Art Exhibits Worth Traveling for in 2025: The Essential Guide
From Paris to New York, discover the standout art exhibitions of 2025 that transform travel into an artistic adventure.
If you believe that great art demands a journey, 2025 promises a year packed with exhibitions that make for perfect travel centerpieces. From retrospectives of living legends to landmark showcases of centuries-old masterpieces and radical new perspectives on design, our curated guide covers the art shows that will inspire pilgrims, connoisseurs, and casual museum-goers alike. These aren’t just exhibitions—they’re experiences that deserve a place on every traveler’s calendar.
Why Art Lovers are Traveling in 2025
- Blockbuster retrospectives of renowned contemporary and historic artists
- Rare reunions of masterworks scattered across continents
- Firsts and premieres: Landmark moments for underrepresented artists and movements
- Immersive, multisensory design that transforms exhibition-going into a true journey
8 Must-See Art Exhibits Around the World in 2025
David Hockney 25
Fondation Louis Vuitton, Paris
April 9–September 1, 2025
David Hockney, the iconic British artist, turns 87 in 2025, and Paris is hosting his largest-ever exhibition. Fondation Louis Vuitton dedicates all 11 rooms to more than 400 works—paintings, drawings, digital iPad creations, and immersive video installations.
Spanning six decades but focusing on his output since 2000, highlights on view include:
- The recent 220 for 2020 iPad series, a subtle record of the Normandy landscape over the course of a year
- Early classics such as Portrait of My Father (1955) and A Bigger Splash (1967)
- The Great Wall, Hockney’s homage to the sweeping history of Western art
Hockney, closely involved in curation, assures visitors: “I think it’s going to be very good.” It’s a rare chance to witness an artist’s evolving vision up close, making for a fulfilling cultural pilgrimage.
Kent Monkman: History Is Painted by the Victors
Denver Art Museum
June 18–September 8, 2025
One of North America’s most outspoken and imaginative Indigenous artists, Kent Monkman creates monumental paintings that upend conventional histories with wit and insight. This major solo exhibition at the Denver Art Museum places Monkman’s work—including his well-known figure, Miss Chief Eagle Testickle—front and center.
- A bold reimagining of colonial narratives
- Confronting themes of power, identity, and representation in North American history
- Accompanied by talks and programs diving deep into Indigenous perspectives in contemporary art
This show promises a new lens on stories familiar and unfamiliar, deepening appreciation for both the artist and the overlooked histories he spotlights.
Vermeer’s Love Letters
The Frick Collection, New York
June 17–September 8, 2025
Following a five-year and $330 million renovation, The Frick Collection welcomes visitors back to its historic mansion with an unprecedented display: three Johannes Vermeer paintings—Mistress and Maid, Love Letter (from the Rijksmuseum), and Woman Writing a Letter, With Her Maid (from the National Gallery of Ireland)—together for the first time.
The exhibition explores:
- Vermeer’s deep fascination with written correspondence and intimacy
- The delicate social dynamics between women and their maidservants in 17th-century Dutch society
- A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see five Vermeer works in one visit, with two more displayed elsewhere in the Frick and five at the neighboring Met
Expect carefully curated galleries revealing both the artistry and the nuanced emotional worlds within these masterpieces.
The Stars We Do Not See
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
October 18, 2025–March 1, 2026
The United States receives a groundbreaking survey of Australian Indigenous art with this monumental traveling exhibition. Over 200 works by more than 130 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists are on loan from the National Gallery of Victoria, capturing creativity from the late 19th century to today.
- Features paintings, barks, weavings, and immersive installations
- Celebrates trailblazers like Gulumbu Yunupiŋu (“Star Lady”), Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Betty Muffler, and Destiny Deacon
- Spotlights traditions, stories, and the unseeable—like the night sky’s stars
- Will travel to Denver, Portland (Oregon), Salem (MA), and Toronto after its D.C. debut
This exhibit is a rare chance to encounter the depth and breadth of First Nations art, much of it never seen outside Australia.
Wes Anderson: The Exhibition
The Design Museum, London
November 21, 2025–July 26, 2026
Symmetry meets whimsy in Wes Anderson: The Exhibition at London’s Design Museum. Anderson’s distinctive visual universe—marked by pastel palettes, preordained symmetry, and vintage props—finds a fitting retrospective in the design capital of Europe.
- Exhibition traces Anderson’s world from Bottle Rocket (1996) to present
- Features film props, costumes, original sketches, and set pieces
- Highlights collaborations, influences, and Anderson’s impact on design today
Fans and design junkies alike will relish walking through dioramas echoing iconic moments from his beloved films.
1925–2025: One Hundred Years of Art Deco
Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris
October 22, 2025–February 22, 2026
On the centenary of Art Deco’s public unveiling, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs mounts a sweeping, multisensory showcase of the style’s enduring legacy. Over a thousand works—from jewelry and furniture to fashion—trace the impact of Art Deco from the Roaring Twenties to today’s design.
