London's Summer Art Season: Escher, Le Parc, Pan-Africanism, and More
The Guardian's weekly art summary showcases significant exhibitions in London. At Somerset House, a retrospective of MC Escher is available until September 6. From June 11 to May 3, 2027, Tate Modern is hosting Julio Le Parc: Light. Colour. Action. The Barbican features Project a Black Planet, which includes works by Chris Ofili, David Hammons, and William Kentridge, running from June 11 to September 6. Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait at the National Portrait Gallery is also open until September 6. This month marks the opening of Barack Obama's $850 million Presidential Center. The Serpentine pavilion boasts a 'crinkle crankle' wall, while The Met honors portrait art, and a bull mosaic in Milan has lost its testicles.
Key facts
- MC Escher retrospective at Somerset House, London, until 6 September
- Julio Le Parc survey at Tate Modern from 11 June to 3 May 2027
- Project a Black Planet at Barbican, London, from 11 June to 6 September
- Marilyn Monroe exhibition at National Portrait Gallery, London, until 6 September
- Glasgow International biennial opening weekend until 6 June, some exhibitions through summer
- Barack Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, designed by Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects, opens this month; cost $850m
- First New York Upstate Photography Biennial opens
- Samuel van Hoogstraten's perspective box at National Gallery, London
Entities
Artists
- MC Escher
- Julio Le Parc
- Chris Ofili
- David Hammons
- William Kentridge
- Andy Warhol
- Marilyn Monroe
- Victoria Morton
- Cathy Wilkes
- Luke Fowler
- Barack Obama
- Tod Williams
- Billie Tsien
- Oliver Wainwright
- Roni Horn
- Jack White
- Samuel van Hoogstraten
Institutions
- Somerset House
- Tate Modern
- Barbican
- National Portrait Gallery
- Glasgow International
- Obama Presidential Center
- Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects
- Serpentine Gallery
- Metropolitan Museum of Art
- National Gallery London
- The Guardian
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom
- Glasgow
- Scotland
- Chicago
- United States
- Jackson Park
- Berlin
- Germany
- Yorkshire
- New York
- Milan
- Italy
- Australia