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!

Yoshitomo Nara is best known for his unsettling portraits of young children that blend old and new ideas of Japanese identity. Seemingly innocent at first glance, a closer look reveals a darker side to these genderless figures, who brandish knives, smoke cigarettes and glance menacingly at the viewer. They function as a kind of self-portrait. As Nara once said of his work, ‘I kind of see the children among other, bigger, bad people all around them, who are holding bigger knives.’

Coinciding with the artist’s major retrospective at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art is a new solo exhibition at Pace. Utilising the full expanse of Pace’s new London gallery, it features a diverse range of recent paintings, sculpture, works on cardboard and a major new multi-room installation: Pinacoteca 2021.

One of only 15 in existence, the installation is decorated on the inside with newly created paintings on wood and canvas as well as drawings on paper, used envelopes, and cardboard boxes. On the outside walls hang new paintings on wood which are stylistically simpler and more graphic than the works inside the installation.

With this multi-room structure that imitates an exhibition space, Nara questions traditional ideas about the role of art and the relationship between space and artwork. Whether you’re a fan of his style or not, this exhibition will make you stop and stare. Nip in when you can.