The best art exhibitions and art events in September and October

Opposing the Duce. This show explores the idea of art as a means of political resistance, using dramatic, powerful imagery by painters, sculptors, and satirists such as Renato Guttuso, Renzo Vespignani, and Renato Birolli. From 21st September – 19th December. At At Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art, 39a Canonbury Square, London N1 2AN. 020 7704 9531
 
John Cage: Every Day is a Good Day – first major retrospective in the UK of the visual art of the American composer and artist John Cage (1912092), at Kettle’s Yard, Castle Street, Cambridge 25 Sep to 14 Nov. 01223 748100

John Houston (1930-2008) – a Retrospective at Browse & Darby, 19 Cork Street, London W1 until 8th Oct. www.browseanddarby.co.uk
 
Kings, Satraps and Shahs: Persian Coinage through the Ages. The exhibition explores the history of Persia through the coins produced from the sixth century BC until recent times. At The Fitzwilliam Museum, Trumpington Street, Cambridge. 21st Sept – 30th Jan. www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk. 01223332900.
 
Diaghilev and the Golden Age of the Ballets Russes 1909 – 1929. The exhibition explores the world of the influential artistic director and impresario Serge Diaghiev and the most exciting dance company of the 20th century. At the V & A, Cromwell Road, South Kensington. 25th Sept – 9th Jan. 02079422000. (see Country Life preview 22 September 2010)

A Passion for Painting Pattern – the textile design of Raymond Honeyman at the Museum of Domestic Design & Architecture, Middlesex University, Cat Hill, Barnet until 20 Mar 2011. www.moda.mdx.ac.uk

Salvator Rosa; Bandits, Wilderness and Magic at Dulwich Picture Gallery, Gallery Road, London SE2 until 28 Nov. www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk

Graham Oakley and the Church Mice Bonanza at the Illustration Cupboard, 22 Bury Street, London SW1 until 16 Oct. 020 7976 1727

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In My Mind’s Eye – paintings by Simon Quadrat, ceramics by Peter Swanson, furniture by Petter Southall at Sladers Yard, West Bay, Bridport, Dorset until 7 Nov. www.sladersyard.co.uk

Poussin to Seurat: French Drawings from the National Gallery of Scotland at the Wallace Collection, Hertford House, Manchester Square, London W1 until 19 Dec. www.wallacecollection.org

Hilary Paynter; wood engravings at the Bankside Gallery, 48 Hopton Street, London SE1 until 3 Oct. 020 7928 7521

The Essence of Wales art exhibition, featuring HRH The Prince of Wales and contemporary artists such as Fred Cuming, Jane Corsellis, David Tress, Ceri Auckland Davies and Gareth Thomas, at Denise yapp Gallery of Contemporary Art, Mill House, Whitebrook, Monmouth until 30 Oct. 01633 410488

Paola Petrobelli: Inside-Out – an installation of glassworks, lights and objects at Wilmotte Gallery at the Lichfield Studios, 133 Oxford Gardens, London W10 until 8 Oct.  

The Pre-Raphaelites and Italy at The Ashmolean, Beaumont street, Oxford until 5 December. www.ashmolean.org

Twentieth Century Works on Paper at Abbott and Holder, 30 Museum Street, London WC1 until 9 Oct. 020 7637 3981

Paintings by John Pawle (1915-2010) at the Portland Gallery, 8 Bennet Street, London SW1 until 8 Oct. www.portlandgallery.com

Recent paintings by V J Keegan at Sladmore Contemporary, 32 Bruton Place, Mayfair, London W1 until 8 Oct. www.sladmore.com

Flower paintings and still lifes by Harry More Gordon at Francis Kyle Gallery, 9 Maddox Street, London W1 until 21 Oct. www.franciskylegallery.com

Seascapes by Rosanne Barr, Hugh Sean O’Rourke, Peter Burgess, Jane Lion, Katty McMurray, George Muir, Elaine Fine, Judy Hempstead, Amanda Hoskin, Tina Morgan and Nicola Wakeling at Red Rag Modern Art Gallery, Brock Street, Bath until 3 oct. www.bathartgallery.co.uk

Exhibitions of paintings and drawings by a major Italian rediscovery, the 20th century artist Pordenone Montanari, at the Italian Institute, Belgrave Square, London until 6 Oct. 020 7235 1461

Exhibition of paintings by William Neill and photographs by Steve Duffield from the Outer Hebrides at the Apothecary Gallery, 33 Greyhound Road, London W6 until 29 Oct. www.londonapothecary.co.uk

Sold Out: American Pop Art from the 1970s to the 1980s – Andy Warhol, Robert Rauschenberg, Tom Wesselmann, Keith Haring, Robert Longo and Frank Stella at Olyvia Fine Art, 17 Ryder Street, London SW1 until 20 Nov.

