Summer 2026 brings a slate of exhibitions across London and Oxford that blend art, history, and commerce. The season features retrospectives on fashion and design, alongside installations that challenge perception and explore botanical history.
Paint! Pattern! Print! at the Fashion and Textile Museum
Susan Collier and Sarah Campbell are the subjects of a new exhibition running until 13 September in London. The show highlights the sisters’ fabric designs, which emerged in the 1960s. Their work introduced a free-flowing style to design, eventually being picked up by Liberty and Habitat.
Yves Saint Laurent incorporated gypsy folk-inspired designs by Collier Campbell into his first off-the-peg collection. The display features these experimental textiles, giving visitors a look at the creative processes behind the patterns.
Anish Kapoor at the Hayward Gallery
Anish Kapoor’s work spans five decades and is currently on view until 19 October. The exhibition serves as a centerpiece of the Southbank Centre’s 75th-anniversary summer programme. The landmark venue was recently granted listed status.
The collection includes cavernous void sculptures and mirror pieces. New installations fill rooms with color and form. Visitors can expect optical illusions that challenge perception and create an immersive experience.
Nigo: From Japan With Love at the Design Museum
The Design Museum presents a retrospective on Japanese designer Nigo, who is known as the father of hype culture. The exhibition features more than 700 objects from his personal archive, spanning fashion, music, and design.
Treasures are displayed on a floor-to-ceiling ‘Haller’ system by USM. Highlights include rare early pieces from A Bathing Ape and hand-thrown ceramics made by the designer himself. Visitors can purchase exclusive Nigo X Nike apparel throughout the summer, with the exhibition running until 4 October.
Lynn Chadwick at Houghton Hall
Lynn Chadwick, a celebrated post-war artist, is the focus of an exhibition at Houghton Hall. The display runs from 2 May to 4 October and features thirty of his works, including dynamic beasts and kinetic forms.
The retrospective includes previously unseen pieces alongside best-known creations, showcasing the artist’s unique style.
In Bloom at the Ashmolean Museum
The Ashmolean Museum in Oxford presents an exhibition on plant and flower history until 16 August. The show includes contemporary botanical paintings and frescoes inspired by botanical art, tracing the routes of beloved plants through stories of exploration and discovery.
These stories are told from the perspective of pollinating insects, offering a unique view of the natural world.
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