If you’ve not yet been to Newlands House now’s the time to hop on a train south. Locatea beautiful Georgian townhouse in the charming town of Petworth, the gallery stages exhibitions centred on great artists of the 20th century. Now’s the turn of British artist Julian Opie.

Collected Works/ Works Collected brings together over 100 objects from Opie’s personal collection, ranging from Ancient Greek and Roman statutory, to Egyptian sarcophagi, manga sketches and contemporary pieces by the likes of Kara Walker. It also includes a curated selection of Opie’s own sculptures, paintings and films made over the past 20 years.

The dynamic, cross-category display shows the ways in which Opie’s interests as a collector have influenced his practice as an artist. ‘When I am stuck for decisions, I get up and look at some other art and find a solution right there,’ Opie has said. ‘The work of others pushes me beyond what I know and assume, it suggests new logics and approaches and makes me feel not so alone in this strange endeavour.’

Among the highlights on display are Opie’s animated LCD portrait Ruth smoking 2 (2006) and his recent metal sculptures Deer 2 and Dog 4 (2020), which are installed in the garden alongside Yoko XIX (2006) by Don Brown. Also featured in the exhibition are portraits by Joshua Reynolds and George Romney, medieval armour, prehistoric Native American tapestry and original Studio Ghibli (anime) prints.

Perfect for your next day trip from London!

Gillian Jason Gallery has made its name championing female and non-binary artists from across the generations. Established by the pioneering art dealer Gillian Jason in 1982, it is now helmed by Gillian’s daughter, Elli, and granddaughter, Millie.

Inaugurating the gallery’s new HQ at 19 Great Titchfield Street — the UK’s first female-focused commercial gallery space — is a new exhibition by leading Black female artists who are subverting and rethinking how Black women have been represented in Western painting. The featured artists are Alanis Forde, Miranda Forrester, Sahara Longe, Cece Philips and Emma Prempeh.

‘The ethereal artworks presented in this exciting exhibition feel “at peace”, radiating and basking in a tangible presence of their own by embodying pleasure and contentment,’ said exhibition curator Jade Foster. ‘The works and exhibition itself are a practice of world-building, developing past imaginaries within Black abstraction and figurative painting, which establishes Black figures as the protagonist.’

It promises to be a thought-provoking show that challenges and questions and invites us to reflect and effect change.