Emily Patrick – Three Years’ Painting at Gallery, 32 Dover Street, London W1 until 2 Oct. www.emilypatrick.com

Inspirational Objects: Nature as Designer at Thelma Hulbert Gallery, Elmfield House, Dowell Street, Honiton, Devon until 6 Nov. www.thelmahulbert.com

Against Mussoline – Art and the Fall of a Dictator at Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art, 39a Canonbury Square, London N1 until 19 Dec. 020 7704 9522

The Land Between Us: place, power and dislocation – an exhibition exploring today’s notions of landscape and identity by juxtaposing historic and contemporary works of art, at the Whitworth Art Gallery, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester until23 Jan 2011. www.whitworth.manchester.ac.uk

Gods & Monsters: John Deakin’s Portraits of British Artists. The exhibition pairs iconic portraits of British artists by the Vogue photographer John Deakin with major paintings by each artist. Artists and subjects include Michael Andrews, Francis Bacon, John Craxton, Lucian Freud, John Minton, and Eduardo Paolozzi. From 1st October 2010 – Spring 2011. At Pallant House Gallery, 9 North Pallant, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 1TJ. 01243 774557.
 
Contemporary Eye: Crossovers. A series of interventions in the 18th century house by contemporary artists exploring traditional craft techniques such as ceramics, textiles, wood carving, glass and taxidermy. Arists include Tracey Emin, Laura Ford, Kara Walker, and Grayson Perry. From 1st October 2010 – Spring 2011. At Pallant House Gallery, 9 North Pallant, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 1TJ. 01243 774557.

The Gallant Apparel – Italian Art and the Modern at Robilant + Voena, 38 Dover Street, London W1 until 27 Oct. www.robilantvoena.com

The Jolomo Scottish Landscape Painting Awards Finalists 2009 – “One Year On” presented by Caledoniart at Royal Opera Arcade Gallery, 5 Royal Opera Arcade, Pall Mall, London SW1 from 27 Sep to 2 Oct. 07718 516954

Kitagawa Utamaro – woodcuts by the Japanese master (born 1753) selected by Timothy Clark, curator of Japanese objects at the British Museum, and artist Julian Opie. At Icon Gallery, Birmingham until 14 Nov.

In Conversation – an exhibition of works in print by Ivor Abrahams, Derek Boshier, Eileen Cooper, Tracey Emin, June Redfern, Danny Rolph and Bob and Roberta Smith, at Huguenot Editions, 8 Huguenot Place, Wandsworth, London SW18 from 29 Sep to 31 Oct. 020 8874 9138

The Thorn Tree Cycle – 8 paintings by John Caple based on the many traditions relating to the legenary visit of Joseph of Arithemea to the Mendips and Glastonbury. Preview at John Martin Gallery, 38 Albemarle Street, London W1 28 Sep-2 Oct, where all 8 paintings will be reserved for sale as a single group. Individual paintings will then be available for purchase at the preview of Art London, Royal Hospital Chelsea, along with a further group of 10 related paintings by the artist, until 11 Oct. 020 7499 1314

Under The Summer – exhibition of work created over past two years by Newlyn-based painter Richard Cook, at the Exchange, Penzance from 2 Oct to 31 Dec. www.newlynartgallery.co.uk

Anish Kapoor: Turning the World Upside Down in Kensington Gardens – free major exhibition of large scale outdoor sculptures by Anish Kapoor, at Kensington Gardens, London from 28 Sep to 13 Mar. www.serpentinegallery.org

Merlyn Evans (1910-1973) – works from the artist’s estate exhibited to celebrate the publication of a new monograph by Mel Gooding, at Jonathan Clark & Co, 18 Part Walk, Chelsea, London SW10, from 1-9 Oct. 020 7351 3555

Jerwood Contemporary Makers 2010, at Dovecot, 10 Infirmary Street, Edinburgh EH1 until 30 Oct. www.dovecotstudios.com

Robert Mapplethorpe – photography with sculpture, about 60 images from the Artist Rooms collection (a new national art collection donated by Anthony d’Offay), seen together with a selection of his sculptural works never before seen in a UK public gallery, on show at Towner, Devonshire park, College Road, Eastbourne as part of the Artist Rooms on tour with The Art Fund. Until 21 Nov. www.townereastbourne.org.uk/

Surreal Friends: Leonora Carrington, Remedios Varo and Kati Horna at Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, Norwich until 12 Dec. 01603 593199

Mali Morris RA – paintings on canvas and paper 2000-2010 from the recently elected Royal Academician, at the Sir Hugh Casson Room for Friends, Royal Academy of Arts, Picaddilly, London until 1 Dec. www.royalacademy.org.uk

Coda – a selection of new paintings by Geoff Uglow made in response to the constantly shifting Scottish shoreline during a year long exploration of the coast, tracing the path of 19th century artist William Daniell. At Connaught Brown, 2 Albemarle Street, London W1 until 30 Oct. 020 7408 0362

Recent work by Vanessa Bowman and Ian Weatherhead at the Jerram Gallery, Half Moon Street, Sherborne, Dorset from 1-16 Oct. www.jerramgallery.com

The Art of Faith – 3,500 Years of Art & Belief in Norfolk at Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery, Norwich from 2 Oct to 23 Jan.  

