of the artist.
Southampton: Grace Lau, Portraits In a Chinese Studio
Where? Flourish, The Marlands Shopping Centre, Southampton SO14 7SJ
When? 21 January–12 February 2023
If you’d like to consider yourself part of the art as well as an art appreciator, this is the one for you. Commencing a tour across English cities, Grace Lau’s Portraits in a Chinese Studio will recreate a 19th century Chinese portrait studio – featuring mock traditional furniture, a decorative backdrop and accessories including a soft-toy panda rug – inviting passersby to sit and be photographed. The photo will then be emailed to participants free of charge, and copies will be donated to Southampton City Archives to create a social record of communities in 2023. gracelau.co.uk
Guildford: A Sense of Place
Where? Watts Contemporary Gallery at Watts Gallery – Artists’ Village
When? 19 January–26 March 2023
Young artists Grace Ellen and Tom Voyce join forces to showcase, through landscape paintings, how place can be evoked by and incorporated in art – from Surrey to Cornwall to the US. wattsgallery.org.uk

Myrlande Constant, Le Sirene, 2003, Mixed Media, 87.6 x 91.4 cm / 34 ½ x 36 in. Image courtesy of the artist and Hauser & Wirth © Myrlande Constant. Courtesy of Fort Gansevoort, New York.
Somerset: The New Bend
Where? Hauser & Wirth Somerset
When? 28 January–8 May 2023
Travelling from LA to Somerset, The New Bend will bring together 13 contemporary artists working in the raced, classed, and gendered traditions of quilting and textile practice. Curated by Legacy Russell, the exhibition pays homage to – and exists in dialogue with – the contributions of the Gee’s Bend Alabama quilters – Black American women in collective cooperation and creative economic production. hauserwirth.com

Joris Laarman [Dutch, b. 1979], Maker Bench (Hexagon), 2018. Oak, walnut, 17 x 75 x 43.25 inches, 43 x 190 x 110 cm. Edition of 3. Joris Laarman, Maker Bench at Chatsworth, © Chatsworth House Trust.
Derbyshire: Mirror Mirror: Reflections on Design at Chatsworth
Where? Chatsworth House
When? 18 March–1 October 2023
A centre of creativity for generations, Chatsworth’s new exhibition, Mirror Mirror: Reflections on Design at Chatsworth, will collate contemporary work in direct relationship with the house’s historic design, considering architecture, interiors, furniture and ceramics, glass, stone, wood and light. Co-curated with writer, historian and curator, Glenn Adamson, artists and designers such as Joris Laarman, Chris Schanck and Andile Dyalvane will be showcased. chatsworth.org
Featured image by JULIO NERY via Pexels.
You might also like...