As we approach 2025, the art world is poised for a remarkable year. A diverse array of art shows, exhibitions, and museum events promises to captivate and inspire. This year, the landscape is enriched by a blend of contemporary installations and timeless classics, offering something for every taste. Established institutions and galleries are incorporating state-of-the-art technology, including virtual and augmented reality, to create engaging, immersive experiences that redefine how audiences interact with art.
Simultaneously, 2025 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for emerging talent. Art fairs and biennales around the globe are spotlighting the fresh, innovative voices shaping the future of the art scene. Additionally, newly opened and renovated art spaces are adding fresh venues for artistic expression and public engagement. These developments are making art more accessible to a wider audience, offering novel opportunities for discovery and appreciation. The upcoming year promises to be a landmark period filled with creativity, innovation, and renewed energy in the art community.
Interactive art forms are gaining unprecedented traction in 2025, reflecting the evolving intersection of art and technology. This year, expect to see exhibitions employing virtual and augmented reality, transforming how we perceive art.
DATA-VERSE
Such exhibitions are revolutionizing the audience's role, inviting them to become active participants rather than passive observers. At the High Museum of Art, Ryoji Ikeda's data-verse series will bring open-source datasets to life, offering a visual feast that bridges the gap between art and science. Data-verse is part of a trilogy of immersive light and sound installations that represent more than two decades of research by the artist and composer.
ALL DAY ALL NIGHT
Christine Sun Kim's exhibition, All Day All Night, at the Whitney Museum of American Art will epitomize this trend, showcasing over 90 works, including immersive site-specific murals and performance documentation. Kim is renowned for drawing from her lived experience to create work that explores sound, language, and the complexities of communication. You can see ‘All Day All Night’ now until July 6th.
THE OCEAN OF ONE’S PAUSE
The Ocean of One’s Pause by Rosa Barba will be at the MOMA from May 3rd to July 6th. Barba is known for exploring natural landscapes and human-made changes to the environment through historical records, personal narratives, and the sensory experience of film. There will be live performances and projections from the Kravis Studio’s 53rd Street window onto the adjacent public plaza. This exhibition will not only transform the exhibition space, but it also crosses the boundaries of the museum walls into the plaza, creating a truly immersive experience.
As these examples demonstrate, interactive art in 2025 is redefining the visitor experience, making art more accessible and engaging than ever before.
FIRST U.S. RETROSPECTIVE OF CASPAR DAVID FRIEDRICH
In New York, the Metropolitan Museum of Art will present the first comprehensive U.S. retrospective of Caspar David Friedrich from February 8th through May 11th. Friedrich's evocative landscapes offer a deep dive into the sublime, providing viewers with an opportunity to explore the artist’s masterful approach to capturing nature's profound beauty.
FIRST MAJOR RETROSPECTIVE OF RUTH ASAWA
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art will host the first major national and international retrospective of Ruth Asawa's work from April 5th through September 2nd. Asawa, a Japanese-American artist renowned for her intricate wire sculptures, has gained posthumous recognition for her contributions to modern art. This exhibition is particularly significant as SFMOMA’s director, Christopher Bedford, notes, it aligns with the museum’s vision of being both locally and globally connected.
EN EL PRINCIPIO / IN THE BEGINNING
Meanwhile, the Art Institute of Chicago is set to host En el principio / In the beginning from Mar 29th to Jul 28th. For her first exhibition at a major institution in the United States, Juliana Góngora Rojas collaborates with artisans, farmers, and Indigenous communities in works that emphasize the importance of ordinary materials and daily actions that establish networks of community and spiritual exchange
These exhibitions, spanning coast to coast, offer a rich tapestry of narratives and diverse perspectives, making 2025 an exceptional year for the American art scene.
Globally, 2025’s art landscape is equally thrilling, with exhibitions that span continents and cultures.
THE LARGEST EXHIBITION OF YAYOI KUSAMA
One major highlight will take place at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, featuring the largest exhibition of Yayoi Kusama's work ever mounted in Australia, on display until April 15th. Kusama, known for her iconic polka dots and immersive installations, promises to captivate audiences with her unique artistic vision.
