This week's art scene showcases an impressive array of exhibitions, from prestigious painting competitions to newly discovered Renaissance treasures and contemporary perspectives on portraiture. The highlights include the renowned John Moores painting prize, featuring emerging artists alongside established names, and several groundbreaking exhibitions across major British cultural institutions.
The exhibition of the week centers on the John Moores painting prize, where talented artists Davina Jackson, Katy Shepherd, and Joanna Whittle are among those shortlisted for this prestigious award. This competition holds particular significance as it was once won by a young David Hockney, demonstrating its role in launching successful artistic careers. The exhibition runs at the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool from Saturday through March 1, 2026, offering visitors an extensive opportunity to view contemporary British painting at its finest.
Several other notable exhibitions are currently showing across the United Kingdom. "Artists First: Contemporary Perspectives on Portraiture" presents today's leading artists, including Helen Cammock, Małgorzata Mirga-Tas, and Charmaine Watkiss, who draw inspiration or provocation from the National Portrait Gallery's historic collection of British portraits. This exhibition runs from September 6 to August 3 at the National Portrait Gallery in London. Meanwhile, the newly opened Schroder Gallery at Bath's Holburne Museum unveils a treasure trove of Renaissance curiosities and artwork, featuring everything from ornate silver ships to paintings by Lucas Cranach, beginning September 10.
International and regional art also takes center stage this week. Santiago Yahuarcani's "The Beginning of Knowledge" at The Whitworth in Manchester showcases the work of this northern Peru-based artist who depicts the rich history of the Uitoto people on traditional Amazonian bark cloth, running until January 4. Additionally, "The Sun Feeds the Wind" explores the compelling story of Hastings' fishing community through the work of Jane Bruce, Sam Sharples, and other artists, displayed at Hastings Contemporary until September 14.
The image of the week features a striking photograph by Fatimazohra Serri titled "The Swing of Life." This powerful visual metaphor illustrates the complex relationship between a woman and a man, exploring themes of care and burden, intimacy and distance. In the image, a man appears to swing from the flowing black dress of the woman positioned above him, with the clothing serving as a bridge between the two figures - soft yet unbreakable. Serri's work aims to highlight how men, whether consciously or not, often depend on the invisible emotional strength of women.
This week brought several significant discoveries and developments in the art world. Researchers announced that a newly discovered portrait may depict the "fair youth" referenced in Shakespeare's sonnets, potentially offering new insights into the playwright's life and relationships. Architectural achievements were also recognized as this year's Stirling Prize for Architecture shortlist features both a crystal doughnut structure and a newly renovated Big Ben among its nominees.
Contemporary art continues to evolve with meaningful exhibitions showcasing current transgender artists whose work speaks to important social and cultural moments of our time. London has also made history by opening the UK's first museum space dedicated specifically to Somali heritage, marking a significant milestone in cultural representation. In an unexpected turn, comedian Johnny Vegas has returned to his original passion for pottery, demonstrating the diverse paths that creative expression can take.
David Hockney's massive 90-meter Normandy frieze is making its way to London, promising to be a major attraction for art enthusiasts. Additionally, art historians are bringing attention to Robert Colquhoun and Bobby MacBryde, who are being recognized as the forgotten bright young talents of modern British art. Tate Modern's new exhibition examines Pablo Picasso's enduring love affair with theatrical performance and stage design.
The masterpiece of the week highlights "Isabella" by John Everett Millais from 1849, currently housed at the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool. This remarkable Victorian painting transforms a 14th-century murder story by Giovanni Boccaccio into a sharp satire on capitalism. The scene depicts a family of wealthy Florentine merchants gathered around a table, their faces rendered as caricatures of cunning and greed.
Millais created this work in the aftermath of Europe's 1848 revolutions and Britain's Chartist movement, during a period when novelists were actively examining the injustices of the emerging industrial society. The artist uses medieval Florence, with its highly commercial economy, as a mirror to reflect the social and economic issues of his own era. The painting's foreground shows Isabella being courted by the young apprentice Lorenzo, whose love-hungry eyes contrast sharply with the calculated cruelty of her family.
The ominous details in the painting foreshadow the tragic events to come. One of Isabella's brothers callously kicks her dog with his long white-stockinged leg, while another brother studies the blood-red wine in his glass with calculating eyes. These brothers are secretly planning to murder the penniless young man who dares to love their sister. A pot of basil visible against the blue sky serves as a haunting reminder of the story's conclusion, as it is presumably the very vessel in which Isabella will later keep Lorenzo's severed head, according to Boccaccio's tale.
