February 2025 brings a diverse lineup of must-see exhibitions across the globe. From the Sharjah Biennial 16 to a retrospective on Christina Ramberg in Philadelphia, there is something for everyone. The Sharjah Biennial 16 explores themes of precarity, migration, inheritance, and survival through the work of over 190 artists.
Luke Willis Thompson’s new film, set in 2040, features Māori newscaster Oriini Kaipara delivering a monologue advocating for plurinationalism and the ethics of restoration. Christina Ramberg’s retrospective at the Philadelphia Museum of Art showcases her detailed exploration of female self-presentation. Her paintings, quilts, installations, and sketchbooks highlight the hidden elements of female self-presentation, using cropped and dismembered fragments to emphasize the selective nature of cosmetic trappings.
The fourth Hawai’i Triennial considers ‘aloha’ as an ethos that could inspire ecological remediation and solidarity among people. It features contributions from 49 artists and collectives across O’ahu, Hawai’i Island, and Maui, including Honolulu-based interdisciplinary artist Nanci Amaka and photographer Lieko Shiga.
February’s diverse global art exhibitions
Mumbai-based artist Shilpa Gupta’s work at Bikaner House, Centre for Contemporary Arts, New Delhi, centers around speech and its limitations. Her installation, “For, In Your Tongue, I Cannot Fit,” features 100 microphones playing words by poets who have faced political persecution. The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam presents over 200 works showcasing America through the eyes of its photographers.
Highlights include Ming Smith’s street and social portraiture, Hy Hirsch’s abstract 1950s C-prints, Irene Poon’s portraits of the Asian American community, and Bryan Schutmaat’s documentation of Nevada’s declining industrial landscape. Brazilian artist Paulo Nazareth’s exhibition at WIELS in Brussels includes sculptures and paintings that explore themes of identity and labor. In 2011, Nazareth walked from Minas Gerais through South America, Central America, and Cuba to the United States, documenting his journey with photographs and objects he collected.
These exhibitions offer viewers an opportunity to engage with contemporary art in meaningful ways this February. They showcase diverse artistic voices and perspectives from around the world.