Barbican announces retrospective of Noah Davis and new exhibition by Citra Sasmita
Noah Davis retrospective and Citra Sasmita's UK debut highlight Barbican's 2025 programme.
Noah Davis at work, Los Angeles, 2009 Photo: Patrick OβBrien-Smith.
The Barbican Art Gallery will host the largest institutional survey to date of the late American artist Noah Davis from 6 February - 11 May 2025. Spanning over 50 works, this exhibition provides a comprehensive overview of Davis' remarkable career, showcasing his prowess in painting and his contributions to curating and community-building through co-founding The Underground Museum. Davis, primarily based in Los Angeles, depicted diverse aspects of Black life, drawing inspiration from various sources including anonymous photography, literature, and personal archives. His figurative paintings capture scenes both realistic and dreamlike, reflecting a deep empathy for humanity and everyday experiences. The retrospective, organised chronologically, offers insight into Davis' relentless curiosity and his profound impact on art and community engagement.
Noah Davis, Pueblo del Rio: Arabesque, 2014 Β© The Estate of Noah Davis
Courtesy The Estate of Noah Davis and David Zwirner.
Indonesian artist Citra Sasmita will debut her first solo exhibition in the UK at The Curve from 30 January- 20 April 2025. Sasmita's multidisciplinary practice, encompassing painting, sculpture, embroidery, and scent, invites visitors on a symbolic, multi-sensory journey through the 90-metre-long gallery. Through her exploration of ancestral memory, ritual, and migration, Sasmita challenges gender hierarchies and reinterprets Balinese mythologies, reclaiming the traditional Kamasan painting technique. Her powerful narratives feature strong female protagonists in a post-patriarchal world, confronting misconceptions of Balinese culture and its colonial history. Sasmita's exhibition promises to be a captivating exploration of identity and cultural resilience.
Installation view of Citra Sasmita, Timur Merah Project XII: Rivers With No End, as part of After Rain, Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale, 2024 Courtesy of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation Photo: Marco Cappelletti.
With these two groundbreaking exhibitions, the Barbican continues its commitment to showcasing diverse artistic voices and providing enriching experiences for audiences.
Claro is located at the southern end of Regent Street serving a menu best described as Eastern Mediterranean with Middle Eastern Influences. This month Claroβs autumn menu has launched using ingredients sourced from county Berkshire giving diners a special farm to table experienceβ¦
From roaring dinosaurs to lively discos and creative workshops, London is bursting with family fun this October half-term. Whether youβre exploring Regentβs Parkβs open-air art, dancing at Sadlerβs Wells, or watching classic films at the Barbican, thereβs something to entertain every age and interest across the cityβ¦
In a city where a night at the theatre is both a tradition and a spectacle, where you sit matters more than you think. Londonβs West End theatres are filled with architectural quirks, steep balconies, grand boxes, and seating names that shift from venue to venue. If you've ever booked a ticket and wondered, "Is this actually a good seat?"β¦
A new mural by emerging artist Oliwia Bober, commissioned by The Langham Estate, will be unveiled on the 23rd of October in central Londonβs thriving Fitzrovia Quarter. Bober was the winner of an open competition earlier this year which challenged an artist to capture the vibrancy of the areaβs past and present. The new mural, titled Threads in Commonβ¦
Cicoria by Angela Hartnett is located in none other than Londonβs iconic Royal Opera House. Hartnettβs reputation precedes herβ¦
Frieze London 2025 returns to Regentβs Park with a dynamic mix of emerging and established galleries, reaffirming the cityβs creative pulse. Highlights include Esther Schipperβs dreamlike works by Sarah Buckner, Gagosianβs vibrant installation by Lauren Halsey, and Paceβs meditative paintings by William Monk. From Do Ho Suhβs ethereal fabric architectures at Lehmann Maupinβ¦
Londoners are spending more and more of their downtime online, whether itβs unwinding after a hectic day or simply filling a spare hour. From streaming the latest shows to scrolling through social media feeds, thereβs no shortage of ways to relax onlineβ¦
Paris launches into its own spectacular celebration of art each October, transforming the city into a hub for collectors, curators, and cultural enthusiasts. From the grandeur of Art Basel Paris at the newly renovated Grand Palais to the focused energy of Paris Internationale, OFFSCREEN, AKAA and Menart, each fair contributes something unique to the cityβs vibrant art scene.
Acclaimed Scottish artist Anya Gallaccio has been announced as the winner of the Robson Orr TenTen Award 2025 by the Government Art Collectionβ¦
Hereβs a roundup of when and where you can experience the best of Londonβs Christmas light switch-on events for 2024.
