Happy New Year to you all! It’s more than a tad chilly out there, and there’s a whole year looming ahead of us. So to keep your creative spirit warm and toasty, I thought I’d pick out twelve cultural highlights (some exhibitions, then a few events) for you to stick in your diary for the coming year, in London and beyond.

#1: LINDER: DANGER CAME SMILING
11 February to 5 May 2025 | Hayward Gallery, London

Above: Orgasm Addict by the Buzzcocks (1977), cover design by Malcolm Garrett, with collage by Linder.

Get your collage on with this look back at Linder’s work, at the Hayward Gallery on London’s southbank.

“Linder’s first London retrospective showcases 50 years of the pioneering feminist artist’s work, dissecting our fascination with the body and its representation. From the early photomontages made while she was part of the punk scene of 1970s Manchester, to new work in digital montage shown for the first time, the exhibition presents the breadth of Linder’s artistic output across montage, photography, performance and sculpture. The body and its photographic representation, from early glamour photography to digital deep fakes, is central to Linder’s approach to image-making. Often working with a medical grade scalpel, she draws on the creative and violent power of the cut in her forensic examination of our shifting attitudes to aspirational lifestyles, sex, food and fashion.”

#2: POETRY BUILDINGS
13 February to 18 May 2025 | National Poetry Library, Southbank Centre, London

Above: The Eyeful Tower (1996) by John Furnival

This could be a fascinating little show at the wonderful National Poetry Library.

“Come along to discover a group exhibition exploring the work of visual poets and artists creating art in response to buildings. Spanning millennia, the exhibition features work from the ancient eras, through the concrete poetry movement of the 1950s, to some of the most exciting voices writing and making today. At the heart of the exhibition is a brand new commission from artist and architect Alexander Allen who has created a sculptural work in response to the oldest existing poem, the Sumerian ‘Kesh Temple Hymn’, which envisions a cosmic house.”

#3: THE FACE MAGAZINE – CULTURE SHIFT
20 February to 18 May 2025 | National Portrait Gallery, London

Above: Girls on Bikes (Sarf Coastin’), by Elaine Constantine, styled by Polly Banks, December 1997, © Elaine Constantine

This will be quite the trip down memory lane for those of us old enough to have devoured The Face when we were young. I wonder how long it’ll be before actual photographs, of actual models, in actual locations, taken by actual photographers, aren’t actually created anymore…

“The Face Magazine: Culture Shift, celebrates iconic fashion images and portraits from The Face, a trail-blazing youth culture and style magazine that has shaped the creative and cultural landscape in Britain and beyond. From 1980 to 2004, The Face played a vital role in creating contemporary culture. Musicians featured on its covers achieved global success and the models it championed – including a young Kate Moss – became the most recognisable faces of their time. The magazine also launched the careers of many leading photographers and fashion stylists, who were given the creative freedom to radically reimagine the visual language of fashion photography and define the spirit of their times. Relaunched in 2019, the magazine continues to provide a disruptive and creative space for image-makers, championing fresh talent in photography, fashion, music and graphic design. This exhibition will bring together the work of over 80 photographers, including Sheila Rock, Stéphane Sednaoui, Corinne Day, David Sims, Elaine Constantine and Sølve Sundsbø, and will feature over 200 photographs – a unique opportunity to see many of these images away from the magazine page for the first time.”

#4: RESISTANCE (Curated by Steve McQueen)
22 February to 1 June 2025 | Turner Contemporary, Margate

Above: Pam Isherwood, Stop Clause 28 march, Whitehall, London, 9 January 1988 © Bishopsgate Institute

Anyone fancy a trip to the coast? This should be a corker of a show.

“From the suffragettes marching through London’s streets to the mass protest against the Iraq War, photographers have witnessed a century of British resistance. This landmark exhibition, curated by acclaimed artist and filmmaker Steve McQueen, will chronicle how ordinary people fought for change between 1903 and 2003. Through the work of renowned photographers including Christina Broom, Vanley Burke, David Hurn, Tish Murtha, Humphrey Spender, Edith Tudor-Hart alongside unknown documentarians, Resistance will reveal pivotal moments that shaped modern Britain – from the suffragettes to the Women of Greenham Common, and from the Battle of Cable Street to the Black People’s Day of Action following the New Cross Fire. Together, they will show how moments of resistance, both celebrated and forgotten, have shaped British history.”

