11 Must-See Museum Exhibitions of 2025

In 2025, the global art scene is set to feature a series of compelling exhibitions that highlight diverse voices and historical retrospectives. Here are 11 must-see museum exhibitions to look forward to:

1. Christine Sun Kim, “All Day All Night”

Christine Sun Kim, Too Much Future, 2017

• Whitney Museum of American Art, New York (also traveling to the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis)

• February 8–July

Berlin-based artist Christine Sun Kim, known for her explorations of sound and language, will present her first major solo museum survey. The exhibition will feature over 90 works from 2011 to the present, including drawings, murals, paintings, video installations, and sculptures. This showcase aims to highlight Kim's expansive approach to artmaking and her commentary on communication and the Deaf community.

 2. Anselm Kiefer, “Sag mir, wo die Blumen sind”

Anselm Kiefer, Sag mir wo die Blumen sind (Where have all the flowers gone), 2012

• Stedelijk Museum and Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam

• March 7–June 9

German artist Anselm Kiefer's works will be exhibited alongside Vincent van Gogh's paintings in a two-part exhibition. The collaboration between the Stedelijk and Van Gogh Museums will explore the connections between Kiefer's and Van Gogh's practices, featuring previously unexhibited works and new spatial installations.

3. “Paris noir: Artistic movements and anti-colonial struggles 1950–2000”

Self Portrait, 1947, Gerard Sekoto.

• Centre Pompidou, Paris

• March 19–June 30

This exhibition will celebrate Black artists who worked in Paris between 1950 and 2000, including figures like Beauford Delaney and Aimé Césaire. It aims to shed light on the contributions of these artists to the city's cultural landscape, often overshadowed by enduring stereotypes.

4. Yayoi Kusama Retrospective

Kusama in Yellow Tree Mobiliar (2002), Aichi Triennale, 2010.

• Fondation Beyeler, Basel

• October 12, 2025–February 9, 2026

Celebrated Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama will be the subject of a major retrospective, featuring works spanning her nearly eight-decade career. The exhibition will include her iconic polka-dot paintings, giant pumpkin sculptures, and immersive "infinity mirror room" installations.

5. “Siena: The Rise of Painting, 1300–1350”

Maestà by Duccio (1308–11), Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Siena

• National Gallery, London

• March 8–June 22

Following its display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, this exhibition will showcase Sienese paintings from the early 14th century, highlighting the city's pivotal role in the development of European art.

6. Helen Chadwick Retrospective  

Helen Chadwick with Piss Flowers from the exhibition Helen Chadwick: Effluvia, Serpentine Gallery, 1994 Photo: © Kippa Matthews

• Hepworth Wakefield, Wakefield

• May 17–October 27

The influential British artist Helen Chadwick (1953–1996) will be honored with a comprehensive retrospective, the first in over 25 years. Known for her innovative and unconventional use of materials, Chadwick's work challenges traditional notions of beauty and the natural.

7. Noah Davis Exhibition

Noah Davis, “Pueblo del Rio: Arabesque” (2014) © The Estate of Noah Davis Courtesy

• Barbican Art Gallery, London

• February 6–May 11

The work of American painter Noah Davis (1983–2015) will be featured in a significant exhibition, offering insight into his contributions to contemporary art and his role in founding the Underground Museum in Los Angeles.

8. Kerry James Marshall Retrospective

Kerry James Marshall, School of Beauty, School of Culture, 2012 © Kerry James Marshall. Photo: Sean Pathasema.

• Royal Academy, London

• September 20–January 18

Renowned American artist Kerry James Marshall will be the subject of a major retrospective, showcasing his paintings that address African American culture and historical narratives.

9. “Leigh Bowery Retrospective”

Fergus Greer, Leigh Bowery Session I Look 2 1988 © Fergus Greer

• Tate Modern, London

• February 27–August 31

This exhibition will celebrate the life and work of Leigh Bowery, an artist, performer, and fashion designer known for his avant-garde and taboo-breaking creations. The retrospective will highlight Bowery's influence on contemporary art and fashion.

10. “Nigerian Modern Art Exhibition”

Ben Enwonwu, The Dancer (Agbogho Mmuo-Maiden Spirit Mask)1962 Ben Uri Gallery & Museum. ©The Ben Enwonwu Foundation

• Tate Modern, London

• October 8–Spring 2026

This large-scale exhibition will celebrate artists who revolutionized modern art in Nigeria before and after national independence in 1960, combining African and European traditions to create new, multidisciplinary forms across painting, sculpture, textile, literature, and poetry.

11. “Wes Anderson Exhibition”

Wes Anderson, Photograph: Charlie Gray, Copyright Searchlight Pictures

• Design Museum, London

• November 29–May 4, 2026

The Design Museum will explore filmmaker Wes Anderson's unique and unmistakable aesthetic, from his earliest work in the 1990s to ... "The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar."

These exhibitions offer a diverse and enriching array of art experiences, highlighting both historical and contemporary works across various mediums and cultural contexts.