The Top 5 Art Exhibitions to see Outside London in the Autumn

Tabish Khan the @LondonArtCritic takes a break from London to pick his top 5 Art Exhibitions to see Outside London. If you’re looking for more exhibitions check out his South London and Central London top picks where most remain open to visit.

Bharti Kher: Alchemies @ Yorkshire Sculpture Park

A memorial made from melted glass bangles, in homage to those killed in the 2002 Gujarat massacre in India when religious violence led to the deaths of over 1,000 people, casts of sex workers showing their humanity, human-animal hybrids and giant totems outside. Drawing from both Eastern and Western art history Bharti Kher’s works are striking, diverse and powerful statements. Until 27th April, 2025 ticketed.

Igshaan Adams: Weerhoud @ Hepworth Wakefield

Weave your way among suspended clouds as if we’ve been transported to another world, with large-scale tapestries on the walls. Igshaan Adams’ installations are about trauma, healing and the body – including our own as we navigate between delicate suspended works. Until 3rd November, ticketed. 

Dame Magdalene Odundo & Antony Gormley: Time Horizon @ Houghton Hall & Gardens

There’s art inside and outside Houghton Hall in a double treat as heavy sculptures based on casts of Antony Gormley are scattered around the grounds ranging from those on top of plinths to others buried right up to their heads. While inside Magdalene Odundo’s contemporary ceramics contrast with the historic interiors but also look right at home. They are two very different artists but their common ground on the human figure makes for a great pairing – full review here. Until 29th September & 31st October, ticketed.

Edo Pop: Japanese Prints 1825 – 1895 @ Watts Gallery – Artist’s Village

Bustling scenes full of people in Edo – modern-day Tokyo – are brought to life through woodblock in this impressive collection of Japanese prints. To coincide with this contemporary artist is Hiroko Imada who has used traditional techniques to create a hanging set of cherry blossom prints that we can immerse ourselves in. It was my first visit and the whole complex of gallery, chapel and grounds is spectacular. Until 6th October, ticketed.

Meadowland @ Wakehurst

There are some great works in among the meadows, and the meadows themselves are looking beautiful at this time of year –  Kew Gardens’ sister site in Sussex is such a lovely place to while away a day. Saroj Patel’s colourful banners (pictured) draw from Indian philosophy, there’s a film about what it’s like to see the world like a bee, there are colourful chairs made in Dakar in the colours of the flowers planted around them and humans embodying different animals through spoken word. It’s the perfect confluence of art and nature. Until 10th September, ticketed.

All images copyright and courtesy respective artist and institution. Additional credits – Bharti Kher image: courtesy Hauser & Wirth, Nature Morte and Perrotin. Photo © Jonty Wilde. Igshaan Adams photo: Mark Blower.  Gormley photo: Pete Huggins. Edo Pop image: © Collection – Frank Milner. Wakehurst photo: Jim Holden. 

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Tabish Khan

Art Critic for both FAD and Londonist. See as many exhibitions as possible and write reviews, opinion pieces and a weekly top 5 for FAD.