The 15 best art shows of 2015

We willingly scratched our heads and had a ‘what’s it all about?’ moment, pondering the immensity of the universe and other big subjects in this hallucinatory installation at the Vinyl Factory Space at Brewer Street Car Park in April – even if it left us blissfully in the dark.

This show of luminous small works at the Estorick Collection in April confirmed the boho’s ‘genius’ tag.

Not many pointy hats, but this ace show of drawings at the Courtauld Gallery in April was packed with monstrous humanity.

Any show titled after Abba’s majestic final album is okay with us – and thankfully this Icelandic artist’s multiscreen installation at the Vinyl Factory Space at Brewer Street Car Park in November was a fittingly emotional ode to love and loss.

The Chinese megastar’s first major UK survey – at the Royal Academy of Arts, September to December – was epic and serious – and rather samey. But even its repetitiveness started to feel purposeful and critical – evidence of an unyielding spirit in the face of an unrelenting regime.

This show about how Monet, Renoir and co (at the National Gallery, March to May) became the biggest deals in art wasn't just about the money. Its masterpiece quota was spectacularly high.

This long overdue survey at the Serpentine Galleries (March to May) showed the late American painter at his irate best.

Mad cows, a missile, David Beckham asleep, Gilbert & George getting pissed… this was one nation under a roof (at the Hayward Gallery February to April) and it was a brilliantly disconcerting experience.

This retrospective of paintings, textiles and designs by the visionary modernist (at Tate Modern, April to August) was a real dazzler.

Who said Monet, Renoir and co had the whole ‘sunshine on canvas’ thing sewn up? We couldn't get enough of the warm Californian breeze of this undersung American’s paintings at the Royal Academy of Arts (March to June).

A quiet man of British modernism, Eric Ravilious may have looked like a participant of the Tweed Run, but he was also a radiant watercolourist and brilliant war artist. At Dulwich Picture Gallery (April to August).