Goldsmiths’ Fair ’10 – jewellery and silver for sale directly from the UK’s leading designer-makers, at Goldsmiths’ Hall, Foster Lane, London EC2 from 27 Sep to 10 Oct. www.thegoldsmiths.co.uk

Working the Land – paintings by Suffolk artist Harry Becker (1865-1928), the second of two shows exploring the East Anglian rural tradition at Gainsborough’s House, 46 Gainsborough Street, Sudbury, Suffolk from 2 Oct to 18 Dec. 01787 372958

 
CLOSING SOON
The Glasgow Boys 1880-1900 at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Argyle Street, Glasgow until 27 Sep. 0141 276 9599
 
Abstract & Nature; an exhibition of contemporary sculpture in the West Garden at Hatfield House, Hatfield, Herts until 30 Sep. www.hatfield-house.co.uk
 
Tatton Park Biennial 2010: Framing Identity, with works by over 20 contemporary artists and writers at Tatton Park, Cheshire until 26 Sep; www.tattonparkbiennial.org
 
Exposed- Voyeurism, Surveillance & the Camera. From May 28th – October 3rd. Tate Modern, Level 4, Bankside, London. Tel; 02078874939/8730
 
Exhibition of the Collections of Sir Osbert Sitwell, including works by Picasso, Wyndham-Lewis, Severini and Rex Whistler; manuscripts by Wilfred Owen and Dylan Thomas, at Renishaw Hall, Nr Sheffield, Derbyshire until 26 Sep, Thurs to Sundays and Bank Holidays. www.renishaw-hall.co.uk. See review in Country Life on July 28th.  
 
 In Camera – Snowdon and the World of British Art at The Lightbox, Chobham Road, Woking, Surrey from 20 Jul to 26 Sep. 01483 737800
 
St Ives and the International Avant-garde at Tate St Ives until 26 Sep. www.tate.org.uk/stives
 
The Goodwood House Party – the story of house parties at Goodwood told through old photographs, guests’ books, costumes and royal gifts. Visitors can take tea in the ballroom where the king once dined. At Goodwood, West Sussex until 27 Sep. www.goodwood.com
 
Anthony Gross RA: Paintings and Prints from the 1950s. The focus of this show will be the artist’s prolific years in France after WWII. At The Redfern Gallery, 20 Cork Street, London. 8th -30th Sept. 02077341732.
 
Melanie Miller: Moth Boy and Bees. The artist’s work reinterprets the idea of looking at the overlooked from a tradition of still life. The objects, lost, found and discarded, are real, resonant, they are part of intimate narratives, removed from their original contexts, and they are reborn with new and ambiguous meaning. At Long & Ryle, 4 John Islip Street, London. 9th – 29th Sept. 02078341434.
 
 Sally Soames’ Photographs from the 27th August until the 1st October at the University Gallery, Northumbria University, Sandyford Road, Newcastle upon Tyne. www.northumbria.ac.uk/universitygallery Tel: 0191 227 4424
 
Marcelle Hanselaar ‘Sticks and Stones’ at the University Gallery, Northumbria University, Sandyford Road, Newcastle upon Tyne from the 27th August until the 1st October. www.northumbria.ac.uk/universitygallery Tel: 0191 227 4424
 
Exposed: Voyeurism, Surveillance and the Camera at Tate Modern, Southbank, London until 3 October. 020 7887 8888
 
Christen Kobke: Danish Master of Light, at the National Galleries of Scotland, the Mound, Edinburgh from 4 Jul to 3 Oct.  
 
Joan Mitchell – exhibition of the abstract painter at Inverleith House, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Arboretum Place/Inverleith Row, Edinburgh EH3 5LR until 3 Oct. 0131 248 2971
 
The Queen’s Year – a special exhibition at the Summer Opening of the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace, London, from 27 Jul to 1 Oct. www.royalcollection.org.uk
 
Aspects of Scottish Art 1860-1910 at the Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery, Glasgow until 2 Oct. www.hunterian.gla.ac.uk
 
Exquisite Trove – a travelling collection of mysterious objects from more than 100 artists, merged with extraordinary artefacts on loan from West Cornwall museums, organised by the House of Fairy Tales and Newlyn Art Gallery. At Newlyn Art Gallery, New road, Newlyn until 2 Oct. www.houseoffairytales.org
 
Kurt Jackson – The Dart. Childhood memories of rural idyll mixed with a schoolboy’s excited view of war are at the heart of a new exhibition by the renowned West Cornwall-based artist. At Lemon Street Gallery, Truro, Cornwall. 4th Sept – 2nd Oct. 01872275757.
 
