Installation view of "Louvre Couture. Art and Fashion: Statement Pieces".
Photo: Nicolas Bousser
From Ruth Asawa to Rashid Johnson: These Buzzy Spring Exhibitions Are Not to Be Missed
These trailblazing shows explore the lasting legacies of both pioneering and contemporary talents
A Fendi dress as part of "Louvre Couture. Art and Fashion: Statement Pieces". Photo: Nicolas Bousser
1. “Louvre Couture. Art and Fashion: Statement Pieces” | The Louvre, Paris
The Louvre’s first-ever fashion presentation offers a fascinating exploration of the relationship between art and style in a dazzling installation spanning eras and aesthetics. Uniting 45 houses from around the globe, including Chanel, Jean Paul Gaultier, Alexander McQueen, and Dries Van Noten, the showcase includes painstakingly crafted couture displayed alongside the museum’s formidable collection of art, artifacts, and decoration.
Through July 21
A Brocca vase as part of "Monstrous Beauty: A Feminist Revision of Chinoiserie". Photo: Courtesy Metropolitan Museum of Art
2. “Monstrous Beauty: A Feminist Revision of Chinoiserie” | Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
A distinct entity in the ancient art of ceramics, chinoiserie porcelain receives a thorough investigation in this rebellious display. Nearly 200 objects, dating from 16th-century Europe to present day, demonstrate how women are rewriting the narrative around a decorative art historically identified as fragile. Joining the sea of blue-and-white beauties on view is a newly commissioned massage table fashioned from raw, unglazed porcelain by Patty Chang, which will be sunk into the Pacific Ocean after the exhibition closes as a representation of rebirth.
March 25 through August 17
Artemisia Gentileschi, Suzanne et les Vieillards, (1610) Photo: akg-images / MPortfolio / Electa
3. “Artemisia: Heroine of Art” | Musée Jacquemart-André, Paris
One of art history’s revolutionary female talents, Artemisia Gentileschi painted moody Baroque portraits featuring women as both powerful leaders and subjects of violence. This expansive exhibit brings together approximately 40 of her works, including well-known 17th-century masterpieces such as Esther Before Ahasuerus and others rarely unveiled to the public, offering a snapshot of the gifts that earned her international acclaim in her own lifetime.
March 19 through August 3
Ruth Asawa, Untitled (1961) Photo: Laurence Cuneo, courtesy David Zwirner
4. “Ruth Asawa: Retrospective” | San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
The first major museum survey of the California-born artist hosts more than 300 examples of Ruth Asawa’s art, tracing her practice from its early days at Black Mountain College in North Carolina to her move to San Francisco, a city that inspired much of her output. The sweeping retrospective ranges from her iconic wire sculptures to lesser-known works on paper, which are situated next to pieces by Josef Albers, Peggy Tolk-Watkins, and others from Asawa’s personal collection.
April 5 through September 2
Detail of Rashid Johnson's Untitled Escape Collage, (2018). Photo: Courtesy of the artist
5. “Rashid Johnson: A Poem for Deep Thinkers”| Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York
By exploring themes of art history and Black pop culture through a diverse range of mediums—from collage to film—Rashid Johnson has become one of the most influential voices in contemporary art. This exhibition, his largest to date, showcases the full breadth of his oeuvre through nearly 90 works, including Sanguine, a monumental site-specific piece that includes an embedded piano and performances in the rotunda. The show’s lyrical title stems from a poem by Amiri Baraka, one of Johnson’s greatest muses throughout his groundbreaking career.
April 18 through January 18, 2026
Paul McCartney, George Harrison, (1964). Photo: Paul McCartney
6. “Paul McCartney Photographs 1963–64: Eyes of the Storm” | de Young, San Francisco
Serving as a rare opportunity to see the full range of the musician’s talent both in front of and behind the camera, more than 250 personal photographs taken by Beatles frontman Paul McCartney will be on display for this sweeping showcase. Featuring shots of screaming crowds, live performances, cityscapes, and candid portraits, one of music’s most beloved figures showcases a level of creativity rarely seen by the public.
Through July 6
Pablo Picasso, Portrait of Dora Maar, (1937). Photo: Courtesy GrandPalais Rmn (Musée national Picasso-Paris) / Mathieu Rabea
7. “The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Picasso for Asia—A Conversation” | M+, Hong Kong
A one-of-its-kind exhibition exploring the rarely thought about connection Asian artistry and famed artist Pablo Picasso, more than 60 works by the Spanish talent will be on display alongside some 80 works from Asian and Asian-diasporic artists from the museum’s collection. Marking the first major exhibition in Hong Kong in over a decade to spotlight Picasso, highlights include notable masterpieces including Large Still Life with Pedestal Table (1931), Portrait of Dora Maar (1937), and more.
Through July 13
Medardo Rosso, Bambino malato, (1895). Photo: Markus Wörgötter, Courtesy Museo Medardo Rosso, Barzio
8. “Medardo Rosso: Inventing Modern Sculpture” | Kunstmuseum Basel, Switzerland
An inspiration to artists today, and widely considered a master in the field of sculpture, photography, and more, this sweeping exhibition dedicated to Italian artist Medardo Rosso pulls back the curtain on the creative’s process and legacy through a 50 sculptures and over 250 photographs on display. To further show his lasting impact, works by notable names such as Lynda Benglis, Constantin Brâncuși, Edgar Degas, David Hammons, Eva Hesse, Meret Oppenheim, Auguste Rodin, and Alina Szapocznikow will also find home within the museum’s walls.
March 29 through August 10
A version of this article first appeared in print in our 2025 Spring Issue under the headline “What’s on View.” Subscribe to the magazine.
Cover: Installation view of "Louvre Couture. Art and Fashion: Statement Pieces".
Photo: Nicolas Bousser
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