September 2022's must-sees

The painter Milton Avery (1885-1965) has sometimes been called the American Matisse, but his colourful, life-affirming work is surprisingly little known in the UK, so this celebratory retrospective at the Royal Academy looks set to introduce him to a new generation. Avery was the Abstract Expressionists' favourite non-abstract painter, influencing Mark Rothko and Barnett Newman, but he ploughed his own furrow throughout his long career, producing striking, harmoniously balanced pictures that still look fresh today.
Until 16 October.

Precious, expensive and untarnished by time, gold has been used for important books and manuscripts for centuries, and a fascinating exhibition at the British Library brings together 50 of the most spectacular examples from its collections. From Bhuddist prayers to Medieval manuscripts, Mughal decrees to a letter from King James II to the Ottoman Grand Vizier, these superb examples of bibliographic art still shimmer and gleam almost as brightly today as when they were first made.
Until 2 October.

Tucked behind the glittering boutiques of Mount Street is one of London's most beautiful buildings, set within an enchanting little park. Farm Street Church was opened by the Jesuits in 1849, and it's still a centre of Catholic worship - as well as having some of the most splendid interiors of any church in London. It sits within pretty Mount Street Gardens, which like the church itself offer a quiet place to escape the hustle and bustle of Mayfair's streets outside.

One of the greatest tragedies ever written, Sophocles' Antigone gets a blistering new retelling by Nigerian poet-playwright Inua Ellams, author of the acclaimed Barber Shop Chronicles. Set in the aftermath of a bloody civil war, it follows the consequences of one man's dedication to the rule of law, which ends up tearing his family apart. The sylvan surroundings of the Open Air Theatre in Regent's Park stand in for the ancient Greek city-state of Thebes, from 3 to 24 September.