London is home to more than just an incredible arts district and world-class gourmet experiences. The city also hosts a vibrant gaming scene for players of all ages, types and persuasions. From retro arcade experiences to futuristic VR eventsβ¦
The fifth season of The Gallery, Itβs Not Easy Being Green, opens across the UK on 7 October 2025 and in Brazil on 14 October, ahead of COP30 in BelΓ©m. Sixteen international artists, including Yinka Shonibare CBE RA, Hannah Starkey, and UΓ½ra Sodoma, bring the climate crisis directly into public view. Instead of traditional galleries, their artworks appear on thousands of billboardsβ¦
The Internet has changed many aspects of our lives, from entertainment to work and from shopping to media consumption. Where it was once necessary for groups of people to physically get together to connect, thatβs no longer the caseβ¦
Discover 20+ restaurants to dine at in London during Frieze London and Frieze Masters, from Mediterranean and Japanese to Italian, Middle Eastern, and modern British cuisineβ¦
Discover how digital art spaces analyse, filter, and arrange your feed. Learn how algorithms and curation shape what art you see onlineβ¦
Discover how artists in London and beyond can balance creative work with personal care. Learn practical steps for health, rest, and artistic growth.
The 19th Venice Architecture Biennale showcases standout national pavilions from across the globe. Highlights include Spainβs focus on territorial equilibrium, the United Statesβ βporchβ project exploring generosity in architecture, and Moroccoβs Materiae Palimpseste. Discover the pavilions you wonβt want to missβ¦
We spoke to visionary director Εukasz Twarkowski ahead of the UK premiere of ROHTKO, a groundbreaking production that takes inspiration from the infamous Rothko forgery scandal to ask urgent questions about originality, truth and value in art today. Combining theatre, cinema, sound and digital technology, the work challengesβ¦
Family separation can be one of the most overwhelming experiences to navigate, especially when children, property, and finances are involved. For many people, the process brings uncertainty about the future, both emotionally and practically. Without clear guidance, it can feel like there are few places to turn for reassurance or answersβ¦
British Ceramics Biennial is back and better than ever. Running until 19 October 2025, the dynamic programme of free exhibitions, screenings, talks and events is proving a hit with both locals and criticsβ¦and just an hour and a halfβs train away from London, itβs well worth a day tripβ¦
Iranian-born British curator and producer Tima Jam is the Founder of Art Voyage, a new migrant-led cultural platform committed to building a dynamic, equitable, and globally connected arts ecosystem through novel initiatives comprising exhibitions, public art, summits, residences, and community engagement to create a lasting cultural and social impactβ¦
Relocating to another country is a major decision, and itβs natural to feel unsure where to begin. For many professionals, investors, and families seeking a stable and rewarding lifestyle, Portugal has become one of the most attractive destinations in Europeβ¦
Caroline Guiela Nguyenβs LACRIMA is a staggeringly ambitious, searing expose of exploitation in the fashion industry and what people are prepared to sacrifice in the pursuit of beauty. At almost three hours in length it is a bold undertaking, but the result is a powerfulβ¦
Londoners are spending more and more of their downtime online, whether itβs unwinding after a hectic day or simply filling a spare hour. From streaming the latest shows to scrolling through social media feeds, thereβs no shortage of ways to relax onlineβ¦
With the rising demand of cruise travel, imagine having to travel at a whim on a cruise from the UK to the Mediterranean for the very first time and not knowing how to clinch a the ultimate cruise deal?
Echoes of Migration is the flagship summit to launch new not-for-profit platform Art Voyage this autumn. Echoes of Migration officially inaugurates Art Voyageβs innovative, itinerant cultural programmeβ¦and gears us up for what is in store for the Art Voyage Biennialβ¦.
Betty Ogundipe (b. 2001) is a multidisciplinary artist of Nigerian heritage whose work explores resilience, femininity, and the power of love and resistance. Her debut solo exhibition, LOVE/FIGHT at Tache Galleryβ¦
The V&Aβs Marie Antoinette Style, sponsored by Manolo Blahnik, is being hailed as the first landmark exhibition in the UK devoted to Franceβs most infamous Queen of Fashion. It is a glittering journey through silk, flamboyance and legacyβ¦.
Malta is fast becoming one of the Mediterraneanβs hottest destinations, offering sun-soaked beaches into October, a thriving arts and culture scene, and stunning architecture and landscapesβ¦
This October in London offers everything from Frieze and the BFI Film Festival to Peggy Gou, the London Literature Festival, and Halloween at Kew.