Paul Winstanley: Everybody Thinks This Is Nowhere. The exhibition includes new monoprints, watercolours, paintings and a series of etchings he published with the gallery in 2008. At The Alan Cristea Gallery, 31 & 34 Cork Street, London. 10th Sept – 6th Oct. 02074391866.
 
Katy Spong: The Unexpected Moment. The artist’s paintings and prints are focused on the moments that nature provides in and around the environment of Cuil Bay on the west coast of Scotland. At Castle Gallery, 43 Castle Street, Inverness. 11th Sept – 2nd Oct. www.castlegallery.co.uk. 01463729512.
 
Jacob Sutton: Farm Life. The exhibition features a series of farm scenes from around six farms where Jacob Sutton has been painting for the last three years. At The Dollar Street Gallery, 34-36 Dollar Street, Cirencester. 7th Sept – 2nd Oct. www.thedollarstreetgallery.com. 01285651072.
 
Claudia Carr: Under The Branch Of An Echo. Carr’s paintings attempt to capture imaginary spaces in empty time, the singularity and universality of instants dissolving, flowing, and coming into being. At the Whitfield Fine Art Gallery, 23 Dering Street, London. 6th Sept – 1st Oct. www.whitfieldfineart.com. 02073550040.
 
Catrin Howard and Matthew Blakely: New Work. Ceramics. At The Scottish Gallery, 16 Dundas Street, Edinburgh. 8th Sept – 2nd Oct. www.scottish-gallery.co.uk. 01315581200
 
William Crozier: New Paintings. At The Scottish Gallery, 16 Dundas Street, Edinburgh. 8th Sept – 2nd Oct. www.scottish-gallery.co.uk. 01315581200
 
Emiko Suo. Contemporary Jewellery Exhibition. At The Scottish Gallery, 16 Dundas Street, Edinburgh. 8th Sept – 2nd Oct. www.scottish-gallery.co.uk. 01315581200
 
Peter Baldwin: Recent Paintings. At Duncan Campbell Fine Art, 15 Thackeray Street, Kensington Square, London. 8th Sept – 1st Oct. 02079378665

Ten Years On: A celebration of the gallery’s first decade. At Painter and Hall, 9 Shepherd Market, Mayfair, London W1J 7PF. 14th Sept – 1st Oct. www.painterandhall.com. 02073399999.

Derek Bradbury and Alan Joyce. The exhibition features work from both artists. Bradbury’s work is inspired by the effects of light, colour and the pattern of the landscape. Joyce’s paintings feature a variety of subject matter including coastal and sea scenes, landscape and urban scapes. At Wendy J Levy Contemporary Art Ltd, 17 Warburton Street, Didsbury, Manchester. 10th Sept – 1st Oct. www.wendyjlevy-art.com. 01614464880.

Matisse Comes To Rutland! One of the greatest artists of the 20th century is to exhibit his lithographs in Rutland. This unique show also brings the opportunity for viewers to buy the lithographs at affordable prices. At Goldmark Gallery, Uppingham, Rutland. 4th Sept – 4th Oct. www.goldmarkart.com. 01572821424.

Still Life Exhibition. Diverse and distinctive, the exhibition displays the work of seven distinguished contemporary British artists. At Red Rag Stow Gallery, 5-7 Church Street, Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire and Red Rag Modern Art Gallery, Brock Street, Bath. 12th Sept – 3rd Oct. www.redraggallery.co.uk. 01451832563.

Hilary Paynter; wood engravings at the Bankside Gallery, 48 Hopton Street, London SE1 until 3 Oct. 020 7928 7521

Seascapes by Rosanne Barr, Hugh Sean O’Rourke, Peter Burgess, Jane Lion, Katty McMurray, George Muir, Elaine Fine, Judy Hempstead, Amanda Hoskin, Tina Morgan and Nicola Wakeling at Red Rag Modern Art Gallery, Brock Street, Bath until 3 oct. www.bathartgallery.co.uk
 
Exhibitions of paintings and drawings by a major Italian rediscovery, the 20th century artist Pordenone Montanari, at the Italian Institute, Belgrave Square, London until 6 Oct. 020 7235 1461

Emily Patrick – Three Years’ Painting at Gallery, 32 Dover Street, London W1 until 2 Oct. www.emilypatrick.com