#5: WES ANDERSON, THE EXHIBITION
19 March to 27 July 2025 | Cinémathèque française, Paris
21 November 2025 to 4 May 2026 | The Design Museum, London

Above: Wes Anderson with models from Isle of Dogs (2018)

There have been a couple of small shows of Wes Anderson’s work at 180 Studios, but this looks to be far more comprehensive. If you’re an eager beaver, you can get over to Paris to see it in March (I’m mightily tempted), or wait until it lands in London in November.

“The first retrospective exhibition of the work of film director Wes Anderson will follow the evolution of his films from his first experiments in the 1990s, right up to his most recent, Oscar-winning frescoes. Each Wes Anderson picture plunges the viewer into a world with its own codes, motifs, references, and sumptuous and instantly recognisable sets and costumes. This exhibition will be the first time museum visitors have the opportunity to delve into the art of his complete filmography, examining his inspirations, homages, and the meticulous craftsmanship that define his work. Through a curated collection of original props, costumes, and behind-the-scenes insights, including from his personal collection, this exhibition offers an unprecedented look into the world of Wes Anderson, celebrating his enduring influence on contemporary cinema. From the melancholic charm of The Royal Tenenbaums to the youthful adventure of Moonrise Kingdom, discover how Anderson's unique vision and dedication to detail have created some of the most visually and emotionally compelling films of recent times.”

#6: V&A EAST STOREHOUSE OPENS
31 May 2025 | V&A East, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London

Above: Examples of ‘Hacked End’ displays at V&A East Storehouse © Diller Scofidio + Renfro

Basically like the final scene of Raiders of the Lost Ark, but with a café and gift shop.

“A world first in size and scale, V&A East Storehouse immerses you in over half a million works from every creative discipline. V&A East Storehouse is a unique new museum experience opening up the V&A collection to everyone. Go behind-the-scenes to make new discoveries, explore untold stories and share ideas. Spanning four levels, and bigger than 30 basketball courts, V&A East Storehouse is a new purpose-built public space designed by world-renowned architects Diller Scofidio+Renfro with support from UK-based architects Austin-Smith:Lord. Taking over a section of the former London 2012 Olympics Media Centre in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park the warehouse-type space is designed to give unprecedented access to the V&A. As well as providing a purpose-built home for over 250,000 objects, 350,000 library books and 1,000 archives from the V&A’s collections, Storehouse is a new kind of museum experience. It gives you a chance to see behind the scenes of a working museum, explore why and how objects get collected by museums, find out how they are cared for, and uncover the stories they tell about us and our world. The central Weston Collections Hall stretches across three levels, with over 100 mini curated displays literally ‘hacked’ into the sides and ends of storage racking for you to explore. You can zoom in on east London’s rich heritage of artistry, activism and resistance, explore the V&A’s newest acquisitions by transgender and non-binary artists and get an insight into cutting-edge scientific research from conserving fragile plastics to protecting cultural heritage.”

#7: DESIGN AND DISABILITY
Opens 7 June  2025 | V&A South Kensington, London

Above: ‘Rebirth’ Garments. Sandra Oviedo (a.k.a.) Colectivo  Multipolar

There’s not yet much info on the V&A website about this show in the Porter Gallery of the V&A, but it certainly sounds promising. Curated by Natalie Kane and Reuben Liebeskind.

“Both a celebration and a call to action, Design and Disability will showcase the radical contributions of disabled, Deaf, and neurodiverse people and communities to design history and contemporary culture, from the 1940s to now.”

#8: THIS IS WHAT YOU GET
8 August 2025 to 11 January 2026 | Ashmolean Museum, Oxford

This might be my highlight for the year. Stanley Donwood and Thom Yorke pairing up for a show. Good karma.

