Exhibitions to see before the end of 2019

It has been another brilliant year in the art world, with numerous fantastic exhibits across the globe – and it’s not over yet! With plenty still to see, Artsper whittles down the must-see exhibitions to visit before the end of 2019. Paris, London and New York: we’ve got you covered.

Antony Gormley at the Royal Academy

This retrospective on renowned British sculptor Antony Gormley claims to be his most ambitious in over 10 years. With with a flooded room, steel tubing eight kilometres long, and six tonnes of steel mesh, it’s hardly surprising that work to reinforce the gallery’s floors and walls took over three years!

When? 21 September until 3 December 2019

Where? The Royal Academy, Burlington House, Piccadilly, Mayfair, London W1J 0BD, UK

The Alana Collection at Musée Jacquemart-André

Known to be one of the world’s most special collections of Renaissance art, the Alana Collection includes over 75 works by some of the greatest Italian masters such as Veronese, Lorenzo Monaco, Ucello and Bellini to name but a few. Never previously shown to the public, pictures, religious paintings, objects d’art and sculptures will be exhibited alongside the museum’s permanent collection.

When? 13 September 2019 until 20 January 2020

Where? Musée Jacquemart-André, 158, Boulevard Haussmann 75008 Paris

Basquiat’s “Defacement”: The Untold Story at the Guggenheim

Centred around a rarely-seen title work, Defacement (The Death of Michael Stewart), created by Jean-Michel Basquiat to commemorate the young black artist’s death, the exhibition focuses on the cultural activism of the 1980s, particularly with regards to police brutality and black identity, and contains work from Keith Haring and Andy Warhol.

When? 21 June until 6 November 2019

Where? Guggenheim Museum, 1071 5th Ave, New York, NY 10128, les Etats-Unis

Toulouse-Lautrec at the Grand Palais

This exhibition at the Grand Palais promises to show the famous French artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in a new light. While of course inclusive of his intimate portraits of “Montmartre culture”, it notes aspects of his work previously overlooked and dispels myths and assumptions in a more well-rounded depiction of the unique artist.

When? 9 October 2019 until 27 January 2020

Where? The Grand Palais, 3 Avenue du Général Eisenhower, 75008 Paris

Van Gogh, ‘Starry Night’ at the Atelier des Lumières

Following the success of last-year’s Klimt exhibition, is one of the most talked-about exhibitions of 2019: Van Gogh at the Atelier des Lumières. Projections on the walls, ceiling and floor bring his swirling and flowing universe to life in a spectacular viewing experience. If you haven’t yet had the chance to visit, you must.

When? 22 February until 31 December 2019

Where? Atelier des Lumières, 38 Rue Saint-Maur, 75011 Paris

Hans Hartung at the Paris Museum of Modern Art

Explore the Franco-German painter Hans Hartung’s unique and extensive use of artistic techniques, including vinyl and acrylic paint, and spraying, scraping or even whipping his canvases with olive branches. Spanning over six decades of his work, the MoMA’s retrospective honours this influential artist, giving a comprehensive view of his life and the multiple facets of his modern, constantly-evolving style.

When? 11 October 2019 until 1 March 2020

Where? Musée d’art moderne de Paris, 11 Avenue du Président Wilson 75116 Paris

El Greco at the Grand Palais

This is the first major exhibition in France dedicated to El Greco, an artist often hailed as being so individual that it is impossible to categorise him. Said to be the ‘last grand master of the Renaissance and the first great painter of the Golden Age’, explore the rich synthesis of influences and styles, tradition and modernity present in his work.

When? 16 October 2019 until 10 February 2020

Where? The Grand Palais, 3 Avenue du Général Eisenhower, 75008 Paris

Olafur Eliasson: In Real Life at the Tate Modern

Rainbows, mist, moss, a waterfall, plenty of shadows, reflections and.. lego! Olafur Eliasson’s exhibition at the Tate Modern certainly doesn’t disappoint. The Danish-Icelandic artist returns to the gallery with a series of interactive installations in the most comprehensive UK collection of his work to date. His work continues to engage with social and environmental issues following Ice Watch, his climate change awareness installation outside the gallery last year. 

When? 11 July until 5 January 2020

Where?  Tate Modern, Bankside, London SE1 9TG UK

Picasso: Magic Paintings at the Musée Picasso

Come and see exactly what the art critic Christian Zervos meant when, in 1938, he described a collection of Pablo Picasso‘s works as ‘magic paintings’. Painted from summer 1926 to spring 1930, they are emotional, enigmatic and complex, and set the stage for his later masterpiece Guernica.

When? 1 October 2019 until 23 February 2020

Where? Musée Picasso, 5 Rue de Thorigny, 75003 Paris

Ocean: Diving into the Unknown at the French Natural History Museum

With fun features such as a submarine simulator, this is the perfect exhibition for a day out with the family. Ocean presents a breathtaking display of one of the most unknown aspects of our planet, despite it taking up nearly 71% of its surface. Learn the various techniques used throughout history to explore the ocean, and be introduced to all kinds of subaqueous fauna and flora.

When?  3 April until 5 January 2020

Where? La Grand Galerie de l’Evolution du Muséum national d’Histoire Naturelle, 36 Rue Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 75005 Paris

Keith Haring at the Tate Liverpool

In the first major UK exhibition of Keith Haring’s work, discover a huge variety of his vibrant paintings and drawings – complete with chunks of subway – which promote his powerful message of acceptance and compassion. Surrounded by his radiant bodies and lines, learn of his activism, with politically charged works addressing issues such as the AIDS epidemic, nuclear disarmament, racism and the environment, to name a few.

Where? 14 June until 10 November 2019

Where? Tate Liverpool, Albert Dock, Liverpool, L3 4BB, UK

Back Side / Fashion from behind at the Musée Bourdelle

A wonderfully unusual idea, this exhibition displays an impressive collection of haute couture, pret-a-porter, uniforms and work clothing – as seen from behind. Paying homage to a relatively unseen part of the body – particularly to its owner – it explores our perception of backs, their vulnerability and strength, and the ways they have been dressed, decorated and put to use throughout history. A selection of Antoine Bourdelle’s work draws engaging parallels between fashion and sculpture.

When? 5 July until 17 November 2019

Where? Musée Bourdelle 18, rue Antoine-Bourdelle, Paris 15e