Visual treats

Claire Coleman looks at some big exhibitions in the UK worth a visit in the coming months

Taking Liberties: John 'Hoppy' Hopkinson
This brand new, six-storey arts centre, in a former Edwardian warehouse is set to be a hub of artistic talent and activity. The first exhibition is a retrospective of the work of John 'Hoppy' Hopkinson, showcasing images he took between 1960 and 1966. From CND marches and anti-racism demos, to the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, Dusty Springfield and Marianne Faithfull, his iconic works give a snapshot of a country and culture at the dawn of a new era.
Trongate 103, Glasgow
September 11-November 7

Turner and the Masters
While the shortlisted candidates for the controversial Turner Prize will also be on show here (October 6, 2009-January 3, 2010), purists will be flocking to see works by the original Turner (JMW) alongside masterpieces by Canaletto, Rubens, Rembrandt and Titian, the great masters who Turner pitted himself against, if only in his own mind. He was driven by the desire to prove that he was the equal to any of the great artists, whether they were his contemporaries or his forerunners.
Tate Britain, London
September 23-January 31, 2010

Bridget Riley: Flashback
Riley is one of the grande dames of the op art scene. Her geometric, monochrome optical illusions caused a sensation in the 1960s and she has continued to produce striking works of art into her 70s. This exhibition is the first in a series from the Arts Council Collection, which aims to trace the career of an artist by bringing together early works alongside major recent works borrowed from the artists themselves.
Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
September 25-December 13

Angels of Anarchy: Women Artists and Surrealism
When it comes to surrealism, the men often get all the credit, but the likes of Frida Kahlo, Lee Miller, Leonora Carrington and several other notable women all played a huge part in the movement. This collates over 100 pieces of their work in the form of sculpture, film, painting and photography, showcasing their very real contribution that is often overlooked.
Manchester Art Gallery, Manchester
September 26-January 10, 2010

Pop Life: Art in a Material World
Andy Warhol, Jeff Koons, Keith Haring, Takashi Murakami all under one roof alongside some of Damien Hirst's works from that record-breaking 2008 auction (Sotheby's tills rang to the tune of £111m after selling off 223 pieces). You can also see a recreation of Hirst's performance at the Cologne 'Unfair' art fair in 1992 when he sat identical twins beneath two identical spot paintings. Need more incentive still? Admission to two of the rooms is restricted to over 18s.
Tate Modern, London
October 1-January 17, 2010

Exquisite Corpse
Surrealism fans will appreciate the title of this exhibition, which is drawn from the game the movement invented. Each contributor adds an image or a word, not knowing what has preceded it, resulting in a random and collective assembly. Here the images are pieces taken from the permanent collection of the Irish Museum of Modern Art, while the contributors are luminaries of the art world, including Dawn Ades, Deirdre Horgan and Colm Tóibín.
Ormeau Baths Gallery, Belfast
October 15-November 21

Picasso: Peace and Freedom
Tate Liverpool has trawled the world for over 150 works by this iconic artist and aim to give a new slant on the story of the womanising party lover by examining his role as a political activist and peace campaigner. Focusing on the post-war period of his life, the exhibition will look at his work from the Cold War era and his relationship to the conflicting ideologies of East and West.
Tate Liverpool, Liverpool
May 21, 2010-August 30, 2010

Picturing Britain: Paul Sandby
With loans from The Royal Collection, The British Museum, The V&A, and The Yale Centre for British Art, this collection of work is a return to a city that was hugely influential in the life of this 18th century watercolourist. In 1746 he was tasked with mapping the Scottish Highlands and it was while doing this that he began painting the landscapes around him. Acclaimed as 'the father of modern landscape painting in watercolours' he went on to become a founding member of the Royal Academy.
National Gallery Complex, Edinburgh
November 7-February 7, 2010

Green Drops and Moonsquirters: The Utterly Imaginative World of Lauren Child
You might not know Lauren Child, but if you've got kids, you'll be all too familiar with her creations—Charlie and Lola, Clarice Bean et al. If you haven't managed to catch this touring exhibition at any of its other venues, you should make a beeline for it this winter. The interactive installation lets you literally step into the world of Child's books, by exploring playhouses based around her most popular characters.
National Museum, Cardiff
November 21-January 31, 2010

The Anderson Collection of Art Nouveau
Widely regarded as one of the most extensive and exquisite private collections of Art Nouveau, this was given to the University of East Anglia in the late 1970s by Sir Colin and Lady Anderson. They spent the 1960s scouring junk shops and auctions for pieces to add to their haul. The result is over 200 pieces of jewellery, furniture, glassware and metalwork, which includes works by Louis Comfort Tiffany, Emile Galle, René Lalique, Minton and Liberty.
Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, Norwich
February 9, 2010-May 16, 2010

Photo credit: Hugo Glendinning @ Gavin Turk