Summer 2015 Essential Exhibition Visits

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With summer now on our doorsteps, and many of us looking forward to some better weather and even a little break away from school or work, a whole new wave of exhibitions are sweeping our way. From painting pioneers to parakeet shoes and even a helter-skelter, there's some really exciting stuff to look forward to over the coming season. So get your diary out - I'm doing a run down of my top UK exhibition picks for summer 2015.

Barbara Hepworth: Sculpture For A Modern World @ Tate Britain 

As hard as it is to believe, until now there hasn’t been a major London Barbara Hepworth exhibition for over 50 years. An overarching retrospective, this show features major sculptures from all periods of her career together with rarely-seen works including textiles, photograms, collages and drawings.  

Carsten Holler @ Hayward Gallery 

Almost every installation in this show is designed to be explored hands-on, which the Hayward promises will “confront every individual with their own decisions” in regards to how they view and engage with the artwork. This is about as interactive as it gets, even the exit is made to play with - a giant slide that shoots down from the glass pyramid roof to the ground floor!

Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty @ V&A

The show that saw audiences queuing around the block in New York four years ago goes on display in London, having been expanded and now featuring 30 additional garments and a new section exploring McQueen's early days as a designer.

Jackson Pollock: Blind Spots @ Tate Liverpool 

This is the first exhibition in more than 30 years to explore Jackson Pollock's 'black pourings', a lesser known, monochromatic, yet extremely influential part of his practice. It is an opportunity to see the largest number of Pollock’s black pourings ever assembled in the UK, with some never before seen in this country.

Audrey Hepburn: Portraits Of An Icon @ National Portrait Gallery 

This exhibition marks 65 years since Hepburn took to the stage at London night club, Ciro’s, which marked the beginning of her extraordinary career. Iconic portraits are brought together with intimate personal photographs to explore the fascinating life of the celebrated film star, fashion icon and humanitarian. 

Love Is Enough: William Morris and Andy Warhol @ Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery

It may seem like an unlikely pairing but in this unorthodox show, artist Jeremy Deller presents a new reading into the work of two of his inspirations, William Morris and Andy Warhol. Prints, tapestries, publications and sketches from throughout their respective careers will be shown, including Warhol’s hand-woven tapestry of Marilyn Monroe which is being displayed publicly for the first time. 

Shoes: Pleasure and Pain @ V&A

The V&A reveals an exhibition of more than 200 pairs of shoes from across the globe. Old and new come together here, from historic lotus shoes to the latest designs by Jimmy Choo and futuristic shoes created using new technology, to explore the agony and euphoria of extreme footwear.

Magna Carta: Law, Liberty, Legacy @ British Library

This exhibition on Magna Carta deciphers the 800-year-old document, as we celebrate its anniversary this year. British artist Cornelia Parker has been commissioned to create a new artwork that responds to Magna Carta in the digital era. Created by over 200 participants, from prisoners to judges, Magna Carta (An Embroidery) replicates in stitch the entire Wikipedia article on the Great Charter.

What exhibitions are you hoping to visit over the summer? Are you going to be checking out any of the above? What are you most looking forward to seeing? Personally, I'm dying to get down to the British Library to see Cornelia Parker's embroidery - it looks absolutely incredible and is right up my street!

Read more fab Summer Essential posts at the links below...

26 and Not Counting  Alyssa J Freitas  soak and simmer  
The Not Quite Adult  Carrie Loves
The Yuppie Files  PRBlonde  Knowing Kelly
Something Good  Feathers and Stripes  Cassandra Monroe
Otherworldly  Sunny Side Up  Life Modifier
Leigh Clair  Rae Loves  Rose Colored Water
Rossetto  Fashion to a T  PreppyPanache
Emilie Lima Burke  Ember & March  Business Betties
with love from ellie  Mint Julep Girl  Love Peace and shimmer
Rae Everyday  Little Wild Heart  star-crossed smile
Luv in the Bubble  Perfect Enough For Us  LIFE BY BRI
Sorcha Eleanor  Brikasia  Elana Lyn
Sequins & Strawberries  Pattern Me Pretty  Beauty and the Pitch
White Oak Creative  The Toppy Top  White Cabana
In The Grey  Taryn Williford  Cooper + Thames
Mrs. on the Move  Magnificent Temptations  Meg Biram  Victoria McGinley