The exhibitions you must see this September
From Post-Impressionist painting to neon light installations, don't miss some of the best exhibitions opening across the UK this month.
Is it just us or do you also get that back-to-school feeling when September comes around? It's as if something's been hardwired into our brains that makes it feel like a period of renewal, an opportunity to become a better version of yourself before another year comes to an end. Maybe it's nostalgia for a bygone era – or panic that we're three quarters through the year and we've become a bit lax on those January promises. So if you're looking for some inspiration to fit more art and culture into your life, you've come to the right place.
From celebrations of art, literature and music icons to deep-dives into hallucinogens and health, you won't want to miss some of the biggest and best exhibitions opening this month across the UK. And you know the drill – pack your National Art Pass to get great benefits at lots of the venues listed, including 50% off exhibition tickets, museum shop and café discounts, and much more.
What are the best exhibitions to see this month with an Art Pass?
Van Gogh: Poets and Lovers
Marvel at starry skies and bright sunflowers in this major exhibition dedicated to one of the most well-known artists in the world, Vincent van Gogh. In this once-in-a-century show, the National Gallery brings together paintings and drawings from his brief but significant time in the south of France, where he developed his revolutionary painting style, marked by vibrant colours and bold and dramatic brushstrokes.
Mary Robinson: Actress. Mistress. Writer. Radical
Literary genius, royal mistress, acting icon, or radical visionary? Whether she was gracing the London stage or the papers' gossip columns, Mary Robinson gave everyone something to talk about. Discover this overlooked 18th-century figure and her fascinating story, from beloved celebrity to social outcast, who is now considered one of the most influential writers of her time.
The Holly Johnson Story
Travel back in time to 1980s Britain, where punks and new wave bands were revolutionising the culture, in this exhibition celebrating Frankie Goes to Hollywood frontman and Liverpool local Holly Johnson. Charting his personal life and career, from budding musician to international star, discover how Johnson dealt with fame, an HIV+ diagnosis, and in turn becoming an LGBTQ+ icon.
Power Plants: Intoxicants, Stimulants and Narcotics
Did you know that for centuries people have used plants for their psychoactive properties for different purposes, from social to ceremonial? Through objects, sculpture, contemporary works, textiles and more, discover the important role these sacred plants play across the world for different cultures.
Chila Kumari Singh Burman: Neon Dreams
Bask in the glow of neon lights at the Holburne Museum, where works by contemporary artist Chila Kumari Singh Burman will adorn the building's façade and take centre stage in the museum's Ballroom, where a neon tiger sculpture nods to Burman's cultural heritage and experiences growing up in a Punjabi Hindu family on Merseyside.
Hard Graft: Work, Health and Rights
Explore the impact of physical labour on the body and health in this major exhibition, which reveals the experiences of people who take on undervalued work. Three sections – The Plantation, The Street, and The Home – each investigate the distinct spaces where often invisible, precarious or physical work takes place to reveal the connection between unregulated work practices and healthcare inequalities over history and into today.
Glenn Ligon: All Over The Place
Regarded as one of the most important contemporary artists of today, in this landmark exhibition Glenn Ligon's text-based paintings reference writers, from James Baldwin to Gertrude Stein, to explore how race is constructed across society, culture and politics. Throughout the museum, you'll encounter site-specific interventions by Ligon that reveal overlooked stories and fresh perspectives on their collection.
The more you see, the more we do.
The National Art Pass lets you enjoy free entry to hundreds of museums, galleries and historic places across the UK, while raising money to support them.