Captivating Autumn Museum Exhibitions: 8 Unmissable Shows Unveiling This Season

Nicole Eisenman, Sloppy Bar Room Kiss, 2011. Photo by Robert Wedemeyer. Courtesy of the artist and Vielmetter Los Angeles.

Captivating Autumn Museum Exhibitions: 8 Unmissable Shows Unveiling This Season

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s the art realm emerges from its late-summer hiatus, museums worldwide are preparing to showcase a rich array of autumn exhibitions. Ranging from classic mid-century displays and inaugural retrospectives to meticulously curated group exhibitions delving into feminist and Indigenous art histories, we present here a selection of eight exceptionally captivating museum shows set to debut this fall.

"Mark Rothko: A Journey Through Emotion"

Fondation Louis Vuitton, Paris

October 18, 2023 – April 2, 2024

Embark on a profound exploration of the artistic legacy of Mark Rothko at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris this coming October. This expansive retrospective will present an impressive assembly of over 115 works by the renowned abstract artist. Curated by Suzanne Page and co-curated by Christopher Rothko, the artist’s son, this exhibition offers a meticulously curated chronological journey through the 20th-century titan’s emotional and artistic evolution. Notably, this marks the first comprehensive Rothko retrospective to grace Parisian galleries in over two decades.

The retrospective commences with Rothko’s only existing self-portrait, a remarkable creation from 1936, and continues to unveil his early realist interpretations of New York’s urban landscapes and his exploration of biomorphic abstraction, influenced by the likes of Paul Klee. A splendid array of Rothko’s iconic canvases, encompassing more than 70 pieces, will be on display. This collection includes his distinctive and compositionally intricate works such as “No. 21” from 1949, along with his acclaimed “Seagram Mural” series, of which nine will be showcased on loan from Tate Modern.

The chronological journey culminates with the presentation of his poignant final series through the poignant piece “Untitled (Black on Gray)” from 1970. This closing chapter will be complemented by a selection of sculptural works by Alberto Giacometti, a revered artist whom Rothko deeply admired during his lifetime. As a whole, this exhibition provides an unparalleled opportunity to immerse oneself in Rothko’s enduringly captivating simplicity and delve into the profound emotions his art evokes.

"Barkley L. Hendricks: Captivating Portraits at The Frick"

The Frick Collection, New York

September 21, 2023 – January 7, 2024

Step into the realm of contemporary portraiture excellence with “Barkley L. Hendricks: Captivating Portraits at The Frick.” This autumn presentation at The Frick Collection showcases a tantalizing array of early works by the masterful portraiture artist Barkley L. Hendricks. The deep-rooted connection between Hendricks and The Frick adds a distinctive resonance to this meticulously curated exhibition.

Aimee Ng, co-curator of the exhibition along with curator and writer Antwaun Sargent, shared in an interview with Artsy, “The Frick was one of Barkley’s favorite museums. When he was an art student in 1966, he visited those temples of European art—the Prado, the Rijksmuseum, the Louvre—and it was a turning point for him. The Frick represented that for him in the U.S. It was sort of the kernel of the greatest works of European art history.”

Hendricks’s iconic painting style, characterized by its intricate sartorial and sculptural details, seamlessly carries forward the legacy of artistic heritage. Prepare to be captivated by radiant, almost reverential portraits such as the gilded Lawdy Mama from 1969, or the cool, evocative presence of Steve from 1976. Throughout your visit, you’ll be struck by the unmistakable resonances of The Frick’s distinctive aura, reminiscent of the Old Masters, whose influence clearly inspires this modern-day master of the craft.

"Within Alternative Realms: Environments by Women Artists 1956–1976"

Haus der Kunst, Munich

September 8, 2023 – March 10, 2024

Prepare to be immersed in an enthralling exploration as “Within Alternative Realms: Environments by Women Artists 1956–1976” unfolds its intriguing group survey at Haus der Kunst in Munich this September. This captivating exhibition delves into the nebulous world of immersive art, weaving together the pioneering endeavors of women who deftly navigated the realms of art, architecture, and design during the 20th century.

Curated by Marina Pugliese and Andrea Lissoni in collaboration with Anne Pfautsch, this exhibition is the result of three years of meticulous research. The curators delved not only into the artists’ histories and creative practices but also into their archives and plans. These invaluable resources guided the meticulous recreation of ephemeral works from the mid-20th century.

