Must-see exhibitions in the East of England

If you're not able to get to the ICA's exhibition – curated by and including works by Lubainia Himid – or it has inspired you to see even more of her work, then you absolutely cannot miss this exhibition of her paintings and an installation created with Magda Stawarska. These works will ask important questions about overlooked life stories, who is excluded from narratives, and what objects we elect to leave behind as mementos.

Marvel at 81 monumental wooden sculptures by Anton Forde. Each hand carved sculpture stands over eight feet tall, and incorporates historic Māori figures from the Sainsbury Centre's collection. The work spotlights the Māori community's peaceful resistance to a British colonial invasion in 1881 in Parihaka, New Zealand. And, it demonstrates the importance and power of non-violent collective action when safeguarding future communities.

Journey through the experience of an autistic person growing up with the internet in this multisensory exhibition – from navigating digital spaces to building new friendships. Art, technology and the internet collide to reveal how important these online spaces are in creating opportunities for peeople to gain knowledge, make connections, find work, get creative, and so much more.

Deep dive into the representation of women in this inquisitive portraiture exhibition that asks questions around how women see themselves and how they are seen by others. Writers, poets and activists are displayed alongside speculative works that imagine women's interior lives, drawing on domestic spaces and personal diary entries.

Marvel at 18th-century masterpieces by leading European painters, including Thomas Gainsborough, Angela Kauffman, Joshua Reynolds and George Romney. This Art Fund supported exhibition showcases Gainsborough's connections with fellow artists across Britain and France, and offers a rare opportunity to see his iconic paintings at his Suffolk birthplace.

Did you know? The 17th-century writer, poet and playwright Margaret Cavendish was also one a trailblazer of the science fiction genre. Hailing from Colchester during the turbulent Civil War, she ended up in London where she drew in crowds including Samuel Pepys, who heard her decry academia and feminist ideas.

Meet a modern artist with an unending creative spirit who made significant contributions to 20th-century British art. Spanning over 120 works, Colin Self's six decade career reveals an artist who often stood on the side-lines of the art world, yet remained a major player.