THE FIRST MAJOR EUROPEAN SURVEY OF EMILY KAM KNGWARRAY
Over in London, the Tate Modern is set to host the first major European survey of Emily Kam Kngwarray, running from July 10th, 2025 to January 11, 2026. This exhibition will offer a unique perspective on Kngwarray's extraordinary body of work, highlighting its cultural significance and artistic innovation.
SAG MIR, WO DIE BLUMEN SIND
From March 7th until June 9th Anselm Kiefer’s Sag mir, wo die Blumen sind will be at the Stedelijk Museum and Van Gogh Museum. This exhibition will present an intriguing juxtaposition of Kiefer’s previously unexhibited works alongside key paintings by Van Gogh. This pairing offers a dialogue between historical and contemporary visions of art.
LINA IRIS VIKTOR
One of the standout artists to watch is Lina Iris Viktor, whose work integrates painting, sculpture, performance, and photography to create stunning pieces rich with symbolism. The artist’s interest in architecture, the materiality of objects, and how they inhabit space informs many of the large-scale and detailed installations she creates. Her exhibitions have been well-received globally, and 2025 is expected to be a significant year for her career.
ALESSANDRO FLORIO
Florio is renowned for his innovative use of color and texture to convey deep emotional narratives in his paintings. The tattoo-artist-turned-painter’s artistic practice is not only about aesthetic appeal but also about preserving his cultural heritage. His recent works have been highlighted in several international art fairs, including the Venice Biennale, where his pieces have received critical acclaim.
XIN LIU
Artist and engineer Xin Liu works in a variety of media and contexts such as fusing art and science in sculptures, installations, videos, virtual-reality experiences, and publications. Through her work, Liu considers the tensions between the indefinable qualities of humanity and the underlying drives and personal implications of scientific progress while demonstrating that science and culture are inseparable in their advancement.
AURIEA HARVEY
Emerging digital artist Auriea Harvey is also making a name for herself with her innovative use of virtual and augmented reality. Drawing from her extensive experience in net art and video games, Harvey creates immersive environments that challenge traditional concepts of art and offer a glimpse into the future of artistic expression.
These artists, among many others, are redefining the boundaries of contemporary art, bringing fresh perspectives and novel techniques to the forefront, making them essential figures to follow in 2025.
Art fairs in 2025 are set to be monumental, offering a platform for both established and emerging artists.
TEFAF ART FAIRS
TEFAF Art Fairs always promise a rich lineup of programming from leading experts from the TEFAF global art community and a showcase of 7,000 years of art history with 260 art dealers from 20 countries. You can catch a TEFAF art fair in Maastricht from March 15th to 20th, 2025, or in New York from May 9th to 13th, 2025.
THE SETOUCHI TRIENNALE
The Setouchi Triennale is a contemporary art festival held every three years on the islands of the Seto Inland Sea that attracts about one million people from Japan and overseas. The much-anticipated Setouchi Triennale returns in three seasons: Spring (April 18 to May 25), Summer (August 1 to 31), and Autumn (October 3 to November 9).
FRIEZE
In London, Frieze will present two major events: Frieze London and Frieze Masters from October 9th to 13th. The former will feature 160 galleries from over 40 countries, while the latter will host 130 galleries showcasing pre-2000 artworks.
ART BASEL MIAMI BEACH
Art Basel Miami Beach will close out the year by once again serving as a dynamic hub for art lovers, featuring an impressive lineup of international galleries and artists from December 5th to 7th. Known for its vibrant atmosphere and eclectic mix of contemporary and modern pieces, the event promises to attract collectors and enthusiasts from around the world.
2025 is shaping up to be a landmark year in the art world, brimming with opportunities to witness transformative works and participate in groundbreaking experiences. With a dynamic mix of traditional and cutting-edge exhibitions, this year promises to redefine how we engage with and appreciate art. We encourage art enthusiasts to dive into this dynamic year, where every exhibition offers a new adventure and a deeper understanding of the limitless possibilities within the world of art.