Art & DesignFive unmissable art exhibitions in London in 2020

Pop art superstars, modernist masters and out-there installations – London has some blockbuster exhibitions lined up for 2020. Vying with New York for the title of global centre of art, the city’s world-class contemporary galleries, extraordinary museums and institutions, and roster of visiting exhibitions make it incredibly exciting. This is what we are most looking forward to:

Picasso and Paper at Royal Academy of Arts

25 January - 13 April 2020

Almost everyone is familiar with Picasso’s large paintings, collages and sculpture, but the Royal Academy of Arts is taking a more intelligent approach to his sketches, drawings and works on paper. Picasso and Paper explores his use of the medium, he didn’t just use paper to draw, however, he burnt it, tore it and used it to create sculptures. More than 300 works spanning his 80-year career will be on display, as well as documentary footage and sketchbooks that reveal a captivating insight into Picasso’s creative processes.

David Hockney: Drawing From Life at National Portrait Gallery

27 February – 28 June 2020

Fans of David Hockney will love the National Portrait Gallery’s major new exhibition, David Hockney: Drawing From Life. 150 pencil and ink portraits will be showcased, making it the first large-scale exhibition devoted to the iconic English artist’s drawings in over twenty years. From friend and muse Celia Birtwell, to his mother Laura Hockney; his sitters reveal an intimate glimpse into Hockney’s inner circle. The show explores Hockney as a draughtsman from the 1950s right through to the present day. Perhaps most insightful of all will be a selection of drawings from an intense period of self-scrutiny during the 1980s when Hockney created a self-portrait every day over a period of two months.

Andy Warhol at Tate Modern

12 March – 6 September 2020

Andy Warhol’s screen prints of Marilyn Monroe, Coca-Cola and Campbell’s soup cans ingrained their way into mid-century American pop culture and still endure to this day. A vast retrospective of the pop art legend’s works, Andy Warhol at Tate Modern promises to showcase these, his most iconic images. As well as never-before-seen works and images from his barrier-challenging Ladies and Gentlemen series, you’ll be able to play with his floating Silver Clouds and experience the psychedelic multimedia environment of the Exploding Plastic Inevitable.

Sin at The National Gallery

15 April – 5 July 2020

Transgressions and sin have long inspired artists since time immemorial and the theme of ungodly deeds is being celebrated in The National Gallery’s exhibition, Sin. Spanning centuries of artists, from Bruegel and Velázquez to Andy Warhol and Tracey Emin, this compellingly immoral show will reveal each painter’s interpretation of wrongdoing. What’s more, Sin will dive into the complex theological ideas and depictions of ‘sinful’ everyday behaviour that blur the boundaries between religious and secular art.

London Design Biennale at Somerset House

8 September – 20 September 2020

To see ground-breaking design on an international scale, head to Somerset House for London Design Biennale. Artistic Director, Es Devlin OBE has chosen the theme ‘Resonance’ and countries will be presenting their vivid interpretations of the concept. Across the grand historic building, rooms will house out-there installations, cutting-edge digital works and immersive works you can interact with and experience.

And of course, Jumeirah's London hotels are wonderfully placed near to the capital's galleries and museums. Stay at Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel, Carlton Tower Jumeirah and Grosvenor House Suites for an unforgettable trip.