Among the showcased pieces is Judy Chicago’s “Feather Room,” originally exhibited in 1965. Lissoni describes it as an environment that elicits sensations of “floating,” “movement,” and “pure pleasure” as visitors navigate a room adorned with plush feathers. Also featured is Tania Mouraud’s “We used to know” from 1970, an environment characterized by intense heat and noise, creating an experience that Lissoni describes as too overwhelming to fully enter. Additionally, Aleksandra Kasuba’s “Spectral Passage,” a chromatic corridor originally constructed for San Francisco’s de Young Museum in 1975, adds another layer of captivating exploration.

This exhibition weaves a unique thread of curatorial thought that prods at notions of immersion, construction, and physicality, inviting visitors to engage with these transformative environments in innovative ways.

"Marisol: Unveiling a Multifaceted Artistic Journey"

Montreal Museum of Fine Arts

October 7, 2023 – January 21, 2024

Experience the captivating artistic evolution of the singular artist known simply as Marisol in the upcoming retrospective “Marisol: Unveiling a Multifaceted Artistic Journey.” This extensive touring exhibition, originally curated by the Buffalo AKG Art Museum, will make its debut at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts in October. Over the course of the next two years, the retrospective will travel to the Toledo Museum of Art, the Buffalo AKG Art Museum, and the Dallas Museum of Art, offering art enthusiasts a rare opportunity to delve into the most comprehensive exploration of Marisol’s oeuvre to date.

“Marisol” presents an assemblage of over 250 works by the artist, with a particular focus on her distinctive sculptural practice that emerged with Pop art influences, gaining her widespread recognition in the 1960s. Her hallmark creations, characterized by blocky, fragmented human figures boasting multiple faces and intricate fabric details, engage in a captivating dialogue. Additionally, the exhibition showcases Marisol’s later drawing endeavors, shedding light on her multifaceted talents. Furthermore, her ventures into costume and set design for esteemed dance studios like Louis Falco and Martha Graham are presented, providing insight into the expansiveness of her creative range.

What unfolds is a comprehensive portrait of a remarkable artist who shone brightly during the dynamic ’60s era, marked by influences from the Factory and the prevailing artistic atmosphere. This retrospective elucidates how Marisol’s innovative output persisted and evolved throughout subsequent decades, showcasing her enduring commitment to radical artistic production.

"Rirkrit Tiravanija: Exploring Social Art"

MoMA PS1, New York

October 12, 2023 – March 4, 2024

Dive into the distinctive world of social artmaking through the upcoming exhibition “Rirkrit Tiravanija: Exploring Social Art” at MoMA PS1. Opening its doors in October, this exhibition offers a comprehensive retrospective of Rirkrit Tiravanija’s remarkable artistic journey. “A Lot of People” meticulously curates over 100 works by the artist, shedding light on both his well-known and lesser-seen early creations from the 1980s and ’90s. The collection encompasses sculptures, installations, editions, and his boundary-pushing explorations of news media as an artistic medium. This ranges from incorporating Philip Guston’s appropriations on newsprint to the ongoing “Demonstration Series” (2001–present), where Tiravanija hand-draws photographs sourced from the International Herald Tribune.

Among the exhibition’s highlights is the anticipated restaging of Tiravanija’s renowned participatory artworks, including the iconic “untitled 1990 (pad thai)” where the artist prepares and serves pad thai to the audience, and “untitled 1994 (angst essen seele auf)” featuring a bar serving beer and cola. Throughout “A Lot of People,” five of these interactive works will be presented in one-month intervals, allowing visitors the unique opportunity to engage directly with the creations of one of contemporary art’s most innovative thinkers.

“The questions that Rirkrit probes within his works continue to be relevant,” co-curator Ruba Katrib remarked. “I think they are even more profound when looking at them in retrospect—because you are looking back at the contributions of someone who was responding to the future before it fully arrived.” Experience this thought-provoking retrospective that explores the evolution and enduring significance of Tiravanija’s artistic endeavors.

"Indigenous Narratives: A Multifaceted Art Journey"

MASP, São Paulo

October 20, 2023 – February 25, 2024

Embark on an expansive artistic odyssey as the Museu de Arte de São Paulo Assis Chateaubriand (MASP), in collaboration with the Kode Bergen Art Museum, presents “Indigenous Narratives.” This ambitious large-scale survey brings together the creative expressions of over 170 Indigenous artists hailing from diverse corners of the Americas, Oceania, and Scandinavia. The exhibition unfolds a breathtaking panorama that spans vast geographies, typologies, and chronologies, showcasing the rich tapestry of Indigenous artistry.

