Hello, art community!
At deckofart.com, we’re passionate about capturing the pulse of modern and contemporary art—both through our original paintings and by sharing insights from the vibrant London scene. As we look back on 2025, it was a year that felt alive with personality, experimentation, and a celebration of the human (and sometimes outrageous) touch. From blockbuster retrospectives to intimate gallery gems, London reaffirmed its status as a global art capital.
Here’s our roundup of the standout shows, emerging trends, and what made 2025 such a memorable chapter in the city’s artistic story.
Standout Exhibitions That Defined the Year
Leigh Bowery! at Tate Modern (February – August) One of the most talked-about shows of 2025, this explosive retrospective celebrated the life and work of the legendary performance artist, model, and club icon Leigh Bowery. Tate Modern transformed galleries into vibrant, theatrical spaces filled with his outrageous costumes, photographs, and installations. It was a riot of colour, body politics, and unapologetic self-expression—reminding everyone that modern art can be joyful, provocative, and deeply liberating.
Jenny Saville: The Anatomy of Painting at the National Portrait Gallery Saville’s monumental, visceral paintings took centre stage in a powerful survey of her career. Her raw, fleshy portraits and large-scale works explored the human form with intense emotion and technical brilliance. It was a masterclass in contemporary figurative painting and one of the year’s must-see painting shows.
Other highlights included:
- Do Ho Suh: Walk the House at Tate Modern – immersive fabric architecture exploring memory, home, and migration.
- Linder: Danger Came Smiling at Hayward Gallery – sharp, feminist photomontages and performance works.
- Noah Davis at Barbican Art Gallery – honest, beautiful paintings that resonated deeply with audiences.
- Kiefer / Van Gogh at the Royal Academy – a surprising and poetic pairing of two titans.
- Hamad Butt: Apprehensions at Whitechapel Gallery – provocative and potent explorations of the body and technology.
Frieze London in October brought its usual buzz to Regent’s Park, with strong sales, exciting new discoveries, and a global mix of galleries. It felt energetic and commercially solid after previous years of uncertainty.
Key Trends That Shaped 2025
London’s 2025 art scene leaned into several exciting directions:
- Textiles and Materiality: Fabric, weaving, and tactile installations were everywhere. From Do Ho Suh’s translucent houses to various Frieze booths, artists embraced soft materials, embroidery, and craft techniques to tell stories of identity, memory, and the body. This push toward the handmade felt like a warm counter to digital fatigue.
- Figurative Painting Resurgence: Big painting shows (Saville, Noah Davis, and others) proved that expressive, bodily figuration remains incredibly powerful.
- Performance, Identity & the Body: Shows like Leigh Bowery and Linder put queer culture, gender, and personal narrative front and centre—raw, celebratory, and challenging.
- Surprising Pairings & Rediscoveries: Curators took bold risks, pairing historical masters with contemporaries or shining light on under-appreciated voices.
- Installation & Immersion: Larger-than-life installations created memorable, walk-through experiences that blended art with architecture and performance.
Overall, 2025 felt more human and sensory after years dominated by spectacle and technology. There was a clear appetite for emotion, texture, and authenticity.
What It Means for Collectors & Artists
For those of us creating and collecting modern art, 2025 reinforced the value of work that speaks directly to lived experience—textured surfaces, personal stories, and pieces that invite touch (even if only visually). At Deck of Art, these trends echo strongly in our own practice: moody, layered abstracts and originals that bring warmth and depth into any space.
If you missed any of these shows, many continue to inspire new work you can find (or commission) today. London’s scene never stops evolving, and 2025 proved there’s always fresh energy on the horizon.
What was your favourite London show or moment from 2025? Share in the comments—we’d love to hear your thoughts and recommendations.
If you’re looking for original modern art that captures some of that 2025 spirit—tactile, emotional, and soulful—browse our collection at deckofart.com. We’re always adding new pieces inspired by the city we love.
Until next time, keep exploring, collecting, and creating.
— The Deck of Art Team deckofart.com – Modern art that moves you.