I’ve just come through a move, and while my back is still sore from hauling boxes, my spirit is lifted by one of the things I love most: planning my next art fix. With the summer calendar opening up and museums launching major exhibitions, now is the perfect time to ask:

Have you considered planning your summer around art?

Not in a box-checking, museum-march kind of way—but as a practice in inspiration. There’s something sacred about seeing work in person after living mostly in pixels. After weeks of staring at cardboard boxes and wrapping paper – because there’s no way I’m letting a mover break my crystal! – it is time to get lost in front of a few masterpieces. And oh, do I have the perfect summer art story for you. In a previous job I had the opportunity to travel a great deal and whenever I could I would try and go a day or so early or stay a day later to take advantage of being out in the world. It just so happened that I somehow found myself in London in back-to-back years, right on time for the Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy. This exhibition has been held every year without interruption since 1769! Please let that sink in for a moment. Do you know how much has happened in the world since 1769 — and this show has still been held? Wars, revolutions, aliens… well, maybe not aliens, but we haven’t gotten through 2025 yet.

The Royal Academy is such a special place. I took an art business management course in London and, as part of the curriculum, we had a behind the scenes tour of the Royal Academy. One can feel the history in its walls. So, when you attend the Summer Exhibition — which is a treasure trove of contemporary art, all of which is for sale — you’re basically a part of history. I went three years in a row but then Covid happened and more life happened and my international travel schedule was derailed. Every time I would happily buy the catalogues and walk through the exhibition knowing that this is one of the truly memorable art world events that is open to everyone and not reserved for the privilege few. As a matter of fact, any artist can submit their work for exhibition. The exhibition’s Co-Ordinator, Farshid Moussavi RA said “The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2025 will be dedicated to art’s capacity to forge dialogues and to afford us sensitivity towards societal concerns, such as ecology, survival and living together.” The 2025 dates are Tuesday June 17^th through Sunday August 17^th.  I can’t wait to attend this summer. I’ll pair it with shopping in Mayfair! Or maybe I’ll have high tea with my dear London-based friend — as one does. Who am I kidding, I’m doing it all!

Have you considered?

Takashi Murakami (b. 1962)

Takashi Murakami is a globally recognized Japanese contemporary artist whose visually exuberant works straddle the worlds of fine art, fashion, pop culture, and historical tradition. While many are familiar with his high-profile fashion collaborations, Murakami’s artistic practice is deeply grounded in rigorous historical study, especially the legacy of traditional Japanese painting, Buddhist iconography, and the visual language of postwar Japan¹.

At the heart of Murakami’s aesthetic is his concept of Superflat, a theory and style that draws from both the flattened perspective of traditional Japanese art and the two-dimensional pop sensibility of anime and manga². His work often juxtaposes innocence and horror, sacred and profane, commerce and creation—challenging the boundaries of what contemporary art can be³.

Why You Should Consider

Murakami offers a rare and compelling opportunity for collectors at multiple levels. His original paintings and sculptures command six- and seven-figure prices at auction, while his limited-edition prints, merchandise, and collaborative objects remain relatively accessible⁴. From museum-grade canvases to collectible vinyl figures and silkscreen prints, there is a Murakami for nearly every collector’s budget. His work is deeply researched, conceptually rich, and emotionally resonant—making it more than just visually delightful, but also intellectually and spiritually engaging².

With major museum exhibitions like the current retrospective at the Cleveland Museum of Art, Murakami's enduring cultural and institutional relevance continues to grow¹. For collectors looking to anchor their collection with a globally influential contemporary artist—whose reach spans East and West, high art and streetwear—Murakami’s work remains a vibrant, multidimensional investment in both meaning and market.

Citations

1. Takashi Murakami – Cleveland Museum of Art

2. Artspace, “Superflat and Beyond: The Art of Takashi Murakami”

3. Gagosian Gallery – Takashi Murakami

4. Artsy – Takashi Murakami

Spotlight: Takashi Murakami: The 500 Arhats

Cleveland Museum of Art
On view through August 2025

A U.S. debut of epic scale, Murakami’s 100-meter-long painting The 500 Arhats is a kaleidoscopic gesture of healing and homage, created in response to the 2011 earthquake in Japan. Think Buddhist iconography meets neon manga—with the spiritual urgency of a fresco and the pop culture sensibility of Warhol’s heir.

If you’ve only seen Murakami’s work on a tote bag or sneaker collab, this is your invitation to see the real thing—at scale, in silence, and in person.

 View the exhibition

Do Consider: Summer Shows Worth Traveling For

If you're looking to center your summer travels around art, here are three standout exhibitions in cities where you can curate an affordable and enriching itinerary:

Jeffrey Gibson: The Space in Which to Place Me
The Broad, Los Angeles | May 10 – September 28, 2025
Experience a kaleidoscopic exhibition filled with vibrant colors, intricate beadwork, and powerful storytelling. Gibson's work reflects his radical vision for a future in which all people are seen, accepted, and loved.

Superfine: Tailoring Black Style
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York | May 10 – October 26, 2025
Explore over three centuries of Black style through the lens of dandyism. This exhibition presents garments, paintings, photographs, and more, interpreting dandyism as both an aesthetic and a strategy that allowed for new social and political possibilities.

Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2025
Royal Academy of Arts, London | June 17 – August 17, 2025
The world's largest open submission contemporary art show returns with the theme "Dialogues.” Curated by Farshid Moussavi RA, this exhibition integrates architecture with artworks throughout the show.

Each of these exhibitions is located in a city where you can plan an affordable travel itinerary, making it easier to immerse yourself in world-class art without breaking the bank. And even if you can't attend in person, visiting exhibition pages online is an art education in itself. You’ll discover artists, curators, and themes to follow.

What shows are you planning to see this summer? I always want to know what moved you.

Until next time,
Nicholas

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