The exhibitions you must see this March
Trailblazers, treasures and unique perspectives. This is your guide to the exhibitions you won't want to miss this March.
Embrace the impending arrival of spring, get out of the house and into some culture with our guide to seven of the biggest exhibitions opening this month.
From Tracey Emin to Catherine Opie, Hokusai to David Hockney – this month's must-see exhibitions spotlight trailblazing artists who offer unique perspectives on the world around them. You won't want to miss these.
Just don't forget to pack a National Art Pass to make savings at every venue listed.
Discover seven must-see exhibitions with a National Art Pass
Beatriz González
Beatriz González (1932-2026) was a pioneering sculptor and painter from Colombia who is considered one of Latin America's most important contemporary artists. In this major retrospective, marvel at over 150 of her bold and playful works of painting, sculpture and installation that draw on mass media and Western art to dissect our understanding of taste, power and current affairs.
Making Waves: The Art of Japanese Woodblock Print
Dive into the art of Japanese woodblock printmaking, a technique that was popularised during the Edo period (1603-1868). See some of the most iconic works from York Art Gallery's own collection and The Great Wave by Hokusai, on loan from Maidstone Museum. And don't miss the transformation of the York Museum Gardens into a Japanese-inspired green haven – perfect for exploring as spring arrives.
Tracey Emin: A Second Life
A generational icon, Tracey Emin transformed the public's perception of contemporary art in the 90s. In this major solo exhibition at Tate Modern, journey through 40 years of her unapologetic career and pioneering works. From painting to installation, witness how she blurs public and private boundaries to create confessional art that wrestles with passion, pain and healing.
Catherine Opie: To Be Seen
Drawing on art historical references and the history of portraiture, contemporary representations of home, family, identity and power are investigated in Catherine Opie's photographic portraits. In the first major museum exhibition of the American artist's work in the UK, journey through the past 30 years of her striking photography, capturing different community groups, from queer and artist communities to high school footballers and political groups.
David Hockney: A Year in Normandie and Some Other Thoughts about Painting
Slow down and experience the magic of the everyday in David Hockney's first exhibition at the Serpentine in London. New paintings will go on display, continuing his dedication to the art of looking and celebrating the beauty in the simple things in life. Plus, experience his monumental frieze capturing the changing of seasons in Normandy: A Year in Normandie spans 90 metres in length, is inspired by the Bayeaux Tapestry, and will go on display in London for the very first time.
Beneath the Great Wave: Hokusai, Hiroshige, and ukiyo-e print
Another one for fans of Japanese woodblock prints. At the Whitworth in Manchester, two of Japan's most recognised artists and trailblazers of the printmaking technique – Hokusai and Hiroshige – are under the spotlight. Discover how they created striking images of the world around them that still influence art, design and popular culture across the globe.
House of Stories: Tales from the Chatsworth Library
Letters from Charles Dickens, a first edition of Pride and Prejudice, a fragment of manuscript of The Canterbuty Tales. Book lovers are in for a treat in this literary exhibition, bringing the story of Chatsworth's library to life. Staged during the UK's National Year of Reading, visitors can marvel at rare treasures, lavish volumes and annotated books.