BARBARA RYAN

Don't want to write a boring retrospective of the year. That's because I'm so excited for stuff that's going down in 2012! From the looks of it is gonna be a sick year for exhibitions in London. And that's just from the major galleries ...

1. David Shrigley: Brain Activity @ Hayward Gallery (010212 to 130512)
I think Shrigley is a great fine artist because his work is accessible, none of this fuddy-duddy nonsense. His observations are brilliant and so honest in my opinion. This major exhibition will be epic showing his cartoons,photography and hopefully his fantastic sculpture work. Keeping it real.

2. David Hockney: A Bigger Picture @ Royal Academy of Arts (210112 to 090412)
Hockney is fantastic. 'A Bigger Splash' is my favourite painting ever, it's the kind of painting that makes you wish that you were there. This show will display landscapes he has done over the last fifty years, his iPad drawings as well as some films he has made, which sounds exciting. Can.not.wait.

3. Gillian Wearing @ Whitechapel Gallery (280312 to 170612)
Wearing's work first came to my attention after seeing her photograph G.M.Jagger for POP. She is a bit of a genius and I can't wait to see this show to learn more about her.

4. British Design: 1948 to 2012 @ The V&A (310312 to 120812)
The long awaited furniture gallery will open in 2012 at the Victoria and Albert Museum which is crazily exciting and what better way to celebrate than with this show. White City, 1948 was the last time London held the Olympics and this show will examine post-war British design. Bet there is going to be lots of exciting things to look, bet this show is going to be a revisit or!

5. Christian Louboutin @ The Design Museum (280312 to 010712)
Red soles ... You know the deal. This retrospective at the Design Museum seems really exciting and not just necessarily one for stiletto lovers. The exhibition will give insight to the production and design stages of these works of art.

... As well as Pick Me Up @ Somerset House in the Spring and, Lucian Freud @ The National Gallery and Yoko Ono @ The Serpentine Gallery too. Looks like a great year for art from here!