Cézanne Portraits, The National Portrait Gallery, 26th October 2017 to 11th February 2018

A pivotal figure in the history of western art, Cézanne is best known for still-lifes and landscapes. But throughout his life, Cézanne also painted portraits of those closest to him – his wife, family, friends and himself. These portraits though divide opinion. For some, Cézanne captures the physical presence of his sitters. But for others, these portraits are not likenesses, but studies drained of life by obsessional deconstruction. This exhibition successfully provides the opportunity to enjoy these works but fails to offer any new insights into Cézanne’s paradoxical portraits.

Basquiat: Boom for Real, Barbican Art Gallery, 21st September 2017 to 28th January 2018

A perfect example of the phrase ‘be careful what you wish for’, Basquiat’s meteoric rise and equally rapid decline is well captured by this compendious and busy exhibition. But at the same time, the show raises so many questions. Was Basquiat a great artist? How do you judge great art anyway? And what’s the point of a contemporary art exhibition? Basquiat: Boom for Real certainly answers these questions on its own terms but where does this leave contemporary art and curating?