As museum calendars continue to dazzle, 2025 has emerged as a banner year for world-class exhibitions. From iconic retrospectives to powerful social commentary and interactive design, the best exhibits to see this year span every interest and continent. Whether you’re a seasoned art lover or just looking for an unforgettable cultural experience, this year’s museum shows are worth planning a trip around.
Yayoi Kusama: Infinite Love – National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Yayoi Kusama takes center stage in her largest exhibition ever presented in Australia. Covering eight decades of her visionary work, this exhibit features her signature mirrored rooms, enormous pumpkin sculptures, and polka-dotted installations both indoors and outdoors. A highlight is the immersive Infinity Mirrored Room: My Heart is Dancing into the Universe—a must-see for fans of contemporary art and immersive environments.
David Hockney: A Bigger Picture – Fondation Louis Vuitton, Paris
This extensive retrospective honors David Hockney’s remarkable seven-decade career. With over 400 works, visitors will see everything from his iconic swimming pool paintings to recent iPad drawings and immersive video installations. The exhibit offers a vibrant and deeply personal journey through one of the most influential modern British artists of our time.
Five Friends – Museum Brandhorst, Munich & Museum Ludwig, Cologne
This unique group exhibition celebrates the creative bond between John Cage, Merce Cunningham, Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg, and Cy Twombly. Over 150 works, including performance props, paintings, and multimedia installations, bring their cross-disciplinary collaborations to life. It’s a deep dive into how art, dance, and music intertwined in the post-war avant-garde era.
Rashid Johnson: A Poem for Deep Thinkers – Guggenheim Museum, New York
Transforming the Guggenheim’s iconic spiral ramp, this powerful solo show by Rashid Johnson blends abstract paintings, text-based works, and large-scale installations. The centerpiece, Sanguine, is a live performance piece featuring a piano and recurring musical events. With nearly 90 works on view, this exhibition is a must for those interested in contemporary Black identity and cultural expression.
Pirouette: Turning Points in Design – MoMA, New York
This exhibit is a visual and intellectual feast, highlighting transformative moments in design across the 20th and 21st centuries. From everyday objects to futuristic concepts, Pirouette showcases how form, function, and aesthetics have shaped human experience. It’s perfect for design enthusiasts and curious minds alike.
Ruth Asawa: Citizen of the Universe – SFMOMA, San Francisco
Celebrating the life and legacy of Japanese-American artist Ruth Asawa, this exhibit features over 300 works, including her signature looped-wire sculptures and drawings. With a full-scale recreation of her studio and a focus on her role in arts education, this is one of the most moving and beautifully curated shows of the year.
When We See Us – Bozar, Brussels
This expansive exhibition explores a century of Black figuration in painting across Africa and the African diaspora. Featuring works from over 150 artists, the show celebrates themes of joy, resistance, spirituality, and everyday life. It is a powerful exploration of identity and representation that feels both timely and timeless.
Reopening of the Michael C. Rockefeller Wing – The Met, New York
The newly renovated Rockefeller Wing showcases over 1,800 objects from Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. Redesigned for better storytelling and visibility, the space now offers updated lighting, spatial flow, and educational context. It’s a stunning example of how museums can evolve to better celebrate global cultures.
Siena: The Rise of Painting, 1300–1350 – The Met, New York
This extraordinary medieval exhibition brings together rarely loaned panel paintings and altarpieces from the Sienese school. Through luminous golds and elegant figures, it shows how Siena became a major influence on Renaissance art. It’s a breathtaking and contemplative show for lovers of early European painting.
Elizabeth Catlett: A Black Revolutionary Artist – National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.
Honoring the legacy of artist and activist Elizabeth Catlett, this retrospective includes over 150 sculptures, prints, and works on paper. Exploring themes like justice, motherhood, and resistance, her work speaks to both history and current conversations around equity and representation.
Conclusion: This Year’s Exhibits Are More Than Just Art
The best exhibits to see this year go beyond aesthetics—they spark thought, emotion, and global dialogue. Whether you’re moved by immersive installations, drawn to social narratives, or curious about design and tradition, 2025’s museum shows offer something deeply memorable. Mark your calendars, pack your curiosity, and step into the stories shaping the world through art.
