WHAT? Howard Hodgkin: In a Public Garden

WHERE? Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery, Mattock Lane, London W5 5EQ

WHEN? Now until 8th March 2026

WHY GO? For that feel-good factor. The beauty of presenting an art exhibition in Pitzhanger Manor is that it can be displayed in settings that are more inviting than a plain gallery wall. Artworks integrate within a real house, which appeals to art lovers who may also be collectors (if they are lucky enough). Howard Hodgkin, who died in 2017 at the age of 84, was a celebrated artist and everything feels good about this show, which spans five decades of his work and is the largest retrospective to date comprising five paintings and 46 prints, plus a maquette for a large mural in Delhi. It includes archival items related to his love of India, a country he visited 14 times throughout his career. Hodgkin’s signature bold brush strokes, abstract shapes and exuberant colour schemes are instantly recognisable, and he is renowned for pushing the boundaries with experimental print-making techniques. Venice, Morning, Afternoon and Night, etched in 1995, are old favourites, as are the numerous Palm prints he created throughout the Eighties. His pictures frequently reference places he loved, hence the many interpretations of India and of Venice, that great city that has always been a source of inspiration for famous artists. It’s thrilling to see his work so atmospherically curated by art historian Richard Calvocoressi.

IN THE KNOW Check out In Conversation, a short film made in 1982 for the Arts Council, where Hodgkin’s laconic answers to questions posed by interviewer David Sylvester portray the man behind the paintbrush and focus on his passion for Indian art. On view in the Monk’s Dining Room.