As the seasons slowly turn, the final weeks of summer invite us outdoors to seek inspiration. Here, we bring you five rewarding events, from an exhibition mapping the cultural impact of Notting Hill Carnival to a showcase of contemporary craft.
Handpicked: Painting Flowers from 1900 to Today at Kettle’s Yard
Cambridge's Kettle Yard gallery traces depictions of flowers across 20th and 21st-century art in Handpicked, an exhibition inspired by founders Jim and Helen Ede's affinity for freshly cut flowers. Highlighting different interpretations and approaches to form and colour, the curation features renowned painters Vanessa Bell, Henri Rousseau and Winifred Nicholson, alongside contemporary artists Jennifer Packer and Lubaina Himid.
Handpicked: Painting Flowers from 1900 to Today is on at Kettle's Yard until 6 September.
The Legacy of Notting Hill Carnival at Somerset House
To celebrate 60 years of Notting Hill Carnival, Somerset House is hosting a collection of multi-media interpretations, spanning video and film, photography, sound, archival materials, sculpture and costume. Positioning the event as a symbol of resistance, art, politics and joy, this week-long exhibition reflects on the cultural significance of Europe's largest street festival.
The Legacy of Notting Hill Carnival is on at Somerset House from 13–21 August.
Hulda Guzmán: Please awake – asked Nature kindly at Turner Contemporary
In the first European institutional exhibition of Dominican artist Hulda Guzmán, Turner Contemporary presents an expansive selection of dreamlike paintings created by the artist over a decade. The vibrant works capture verdant landscapes and mystical renderings of environments from Guzmán’s life and memories. Folk motifs and references to Caribbean vernacular traditions appear across the work, prompting questions of identity, belonging and the consequences of climate change.
Hulda Guzmán: Please awake – asked Nature kindly is on at Turner Contemporary until 13 September.
From the Land at Proposition Studios
From the Land is a group exhibition bringing together experimental projects from the Architectural Association, united by a shared exploration of architecture's relationship with the living world. The works examine how buildings engage with land, matter and climate, envisioning futures where manmade structures respond meaningfully to ecological diversity. Questions around land stewardship and responsibility are expressed through soil samples, sculptural stick figures and timber installations.
From the Land is on at Proposition Studios until 26 September.
YSP MADE x Design-Nation Showcase at YSP Centre
The Yorkshire Sculpture Park has launched its debut collaboration with Design-Nation at this year's MADE showcase, a biannual display of twenty acclaimed craftspeople. The featured makers, which include ceramicist Alma Boyes, jeweller Caroline Brogden and glass artist Elizabeth Sinkova, were selected for their innovative approaches to their craft.
YSP MADE x Design-Nation Showcase is on at YSP Centre until 18 October.
Image 1: Cedric Morris, Irises and Tulips (1935). Oil on canvas. Private Collection, care of Philip Mould & Company.
Image 2: Cassi Namoda, Arafah Gaza’s Arrival (2025). Oil on canvas. Photography by Thomas Merle. Courtesy of the Artist and Xavier Hufkens, Brussels.
Image 3: Ebony Steel Pan by Carl Gabriel, 1970s. Courtesy of Somerset House.
Image 4: Hulda Guzmán, Fresa salvaje, 2021 [Wild Strawberry]. Acrylic gouache on linen 75.2 x 122 cm. Collection of Lilly and Alexander Berggruen, New York. © Hulda Guzmán. Photo: courtesy of the artist and Alexander Berggruen, NY.
Image 5: Finbar Charlson and Jack Cardno, Blade Building. Photography by Katarzyna Perlak, courtesy of Proposition Studios.
Image 6: Jane Bevan, Bark Collector Pots, 2025. Photography by Chris Webb.
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