London's blockbuster exhibitions open now

In 1985, Lubaina Himid staged The Thin Black Line at the ICA, a groundbreaking exhibition that spotlighted 11 Black and Asian women artists in Britain. This summer, Himid brings this group of artists back together to re-examine how their works are interpreted today. From a new neon commission by Chila Kumari Singh Burman lighting up the building to Claudette Johnson's iconic portraits of Black women, this major exhibition is jam-packed with inspiring works of art.

Bob Marley, Patti Smith, Oasis. Take a closer look at these legendary musicians, candidly captured by British-Jamaican photographer Dennis Morris. Morris' ability to build trust with his subjects results in unguarded portraits, offering an insider perspective on their personalities, private moments, and the spirit of the time.

Discover Emily Kam Kngwarray, a celebrated Australian artist whose powerful paintings chart her life as an Indigenous Anmatyerr woman and her detailed knowledge of her Country. Her colossal paintings use layered motifs to illustrate the diverse plants, animals and geological features of the surrounding desert. It is important to note that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People are deeply connected with their Country and ancestral lands, a connection that traverses spiritual, social and geographical borders.

Experience the evolution of Jenny Saville's painting style, from her early charcoal drawings to her thickly painted oil portraits. These visceral works challenge our understanding of conventional beauty and the representation of the female nude in art history.

Pushing against kawaii, an aesthetic popular in Japan that glorifies cuteness, Yoshitomo Nara creates rebellious, doe-eyed characters that demand a stop to war and that reference his love of punk music. Don't miss this major retrospective of one of Japan's most adored contemporary artists.

Uncover the pioneering contributions that Disabled, Deaf and neurodivergent communities have made to design history. This celebratory exhibition spans the 1940s to today to unveil the intersection of disability, identity and creativity.

Dig into gardening's transformational impact on people, communities and the natural world – from supporting our wellbeing to enriching our homes with green spaces. Highlights on display include: the oldest lawnmower in the world; a vasculum belonging to Charles Darwin to collect plant specimens; intricate botanical illustrations from across the globe; and so much more.

Cecil Beaton was a renowned 20th-century fashion photographer who captured glamorous high society figures, worked for Vogue for 30 years, and designed the iconic costumes worn by Julie Andrews in My Fair Lady. And did you know? Flowers were central to his creative process. Uncover Beaton's love for everything floral – from the extravagant flower installations he built for his lavish parties to his incorporation of fresh blooms in his photographic portraits.

Peek at Pamela Anderson's iconic Baywatch swimming costume in this blockbuster exhibition, diving into our everlasting love of water. Charmingly split into three swimming-themed sections – the pool, the lido, and nature – you'll journey through 100 years of design history to discover the culture of swimming, the seaside and style.

Meet Shirley Smith, Grayson Perry's latest alter ego and museum heiress in crisis, in the largest contemporary exhibition ever staged at the Wallace Collection alongside masterpieces from their collection. From striking sculptures to vibrant tapestries and story-filled ceramics, Perry's works of art add to the mythology of his newest persona, while drawing on childhood experiences and examining what it means to make and collect art today.

Delve into a pioneering contemporary artist's fascinating career. Ed Atkins draws on digital technology and his own experiences to uncover the messiness of life, while examining how reality and fiction often overlap. Computer-generated videos and moving-image works are displayed alongside his writing, paintings, embroideries and drawings, to reveal an artist grappling with his own life and work.

The iconic performer, club promoter and fashion designer Leigh Bowery gets the all-star treatment at Tate Modern. Be dazzled by his boundary-pushing designs – which treated clothing and makeup as painting and sculptural works and challenged preconceptions of the body, sexuality and gender.