The autumn is the perfect time to view some inspiring new artwork as outdoor activities become less attractive, and we might be looking for a special piece that deserves a custom picture frame as we prepare our homes for the festive season. Here’s a round up of some interesting new exhibitions to visit around the UK during November.
Oxford: Modern Art Oxford
Oxford is of course a city that is bathed in culture, and this November the art scene is invigorated by the reopening of Modern Art Oxford, following a £2m overhaul. The Art Newspaper reports that the Victorian era building now features a remodelled ground floor space that is dedicated to local emerging artists.
During November, the gallery will provide a space for the Platform Graduate Award, showcasing work from the Ruskin School of Art and Oxford Brookes University. There’s also an upcoming exhibition of artworks by Muslim parents and their children, which will be created in collaboration with the artist Farwa Moledina.
From November 9 to February 2025, the gallery will feature a flagship exhibition by the late Cuban artist Belkis Ayón, (1967-1999). Despite her short life, Ayón was celebrated for her evocative collograph prints that explored Afro-Cuban identity, religion and spirituality.
Collograph is a printmaking technique that uses textured materials to print detailed silhouette style images. Ayón was exceptionally skillful in building up intricate monochrome layers and she used her powerful imagination to create symbolic images with a dreamlike atmosphere.
London: Michelangelo, Leonardo, Raphael, Royal Academy
Fans of Renaissance art will be delighted by this new exhibition at the Gabrielle Jungels-Winkler Galleries in Burlington Gardens. These three titans of Italian art met briefly in Florence in January 1504 to discuss a location for Michelangelo’s David, which was nearing completion.
The exhibition features some of the artists’ most beautiful drawings and preparatory sketches that are rarely on public display, and explores the inspiration and the rivalry that flowed between the trio of artistic geniuses.
Manchester Art Fair, Manchester Central, 15-17 November
Manchester Art Fair is open to the public, and is a particular draw for collectors and curators. This is a vibrant exhibition that showcases work from over 500 artists, and is the perfect opportunity to pick up original pieces by up and coming artists. There is a dedicated gallery for young and experimental artists who explore contemporary themes.
There’s also a programme of events that offers the opportunity to listen to live talks from the artists and ask questions.
Highlights this year include the landscapes of Penny Hunt, who creates evocative scenes of the route that drovers took to move cattle from remote regional villages to the city markets of London to be sold for meat. Her textured oil paintings use muted colours and symbolic imagery to evoke a way of life that has been obliterated by the modern era.
There’s also a stand for Rob Wilson, the popular north west artist based in Whaley Bridge in the High Peak. His distinctive style involves using acrylic, watercolour and ink, combined with magazine print and lines of stitching to create semi-abstract images of buildings and landscapes.
Newcastle, Seven Stories Exhibition
If you are in the north east and are looking for something to do with the children this half term, then the Seven Stories Exhibition at the National Museum for Children’s Books is the perfect place to visit. This is the only centre in Britain that is dedicated to exploring and sharing the sheer quality and variety of our children’s art and literature.
The name comes from the theory that there are only seven types of story in the world: the quest; rags to riches; defeating the monster; voyage and return; tragedy; rebirth; and comedy. Nevertheless, these plotlines have been retold in countless ways over thousands of years, and hopefully they will continue to be explored for centuries to come.
There are currently three exhibitions at the centre besides the permanent displays to explore. There’s a chance to see some of the original sketches for the Gruffalo, with interactive fun features such as design your own underpants. What more could you ask for?
There’s also an hour-long magical journey through the Wild Woods where you can explore the fantastical worlds of Philip Pullman, JK Rowling, Terry Pratchett and more. Finally, there’s an immersive experience to explore The Lost Spells by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris, which draws on the spiritual powers of nature.