In 2023, the art world saw a remarkable array of blockbuster exhibitions, from the sold-out Johannes Vermeer showcase at the Rijksmuseum to the numerous exhibitions commemorating Pablo Picasso on the 50th anniversary of his death. This year marked a return to normalcy, as museums completed their final set of pandemic-postponed exhibitions and began addressing contemporary issues like climate change and Indigenous representation. As we move into 2024—a year shaped by economic uncertainties, elections, and global conflicts—museums stand out as crucial spaces for reflection and respite from the prevailing global concerns.
From powerful debut solo exhibitions to deep dives into the lives of pivotal art figures, here are 10 must-see museum exhibitions around the globe in 2024:
Anselm Kiefer, “Fallen Angels”
Palazzo Strozzi, Florence | Mar. 22–July 21
This exhibition offers a comprehensive view of Anselm Kiefer’s influential career, showcasing new and historical works, including paintings, sculptures, prints, and installations. Kiefer, a major figure in German art over the past six decades, draws on sources like mythology, religion, philosophy, collective memory, and the impact of World War II on Germany’s cultural identity. His monumental works, blending figuration and abstraction, are known for their emotional and psychological depth. The exhibition, set against the Renaissance architecture of Palazzo Strozzi, will explore the complexity of Kiefer’s themes and materials.
“Paris 1874: Inventing Impressionism”
Musée d’Orsay, Paris (also at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.) | Mar. 24–July 14
Marking the 150th anniversary of the birth of Impressionism, this exhibition features nearly 130 works by artists like Claude Monet, Berthe Morisot, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir. It explores the political and cultural context that led these artists to reject academic conventions in favor of depicting everyday life. Emerging from a period of industrialization and conflict, Impressionism revolutionized art with its loose brushstrokes and en plein air techniques. The show also includes non-Impressionist works from 1874, highlighting the radical nature of the movement at the time.
Firelei Báez
Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston | Apr. 4–Sep. 2
Firelei Báez’s first museum survey, following her recent association with Hauser & Wirth, will open at ICA Boston. Báez’s vibrant, layered works explore historical narratives and the legacy of colonialism, particularly focusing on the African diaspora in the Caribbean. Drawing from sources like science fiction, folklore, and anthropology, her work addresses themes of power, gender, nationality, and race. The exhibition will offer a deep dive into Báez’s practice, highlighting her role in reshaping contemporary Caribbean art.
Caspar David Friedrich, “Infinite Landscapes”
Alte Nationalgalerie, Berlin | Apr. 19–Aug. 4
Celebrating the 250th anniversary of Caspar David Friedrich’s birth, this exhibition is part of a trio of major German shows examining the Romantic landscape painter’s life and legacy. In Berlin, the Alte Nationalgalerie will highlight its historic relationship with Friedrich, whose work it helped revive in the early 20th century. “Infinite Landscapes” will feature nearly 60 paintings and 50 drawings, including works that explore perspective and change, showcasing the profound impact of Friedrich’s art on German cultural identity.
Theaster Gates
Mori Art Museum, Tokyo | Apr. 24–Sep. 1
This is Theaster Gates’s first comprehensive survey in Japan, showcasing the breadth of his work across sculpture, painting, music, performance, architecture, and design. Gates is known for his social practice and for founding the Rebuild Foundation in Chicago. The exhibition will include new works and explore the influence of Japanese art and culture on his practice. Gates’s work, which often addresses urban planning and the impact of systemic inequality on Black communities, offers a critical lens on race and politics while celebrating Black art and culture.
LaToya Ruby Frazier, “Monuments of Solidarity”
Museum of Modern Art, New York | May 12–Sep. 7
“Monuments of Solidarity” will be LaToya Ruby Frazier’s first museum survey, featuring photography, text, and moving images from her 20-year career. Frazier’s work focuses on overlooked and erased stories from post-industrial America, particularly those involving race, gender, inequality, and labor. The exhibition will showcase original installations that bring together various bodies of work, including new pieces, highlighting Frazier’s commitment to social activism and storytelling.
Jenny Holzer, “Light Line”
Guggenheim Museum, New York | May 17–Sep. 29
Thirty-five years after her groundbreaking Guggenheim retrospective, Jenny Holzer returns with “Light Line,” an expanded version of her iconic installation. Featuring electronic signs displaying scrolling text from her decades-long exploration of social issues, this exhibition will also introduce new AI-generated text. Holzer’s work, which has long used the written word to engage the public, is as relevant today as it was in the 1980s, addressing contemporary concerns about truth, community, and personal freedoms.
Mickalene Thomas, “All About Love”
The Broad, Los Angeles (also traveling to The Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia; Hayward Gallery, London) | May 25–Sep. 29
Mickalene Thomas’s first major international touring show, “All About Love,” features over 80 pieces from the last two decades of her career. Known for her vibrant portrayals of confident Black women, Thomas’s work spans painting, installation, collage, and photography. Inspired by bell hooks’s book of the same name, the exhibition focuses on love as a tool for healing and explores themes of sexuality, politics, and the legacy of portraiture in art history.
“When We See Us: A Century of Black Figuration in Painting”
Kunstmuseum Basel | May 25–Oct. 27
Inspired by Ava DuVernay’s series When They See Us, this group exhibition explores the legacy of Black figuration in painting over the last century. Featuring over 200 works by 156 artists, the show offers an intimate view of Black life, organized around themes like “The Everyday,” “Joy and Revelry,” and “Sensuality.” Highlighting the lived experiences of Black artists and their subjects, the exhibition fosters a greater understanding of Black perspectives in modern and contemporary art.
Francis Alÿs
The Barbican, London | June 27–Sep. 1
Francis Alÿs’s largest solo show in the U.K. in over a decade will feature a range of projects that showcase his interdisciplinary practice. Known for his intimate approach to observing the world, Alÿs’s work spans film, photography, painting, and performance. The Barbican exhibition will focus on his Children’s Games series, which celebrates the universality of youthful play while addressing themes like urbanization and social media. The show will also include a new site-specific project that engages the local community.
