The weekend sun seems to have given London a shake up, as though it has injected colour back into the city. Blossom is growing on trees, flowers are shooting up from grass, and the city’s museums and galleries are also gearing up for a new lease of life, with all sorts of exciting exhibition openings in the calendar for this month.
From striking Munch portraits at the National Portrait Gallery to evocative photography documenting everyday life in northern Britain, these are the best new exhibitions arriving in the capital as spring starts to show.
Six London art exhibitions to see in March 2025
Edvard Munch Portraits at the National Portrait Gallery
We all know Edvard Munch’s masterpiece ‘The Scream’, but there was a lot more to him: this show at the National Portrait Gallery catalogues the great Norwegian expressionist through his portraits of family, friends, fellow artists, writers, art collectors and others in his lifetime. Intimate, energetic and deeply human, this exhibit is set to remind us why Munch had such influence in his sphere and far beyond.
Edvard Munch Portraits at the National Portrait Gallery, March 13-June 15 2025. More details here.
Textiles: The Art of Mankind
From the clothes we wear to the furniture in our homes, textiles are functional, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be art at the same time. Since ancient times humans have used them to tell stories and show their creativity, and this show at the Fashion and Textile Museum looks to trace the art of textile via a series of beautiful objects, pieces and tapestries sourced from all over the world.
Textiles: The Art of Mankind at the Fashion and Textile Museum, March 28-September 6 2025. More details here.
Siena: The Rise of Painting, 1300 ‒1350
A huge 700 years since artists like Duccio and the Pietro brothers were making moves as artists in the Tuscan city of Siena, this show at the National is set to celebrate their impact by displaying some of the most culturally important works to have come out of the time.
Siena: The Rise of Painting, 1300 ‒1350 at National Gallery, March 8-June 22 2025. More details here.
José María Velasco: A View of Mexico
This is the first UK exhibition of the esteemed 19th century landscape painter, who is known for sweeping portrayals of the Valley of Mexico, close portrayals of flora and fauna and vast panoramic landscapes of Mexico as it moved towards industrialisation. The artist was known for his scientific eye, and you’ll spot the attention to geological detail hidden in these monumental canvases.
José María Velasco: A View of Mexico at National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, March 29-August 17. More details here.
Peter Mitchell: Nothing Lasts Forever at the Photographer’s Gallery
Peter Mitchell: Nothing Lasts Forever at the Photographer’s Gallery, March 7-June 15 2025. More details here.
The Other Art Fair
Presented by Saatchi Art, this annual art fair offers a range of local artist with works starting at just £100 (a far cry from some of the other namesake art fairs on the London circuit). Browse art from more than 150 artists and enjoy immersive installations, performances, DJs as well as a fully stocked bar.
The Other Art Fair at The Truman Brewery, March 6-9 2025. More details here.
Looking for more fun stuff to do? Here are the best events in London this March
And the 10 best new London theatre openings in March 2025
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