Recommendations

The exhibitions you must see this October

Installation view Mohammed Sami, After the Storm, Blenheim Art Foundation, Blenheim Palace, 9 July – 6 October, 2024

From surrealist photography to a prestigious contemporary art prize, here's our guide to 10 of the biggest exhibitions opening across the UK this October. You won't want to miss these.

Golden leaves, crisp air, conkers to collect. Autumn is finally here – and alongside the arrival of cosy season comes a fresh set of exhibitions to keep you inspired and sheltered from the wind and the rain. Plus, where's a better place to get lost in a book and sip on a warm drink than a lovely museum café?

From the transformative power of music at the Foundling Museum in London, to a luminous sculpture in contemporary art park Jupiter Artland near Edinburgh, here's our guide to 10 exhibitions that you must see this October.

And with a National Art Pass, you'll make savings at every venue.

What exhibitions can I see with an Art Pass?

01
Models mud wrestling at Elena Velez’s Spring/Summer 2024 presentation, The Longhouse.

Dirty Looks: Desire and Decay in Fashion

Fashion's dirty side is under the spotlight in this fabulous exhibition of rebellious looks. From ripped jeans to lipstick-stained shirts, dig into the rising popularity of dirt and decay in fashion and beauty, set against a backdrop of algorithmic digital perfection. What do these rebellions reveal about us and our futures? Expect iconic pieces by titans in the field, including Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood and Maison Margiela, alongside pioneering creations by emerging designers.

02
Basel Abbas and Ruanne Abou-Rahme, Still from Prisoners of Love (working title), 2025. Courtesy of the artists.

Basel Abbas & Ruanne Abou-Rahme

Experience an immersive installation by Palestinian artist duo Basel Abbas and Ruanne Abou-Rahme. Together, the artists create works that play with storytelling techniques and the political, visceral and material possibilities of sound, image, text and location. On display is a new video work, spotlighting the experience of prisoners and their relationship with music, poetry and daily acts of resistance.

03
Cameron Black, Image of a computer monitor, partially submerged into the earth.

Human Natures

Ever wondered what impact you have on nature? And how it has shaped you? Uncover our complex relationship with the natural world in this thought-provoking and suprising exhibition – where our penchant for dressing up our beloved pets is as equally considered as the rising mountains of trash that can be seen from space. And did you know? This exhibition will tour to Manchester, Newcastle, Norwich and London with Art Fund support.

04
Installation view of Rene Matić: AS OPPOSED TO THE TRUTH, CCA Berlin, 2024.

Turner Prize 2025

Who will win the Turner Prize this year? Contemporary artists Nnena Kalu, Rene Matić, Mohammed Sami and Zadie Xa are shortlisted for the 2025 edition of the prestigious visual arts award, named after one of Britain's most treasured artists, JMW Turner. Keep your eyes peeled on 9 December for the announcement of the winner.

05
The Boys' Band, early 20th century.

A Grand Chorus: The Power of Music

Discover the transformative power of music in this exhibition spotlighting Handel's Hallelujah Chorus. Just one operatic rendition of 'Hallelujah' can conjure this iconic musical composition in lots of people's minds, making it one of the most popular and recognised piece of music to ever be created. Musical instruments, works of art, archival materials and an immersive installation by Mikhail Karikis shed new light on the Baroque anthem.

06
Lee Miller, Model Elizabeth Cowell wearing Digby Morton suit, London, 1941.

Lee Miller

War correspondent, fashion model, Surrealist muse. Lee Miller wore many hats throughout her life, but her dedication to the art of photography is cemented in this major retrospective. From her appearance in an avant-garden film by Jean Cocteau to her devastating images from the Second World War, experience the breadth of Miller's staggering career, told through over 200 images, unseen archival material, first-person essays, and more.

07
Gilbert & George, HA-HA, 2022.

Gilbert & George: 21st Cenutry Pictures

Journey through the last 25 years of art created by provocative artist duo, Gilbert & George. Not afraid to explore social issues and taboos in their art, from sex and death to nationalism and class, floor-to-ceiling installations will take over the gallery spaces, revealing their intepretations of the world as it is today.

08
Partly gilded cartonnage mask, 380–30 BCE, cartonnage (linen and paste), gold and paint

Made in Ancient Egypt

Travel back in time to ancient Egypt and meet the makers of some of its most spectacular objects, from the domestic to the divine. Hear stories about the creative craftspeople who pioneered technologies and new techniques to produce and decorate jewellery, mummy-cases, sculpture, illustrated books, and more.

09
Ben Enwonwu, The Dancer (Agbogho Mmuo - Maiden Spirit Mask), 1962

Nigerian Modernism

Discover the artists who transformed modern art in Nigeria during the 20th century, both before and after 1960, when the country gained independence from British colonial rule. From El Anatsui to the Zaria Art Society, this era of cultural rebellion saw artists and their networks flourish across the country, merging Nigerian, African and European techniques to create multilayered, energetic works.

10
Tai Shani, The Spell or The Dream, 2025

Tai Shani: The Spell or The Dream

Imagine new futures with contemporary artist Tai Shani, who has created a spellbinding sculpture that sleeps through catastrophes and dreams up alternative visions of the future. Don't miss the opportunity to experience this Art Fund-supported work during the winter season at Jupiter Artland.