“This retrospective at the Ashmolean will be the first exhibition in a public gallery to bring together the visual work of Stanley Donwood and Thom Yorke. More than 120 works will be on display, with many of the paintings, drawings and digital art specifically created for Yorke’s internationally acclaimed band Radiohead, formed in Oxford in 1985. This Is What You Get will showcase Donwood and Yorke’s unique collaborations which explore the complex relationship between visual art and music. The multi-media exhibition will feature artworks from the 1990s to the present day, including Radiohead album covers and promotional band images – as well as personal sketchbooks and notebooks never seen before in public.”

#9: SECRET MAPS
10 October 2025 to 18 January 2026 | British Library, London

Above: Secret Ordnance Survey edition of The County of London map, 1926. 

“Secret Maps [that’s their working title for the show] will explore the relationship between mapping and secrecy in a global context between the 9th and 21st centuries. It is an exhibition about how and why, contrary to their modern appreciation as things which openly provide knowledge of the world, maps have been used by governments, armies, businesses, organisations, communities and individuals to withhold all kinds of spatial knowledge. Visitors will see a range of items, that explore the use of maps as a form of control, including a secret Ordnance Survey map, copies of which were later destroyed, produced ahead of the General Strike of 1926 illustrating potential weak spots in the case of civil unrest. Maps used by governments in international conflicts will also feature, including a map of part of the Normandy coast, produced in 1944 in the weeks leading up to D-Day. On the once top secret invasion plan can be seen detailed information about German defences, gathered from intelligence sources including low-level flying missions, special services agents and the French resistance. The exhibition will explore what types of spatial information (from hidden treasure to personal data) have been subject to attempts at secrecy. It will consider whether historical control of spatial information has influenced how the world is perceived, and whether, in an age where spatial data is routinely shared and democratised, it is easier or more difficult to keep a secret today.”

#10: DESIGN ICONS TOURS 
Saturday 11 January | Saturday 8 February | Saturday 22 March 2025
London Transport Museum Acton Depot, London

Above: London Underground enamel station signs, LTM Acton Depot © Alistair Hall

The Acton Depot of the London Transport Museum is an absolute treasure trove. There are a series of tours planned for the beginning of the year.

“Discover the stories – and the people – behind some of London’s most enduring designs at London Transport Museum’s Depot in Acton, west London. From Edward Johnston’s iconic roundel and the font you can see all over the network, to Harry Beck’s pioneering Underground map, our knowledgeable volunteer guides will unlock the design icons that make London’s transport system recognisable around the world. All of our tours are aimed at an adult audience, but older children with a keen interest in transport or design may also enjoy them. Topics that may be covered in a Design Icons tour include:

· The evolution of the TfL roundel
· Edward Johnston and the Johnston font
· Historic underground maps and Harry Beck’s world-famous map design
· The Routemaster bus

As this is a working depot, objects and vehicles can be moved at short notice, so it’s not guaranteed that all these topics will be covered.”

#11 PINCH, SWIPE, TAP
7pm, Thursday 16 January 2025 | St Bride Library, London

The St Bride Library has a fantastic series of design talks throughout the year.

“‘Pinch, swipe, tap’ is a talk by Hanna Kops, Head of Experience at TfL Digital. Hanna leads the award-winning digital experience team behind TfL Go, Transport for London’s innovative new travel app. TfL Go has been shortlisted for a D&AD Award, won two Drum Awards, BIMA Gold and two Design Week Awards for its innovative design. It also received an honourable mention in Creative Review’s 2023 Annual.”

#12: THE JOURNEY FROM OLD WORLD TO NEW | DUTCHSCOT
7pm, Thursday 20 February 2025 | St Bride Library, London

“Exploring language, context, clichés and cultures. DutchScot will be talking about a font designed for the kids of Liverpool, by the kids of Liverpool; a new Danish textile brand inspired by typewriter art; a rebrand for a Museum in Brussels; the Japanese craft of gyotaku fish printing, amongst other projects – old and new.”