Blockbuster exhibitions in the South

Meet a legendary fashion designer who paved the way for wearing bold, screen-printed textiles. Zandra Rhodes has designed garments worn by some very famous faces; from Diana, the Princess of Wales, to Freddie Mercury. Journey through Rhodes' impressive career and marvel at some of her most iconic looks from the 60s, 70s and 80s.

And from 30 January, don't miss the museum's exhibition of striking photographs by Don McCullin.

To mark 100 years since Beryl Cook's birth, dive into the life and legacy of the self-taught British painter at the Box in Plymouth – a city whose everyday life was joyfully captured by Cook through exuberant scenes of its cafés, clubs, bingo halls and social gatherings. And, her works are celebrated for their representation of queer communities.

Don't miss the opportunity to see Bingo (1984) by Cook displayed for the first time, a work that the Box acquired for their public collection with Art Fund support. And did you know? Every person who puchases a National Art Pass makes acquisitions like this possible.

Best known for his striking ceramics teeming with stories of life in modern Britain, Grayson Perry is one of the country's most recognised artists working today. In this must-see exhibition at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery, Perry tackles what it means to be human, drawing on his autobiography to meditate on universal experiences – from gender and identity to religion and politics.

What does it mean to look at others, and to be looked at? The development of portraiture in British art since 1915 to today goes under the spotlight in this major exhibition. Experience 50 works of art – spanning painting, drawing, sculpture and photography – by leading artists, including Elisabeth Frink, Barbara Hepworth and Bridget Riley.

Immerse yourself in films and installations by Emilija Škarnulytė, an artist who blends documentary with myhthology to examine the history of the earth, our role in society and invisible systems. The artist often appears in her films as a hybrid creature that is half human and half fish, and that swims through waters, from hydroelectic plants to the Amazon.

Meet the seven sisters who transformed 19th-century society and culture. The esteemed Victorian photographer Julia Margaret Cameron is today regarded as the most well-known of the sisters. But, this exhibition unveils how all of them left an enduring mark on culture, due to their Anglo-Indian heritage and their dedication to artistic experimentation and intellectual exchange.

Marvel at paintings of still lifes, portraits and landscapes by William Nicholson in the first major exhibition dedicated to the British artist. Beyond his painting career, you'll uncover Nicholson's work as a graphic designer and illustrator, and you'll witness original drawings for the iconic children's book, The Velveteen Rabbit.

Step into Bridget Riley's world of optical illusions where spots, stripes and other patterns dance around on her iconic canvases. Riley's paintings from the 1960s to today unveil into her commitment to examining the representation of colour, form and rhythym through the use of repeated motifs.

Discover a contemporary artist and Hastings local who mines the world around her for creative inspiration. Sophie Barber creates large-scale paintings that blend humour and pop culture with mythology and the surreal. For this exhibition of new works, Barber references some of her favourite artists, from Georgia O’Keeffe to Vincent van Gogh. While you're at the gallery, don't miss two other solo exhibitions by Isabel Rock and Michael Landy.