Blockbuster exhibitions in the South

Money, money, money – we often hate to talk about it, but what does it say about us? Explore how money intersects with art and culture in this major exhibition at the Ashmolean, through both the images that decorate it and the artists who investigate it to understand power dynamics and its role in society.

Immerse yourself in the textile worlds created by pioneering Romani artist Małgorzata Mirga-Tas. Using visual storytelling through a feminist lens, she creates vivid portraits and scenes from everyday life to challenge stereotypical representations of Roma people, in turn creating vibrant works imbued with strength and dignity.

Bask in the glow of neon lights at the Holburne Museum, where works by contemporary artist Chila Kumari Singh Burman adorn the building's façade and take centre stage in the museum's Ballroom, where a neon tiger sculpture nods to Burman's cultural heritage and experiences growing up in a Punjabi Hindu family on Merseyside.

Melting candles, rotting apples, decaying flowers – Anya Gallaccio's shapeshifting sculptural installations build a bridge between art and the environment to reveal the fragility of the natural world. This exhibition is the largest survey of the British artist, whose use of organic and ephemeral materials has reshaped understandings of contemporary sculpture.

Marvel at over 120 works by a pioneer of British abstraction, Vanessa Bell. A central figure of the Bloomsbury Group and sister of Virginia Woolf, discover how Bell left an enduring mark on modern art in Britain in this major retrospective, organised in collaboration with Charleston.

Discover Dartmoor through the eyes of contemporary artists. Showing art dating from 1969 to 2024, this major exhibition spotlights work made in response to the interlocking issues of the climate crisis and access rights. Underpinned by the radical conceptual land art of Nancy Holt, Richard Long and Marie Yates in the 1960s and 70s, this showcases ranges from sustainable photographs to new commissions – together presenting much-loved Dartmoor locations in a new light.

Through a story of love and friendship, experience one of the biggest modern art collections in the country which moved between three homes of queer collectors. Don't miss this rare opportunity to get up close to leading 20th-century artists, including Vanessa Bell, Pablo Picasso and Amedeo Modigliani.

Have your preconceptions of still life challenged in this major group exhibition, bringing together over 50 artists from the past 100 years to re-examine the familiar genre. Expect to see works by artists including Phyllida Barlow, Patrick Caulfield, Michael Craig-Martin, Sarah Lucas and Henry Moore.

Literary genius, royal mistress, acting icon, or radical visionary? Whether she was gracing the London stage or the papers' gossip columns, Mary Robinson gave everyone something to talk about. Discover this overlooked 18th-century figure and her fascinating story, from beloved celebrity to social outcast, who is now considered one of the most influential writers of her time.