Must-See Winter Exhibitions!

Feb. 4, 2025

This Winter 2025 exhibition schedule highlights the enduring power of drawing as a medium for artistic expression, cultural exploration, and creative innovation. From Henri Michaux’s mind-altering mescaline drawings to the attitudinal shift towards drawing in the Renaissance, each show reveals how drawing has influenced creativity across centuries.

Read on to explore how these exhibitions celebrate the rich diversity and transformative potential of drawing.

Image: Henri Michaux, Untitled, 1966, black and coloured inks, and graphite, on paper, Private Collection

Henri Michaux: The Mescaline Drawings, The Courtauld
12 February - 4 June 2025

This exhibition is a celebration of Franco-Belgian poet and artist Henri Michaux’s unique Mescaline Drawings. In 1955, Michaux sought to investigate the effect of non-addictive drugs on the act of creativity. For his experiment, he took psychedelic drug mescaline, derived from the Mexican peyote cactus. It was an experience that he considered to be a portal into the inner workings of his mind and came to transform his artistic life.

This display showcases Michaux’s experience of pushing the limits of drawing.

Image: Raphael, The Three Graces (detail), c.1517-18, red chalk over some stylus underdrawing, The Royal Collection Trust

Drawing the Italian Renaissance, The King's Gallery, Buckingham Palace
1 November 2024 - 9 March 2025

The Renaissance is famed for being a period of dramatic transformation. During this time, drawing became central to artistic development and evolved from workshop practice to being an art form in its own right.

The Royal Collection holds one of the world’s largest collections of Italian Renaissance drawings, many of which are included in this display.

The exhibition displays around 160 works by over 80 artists, including Leonardo da Vinci, Titian, Raphael, and Michelangelo. Plus, three of our alumni, Jesse Ajilore, Joshua Pell, and Sarah Lee Roberts, are creating drawings in response to the works. See them drawing live in the exhibition space and view the display of their works on your visit.

Image: Leonardo Da Vinci, 'A rearing horse', c. 1503 - 05, red chalk on paper, Royal Collection Trust

Michelangelo, Leonardo, Raphael, The Royal Academy of Arts
9 November 2024 - 16 February 2025

Delve deeper into the Renaissance art world by exploring the professional rivalries between three giants of the Italian Renaissance: Leonardo, Raphael, and Michelangelo.

The exhibition’s curation uses fine drawings by the Renaissance’s biggest names to explore the rivalry between Leonardo and Michelangelo, and its influence on a young Raphael.

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Hardeep Pandhal: Inner World, The Drawing Room
13 February - 13 April 2025

Born in Birmingham to Indian migrant parents, Pandhal uses small and large-scale drawings to craft mythical narratives that delve into the complexities of racial violence, power, class, and culture.

The inspiration behind Pandhal’s creatures is varied: from religious iconography to video games, comics, and mainstream music.

This exhibition features a site-specific wall drawing that expands across the gallery, in addition to smaller, new works by the artist.

Image: Tirzah Garwood, Spanish Lady, 1950, Private Collection.

Tirzah Garwood: Beyond Ravilious, Dulwich Picture Gallery
19 November 2024 - 26 May 2025

This is the first major exhibition to display works by visionary artist and designer Tirzah Garwood.

The exhibition features almost all Garwood’s oil paintings, in addition to wood engravings, pencil sketches, collaged paper constructions, and marbled paper experiments.

Until recently, Garwood was primarily known as the wife of Eric Ravilious. The exhibition includes 11 watercolour works by Ravilious that draws connections between the pair’s shared interests and artistic personalities.

Feeling inspired? Explore our courses, online or in the studio.

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