Summer is a vibrant time for the art world, with museums and galleries unveiling major exhibitions showcasing a range of artistic movements and voices. From iconic Impressionist works to contemporary social commentary, there’s something for everyone. Let’s explore some of the most captivating exhibitions happening this summer across the globe:

Paris 1874: Inventing Impressionism

March 24 – July 14, 2024

Musée d’Orsay, Paris, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C

Celebrate the 150th anniversary of Impressionism’s birth! Witness nearly 130 works by iconic figures like Monet, Morisot, and Renoir. This exhibition explores the social and cultural climate that birthed this revolutionary art movement, defying artistic conventions and capturing fleeting moments of everyday life. Musée d’Orsay website

Firelei Báez

April 4 – September 2, 2024

Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston

Dominican-born artist Firelei Báez takes center stage in her first museum survey show. Explore her richly colored, layered works that delve into historical narratives of colonialism and the African diaspora in the Caribbean. Báez’s paintings, drawings, and installations draw inspiration from diverse sources, weaving science fiction, folklore, and social history into powerful storytelling and mythmaking. Institute of Contemporary Art Boston website

Theaster Gates

April 24 – September 1, 2024

Mori Art Museum, Tokyo  

This comprehensive solo exhibition offers a deep dive into the multifaceted artistic practice of Theaster Gates. A leading figure in contemporary art, Gates employs sculpture, painting, music, performance, architecture, and design to explore social issues. Witness his renowned “Tar Paintings” series and new creations made specifically for this exhibition. Gates’ work emphasizes social practice, questioning urban development and its impact on Black communities. Mori Art Museum website

Jenny Holzer: Light Line

May 17 – September 29, 2024

Guggenheim Museum, New York

Thirty-five years after a groundbreaking show, Jenny Holzer returns to the Guggenheim with an expanded version of “Light Line.” This immersive installation utilizes electronic signs displaying scrolling text from her vast repertoire of aphorisms. Holzer’s thought-provoking messages address social concerns and encourage public engagement, challenging the concept of truth with a stream-of-consciousness style. This reimagined exhibition arrives in a time of societal discussions surrounding truth, community, and individual freedoms. Expect some of Holzer’s earliest works alongside new pieces generated with AI, showcasing her constant artistic evolution. Guggenheim Museum website

Mickalene Thomas: All About Love

May 25-Sep 29, 2024

The Broad, LA

Celebrate Black women through Mickalene Thomas’ vibrant art! This major exhibition (over 80 pieces) spans two decades, showcasing her signature style of confident Black women in domestic settings. “All About Love” explores themes of representation across mediums (mixed-media paintings, installations, collages, photography) and centers on love as a healing tool. Expect Thomas to confront historical exclusion of Black bodies in art with references to 19th-century French paintings. The Broad website

Leila Babirye: Obumu

March 23 – September 8, 2024

Yorkshire Sculpture Park West Yorkshire, UK

This compelling solo exhibition marks the museum debut of Ugandan artist Leila Babirye. Taking place in Yorkshire Sculpture Park’s 18th-century chapel, “Obumu” presents a series of striking sculptures crafted from wood and ceramic. These works serve as a powerful reflection on Babirye’s cultural heritage, personal experiences of exile, and her identity as a LGBTQ+ artist in a country where homosexuality is criminalized. Expect to encounter seven monumental wooden sculptures, alongside five expansive ceramic portraits, each offering a unique perspective. Yorkshire Sculpture Park website

Silvia Bächli: Partitura

May 11 – October 20, 2024

Centro Botín Santander, Spain

This thought-provoking exhibition brings the captivating minimalist works of Swiss artist Silvia Bächli to Spain for the first time. Centro Botín presents a curated selection of Bächli’s latest works alongside a selection of her earlier drawings, offering a comprehensive exploration of her artistic practice. Bächli’s abstract and minimal drawings are deeply connected to her physical movements, reflecting sensory experiences and bodily gestures. Through simple materials like paper and ink, she creates intricate compositions that invite viewers to contemplate the relationship between lines, physical actions, and emotions. Centro Botín website

Britta Marakatt-Labba: Moving the Needle

March 15 – August 25, 2024

The National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design (Oslo, Norway)

This landmark exhibition celebrates the extensive career of Swedish Sámi artist Britta Marakatt-Labba, presenting a retrospective view of her exquisite textile artistry. “Moving the Needle” is Marakatt-Labba’s most comprehensive exhibition to date, taking audiences on a journey through five decades of her creative process. Witness never-before-seen early sketches alongside iconic works like “Garjját / The Crows” and “Girddi noaiddit / Flying Shamans.” The exhibition culminates with the breathtaking centerpiece, “Historjá,” a monumental 24-meter-long embroidery that intricately weaves together scenes from Sámi history, mythology, and daily life. National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design website

Pino Pascali

March 28 – September 23, 2024

Fondazione Prada, Milan, Italy

Delve into the playful genius of Italian artist Pino Pascali at Fondazione Prada. This exhibition showcases over 50 sculptures and works that blur the lines between illusion and reality. Encounter Pascali’s signature “fake sculptures” alongside a giant blue spider – a whimsical yet thought-provoking exploration of artistic perception. Fondazione Prada website

Caspar David Friedrich: Infinite Landscapes

April 19 – August 4, 2024

Alte Nationalgalerie, Berlin, Germany

Celebrate the 250th birthday of Romanticism’s master, Caspar David Friedrich, at the Alte Nationalgalerie. Immerse yourself in over 100 of Friedrich’s breathtaking landscapes, including iconic works like “Monk by the Sea” and “Abbey in the Oakwood.” This exhibition also explores the Nationalgalerie’s pivotal role in reviving Friedrich’s legacy in the early 20th century. Alte Nationalgalerie website

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