From Yoko Ono to Barbie: seven of the best art exhibitions

The UK is brimming with contemporary art waiting to be explored. Martha Alexander rounds up some of the highlights …

Art is essential to humanity. People want to create for myriad reasons including the exploration and expression of difficult ideas, self-help and for the joy of others. It is primal, social and serves as a historical document. It can be a thing of beauty or a source of horror. It can offer endless comfort or an inspiring push out of the comfort zone. It can leave us cold or change our lives.

“Having access to art is more important than ever as it gets us off the screens and into a stimulating and thought-provoking environment,” says Daisy Bell, co-founder and director of Cramer & Bell, an art consultancy practice. “We live in a society where we spend more and more time behind screens, where we are zoning out of face-to-face conversations to watch reels or read a WhatsApp message. Experiencing art encourages creativity and self-expression and is proven to reduce stress and improve brain function. Art also gives people freedom of expression; whether political, environmental or social.”