Within the captivating expanse of “Indigenous Narratives,” nearly 300 artworks are thoughtfully divided across eight sections. These sections facilitate multifaceted conversations, weaving both art historical and thematic threads among the pieces, while also inviting viewers to unearth new interpretations and histories.

Reflecting on the title of the exhibition, a press release emphasized the significance of the Portuguese word “histórias,” which encompasses a broader spectrum of meanings than its English equivalent, “histories.” This Portuguese term envelops fiction and nonfiction, historical accounts and personal tales, both public and private narratives, spanning micro and macro levels. As such, it imbues the exhibition with a polyphonic, speculative, open, and ever-evolving quality—resonating beyond conventional notions of History.

“Indigenous Narratives” offers an unprecedented opportunity to engage with an extensive array of creative expressions that reflect the rich tapestry of Indigenous cultures, inviting visitors to explore the diverse, multifaceted, and dynamic stories embedded within these remarkable artworks.

"Suki Seokyeong Kang: Willow Drum Oriole" Exhibition

Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art, Seoul

September 7 – December 31, 2023

Experience the mesmerizing world of Suki Seokyeong Kang’s artistry at the Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art in Seoul. “Willow Drum Oriole,” her latest exhibition, showcases Kang’s distinctive approach to art, blending historical influences and innovative creativity. This exhibition will unveil an array of new works, including fresh interpretations of her renowned “Mat” series, which initially gained acclaim during her U.S. museum debut, “Black Mat Oriole,” at ICA Philadelphia in 2017. Visitors can also anticipate a captivating collection of new sculptures, video installations, and paintings, all thoughtfully curated by the artist to form interconnected “choreographed scenographies,” creating a unique visual experience throughout the exhibition space.

Suki Seokyeong Kang, represented by esteemed galleries like Tina Kim Gallery and Kukje Gallery, and previously featured in The Artsy Vanguard 2019, is known for her art that draws inspiration from a rich tapestry of traditions, including fabric-making, court dance, and Korean notational systems, among others. In “Willow Drum Oriole,” Kang’s contemporary creations will engage in a compelling dialogue with select pieces from Leeum’s Korean art collection, offering visitors a thought-provoking exploration of tradition and contemporaneity across different eras. Don’t miss the opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of “Willow Drum Oriole” and experience the fusion of history and modernity through the lens of this talented artist.

"Nicole Eisenman: What Happened" Exhibition

Whitechapel Gallery, London

October 11, 2023 – January 14, 2024

Delve into the captivating world of Nicole Eisenman’s unique figuration style at the Whitechapel Gallery this October. “What Happened” is a comprehensive exploration that spans more than 100 works, offering an in-depth journey through Eisenman’s artistic evolution. This exhibition meticulously assembles an array of pieces from Eisenman’s illustrious career, encompassing paintings, sculptures, monoprints, animations, and drawings. These works are thoughtfully arranged in chronological order, providing a compelling narrative of the artist’s ongoing exploration of the deeply personal and the fiercely political realms.

Mark Godfrey, co-curator of the exhibition alongside Monika Bayer-Wermuth, has described the exhibition as a story told in eight chapters. These chapters trace Eisenman’s artistic evolution, starting with her time in 1990s New York, where she focused on themes related to lesbian life and mythical feminine heroines. The journey continues through her politically charged work during the Trump era, with insightful stops along the way to examine topics such as sex, war, economic turmoil, and the influence of screens on human intimacy. Throughout the exhibition, you’ll also encounter revisitations of site-specific works, including public murals from the 1990s and remarkable large-scale sculptures like the awe-inspiring “Maker’s Muck” (2022).

Godfrey notes that the exhibition provides a window into Eisenman’s continuous response to the changing world, encompassing shifts in politics, economics, and the evolving representation and organization of queer communities. It presents an artist in perpetual motion, exploring various interests, styles from art history, materials, and mediums. “Nicole Eisenman: What Happened” promises to be a thought-provoking and visually stunning journey through the creative evolution of this remarkable artist.

Captivating Autumn Museum Exhibitions: 8 Unmissable Shows Unveiling This Season