- Dramatic introduction: Visitors step into a luxuriant Orient Express cabin
- Chronological and thematic journey across three museum floors
- Rare Cartier jewelry and garments by trailblazers like Sonia Delaunay and Jeanne Lanvin
- Re-examination of Art Deco’s place in contemporary creative culture
A must for anyone passionate about global design or seeking inspiration from the past’s forward-looking optimism.
Gustave Caillebotte: Young Man at His Window/Boating Party
Espace Louis Vuitton, New York
October 27, 2026–November 16, 2026
Louis Vuitton’s flagship plays host to two signature works by French painter Gustave Caillebotte, on rare loan from the Getty Museum and Musée D’Orsay. These paintings—Young Man at His Window (1876) and Boating Party (1877–78)—are vital glimpses into Parisian life at the dawn of modernity.
- Explores the inner worlds and social rituals of 19th-century men through vivid everyday vignettes
- Provides a free, immersive art experience in New York’s bustling heart
- Short exhibition run makes it a true event for fans of Impressionism and urban modernity
Secure tickets in advance, as this pop-up gallery is expected to fill quickly.
Ruth Asawa: A Retrospective
Institution To Be Announced
This landmark retrospective brings together over 300 works by Ruth Asawa—a trailblazing sculptor and tireless advocate for arts education. The exhibit spans six decades, highlighting her delicately looped wire sculptures, bronze casts, paintings, drawings, and lesser-known works.
- Reveals Asawa’s pioneering techniques with wire and organic forms
- Examines her activism and teaching as core components of her artistic legacy
- Illuminates the challenges and triumphs of a Japanese American woman artist in the 20th century
For those who have tracked the furor around Asawa’s work in recent years, this exhibit is an unmissable synthesis of her vision and impact.
Emerging Highlights: What Else to Watch For in 2025
- Wolfgang Tillmans at Centre Pompidou, Paris: The influential photographer stages a career-capping exhibition spanning four decades of visual exploration.
- Ed Atkins at Tate Britain: A leading voice in digital and moving-image art surveys his recent works.
- Masako Miki at ICA San Francisco: Known for playful, cartoony sculptures inspired by Japanese folklore.
- Calder Gardens, Philadelphia: A new institution dedicated wholly to Alexander Calder’s kinetic works opens in September 2025.
Planning an Art-Infused Journey
| Exhibition | Location | Dates | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| David Hockney 25 | Paris, France | Apr 9–Sep 1, 2025 | 400+ works, digital art, immersive video |
| Vermeer’s Love Letters | New York, USA | Jun 17–Sep 8, 2025 | Three Vermeers reunified, Dutch domestic scenes |
| The Stars We Do Not See | Washington, D.C. | Oct 18, 2025–Mar 1, 2026 | 200+ pieces by Australian Indigenous artists |
| One Hundred Years of Art Deco | Paris, France | Oct 22, 2025–Feb 22, 2026 | Jewelry, design, fashion, immersive experience |
| Wes Anderson: The Exhibition | London, UK | Nov 21, 2025–Jul 26, 2026 | Film props, costumes, design |
| Gustave Caillebotte | New York, USA | Oct 27–Nov 16, 2026 | 19th-century Parisian scenes, rare loans |
| Ruth Asawa: A Retrospective | TBA | TBA | Wire sculpture, activism, 300+ works |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What’s the best way to secure tickets for these art exhibitions?
A: Purchase tickets online in advance whenever possible. Major exhibitions often sell out, especially special timed slots. For pop-up shows and limited runs, like Caillebotte in New York, reservations may be required even for free entry.
Q: Are these exhibitions suitable for children and families?
A: Most exhibits provide educational resources for younger visitors. Some immersive or design-focused shows (such as Wes Anderson or Art Deco Paris) are especially family-friendly. Check each museum’s programming for children’s activities or guided tours.
Q: Can I see these exhibitions online if I can’t travel?
A: Many museums now offer virtual tours, digital catalogs, and video walkthroughs of major exhibitions. However, the in-person experience—scale, atmosphere, and multisensory installations—remains unmatched.
Q: Will these exhibitions travel to other cities?
A: Some, like The Stars We Do Not See, will tour several U.S. and Canadian museums. Others are location-specific but may yield catalogues or satellite displays elsewhere.
Travel Inspiration for Art Lovers
Whether you plan a journey across continents or a local day trip, 2025’s art exhibitions guarantee unforgettable encounters with creativity past and present. Museums, galleries, and design spaces are raising the bar with thoughtful curation, immersive storytelling, and an embrace of perspectives too long overlooked. Set your travel calendar now—these shows redefine what it means to wander for art.
