Must-see London exhibitions in March 2018

March is a particularly strong month for contemporary art, shown – sometimes unexpectedly – at some of London’s biggest institutions. Tacita Dean and Picasso are headline names, but there are also some lesser-known artists to explore. Discover our pick of the month’s highlights.

Picasso 1932: Love, Fame, Tragedy at the Tate Modern

1932 is dubbed Picasso’s “year of wonders”. Within the space of 12 months, the painter experienced both huge upheavals in his personal life, and an astonishing burst of creativity that resulted in some of his most important artworks. Revel in a month-by-month breakdown of this pivotal period at Tate Modern.

Picasso 1932: Love, Fame, Tragedy is at the Tate Modern from 8^th March until 9^th September 2018. For further information or to book visit the Tate Modern’s website here.

Pablo Picasso, Le Rêve (detail), 1932

Tacita Dean: Still Life and Portrait at the National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery

In an unprecedented move, the National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery and Royal Academy of Art have teamed up to present one mammoth exhibition in three parts. Tacita Dean consequently presents aspects of her varied practice in the contextual setting of each institution. Parts one (Still Life) and two (Portrait) of this triple helping of renowned contemporary artist Dean are at NG and NPG.

Tacita Dean: Still Life and Tacita Dean: Portrait are at the National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery from 15^th March until 28^th May 2018. For further information or to book visit the National Gallery’s website here and the National Portrait Gallery’s website here.

Somewhere in Between at the Wellcome Collection

Art meets science at The Wellcome Collection. This exposition showcases a quartet of collaborations between artists and scientists and how they explore the intangible factors that shape our lives. The show takes the form of four immersive installations that are guaranteed to get you thinking.

Somewhere in Between is at the Wellcome Collection from 8^th March until 27^th August 2018. For further information or to book visit the Wellcome Collection’s website here.

Victorian Giants: The Birth of Art Photography at the National Portrait Gallery

The dawn of art photography was heralded by four key Victorian figures: Julia Margaret Cameron, Lewis Carroll, Lady Clementina Hawarden and Oscar Rejlander. For the first time, the National Portrait Gallery examines the connections and relationships between these photographers and their influence on the discipline that would come to define the 20^th century.

Victorian Giants: The Birth of Art Photography is at the National Portrait Gallery from 1^st March until 20^th May 2018. For further information or to book visit the National Portrait Gallery’s website here.

Gayle Chon Kwan: The People’s Forest at the William Morris Gallery

The William Morris Gallery in Walthamstow is a wonderful example of a small establishment dedicated to the art of the past, creating fresh connections by engaging with contemporary pieces. The People’s Forest is a new body of work by Gayle Chon Kwan that explores the history, politics, and people of London’s ancient woodland, Epping Forest, which sits near the gallery’s boundaries.

Gayle Chon Kwan: The People’s Forest is at the William Morris Gallery from the 2^nd March until 20^th May 2018. For further information or to book visit the William Morris Gallery’s website here.

Anna Souter