Art lovers unite: These are the must-see exhibitions of 2020

For all those who appreciate the arts and pride themselves on knowing their art history, here’s our line-up of art exhibitions happening globally in 2020 and who knows…if you happen to be travel planning for any of these incredible cities, be sure to add these to your itinerary for that added art fix.

Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA), Cape Town

On until 23 March 2020

We’re kick-starting at home of course…Cape Town has put itself on the map with the Zeitz MOCCA, housing one of the largest collections of contemporary African art. The museum is on a mission to make art more accessible for everyone.

Its latest exhibition – Why Should I Hesitate: Putting Drawings to Work  – is the largest in Africa in more than a decade, featuring acclaimed artist William Kentridge. 

‘Niki de Saint Phalle, Structures for Life’: MoMA PS1, New York 

5 April to 7 September 2020

New York doesn’t need any more reasons for you to want to visit but from April, art appreciation gets taken to new heights at MoMA.

Artist Niki de Saint Phalle, famed for her sculptures of flying women and Gaudi-esque architectural monuments, will host her first-ever NYC show and it promises to pack a punch.

‘Kusama: Cosmic Nature’, New York Botanical Garden

9 May to 1 November 2020

What’s better than getting your art fix in the Bronx? Well, enjoying it at the New York botanical gardens, as you celebrate the exhibit of Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama which will include mirrored features, giant polka-dotted sculptures flowers, and even the chance to partake in the creative installation process yourself.

Vincent van Gogh’s ‘Sunflowers’ in Japan, Tokyo 

3 March to 14 June 2020

In the largest loan of artworks from the National Gallery in London, art history is in action as Vincent van Gogh’s ‘Sunflowers’ will be shown for the first time ever in Japan. Cleverly coinciding with the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, visitors during this time are in for the ultimate unveiling of masterpieces!

‘Unseen Amsterdam’: Westergasfabriek, Amsterdam

 18 to 20 September 2020 

Amsterdam hides many cultural delights and this annual art fair tops the list for showcasing the latest developments in contemporary photography around the globe. Find out what’s new in the international art scene and uncover the who’s who of the new talent pool. Unseen Amsterdam is undoubtedly one for the diary!

‘Body and Soul’: The Louvre, Paris

6 May to 17 August 2020

Who doesn’t love Paris in the summer? Art aficionados can combine all of the usual Paris highlights with a new incredible exhibition of Italian masterworks, from Donatello to Michelangelo, showcasing sculptures that highlight bodily movement and the sculptor’s innate ability to evoke heightened emotion.

‘Masculinities: Liberation through Photography’: Barbican Art Gallery, London

On until 17 May 2020

The exhibition offers an insight into the complexities of modern masculinity — from the 1960s to the present — through film and photography. This exhibition pulls together 300 works by more than 50 artists, travelling through time to understand themes of power and patriarchy, female perceptions of men, fatherhood and family.