One of the UK's most astute photographers of working-class life reveals the northern subculture of ferreting, grouse-shooting, whippet-racing and pigeon-fancying to be something deeper than a series of flat-cap cliches. Be enlightened at Galleries Inc UK from Tuesday to 24 February Photograph: Chris Steele-Perkins/Magnum
An early-career retrospective from this mischievous prankster dedicated to unpicking concepts of trust and morality through a serious of artistic experiments – such as Impersonating a Part-Time Police Community Support Officer (2007, above). Be on your guard at Plymouth Arts Centre until 27 February Photograph: Kevin Sykes
Retrospective ranging through both sides of this difficult-to-define artist's work. Once an experimental and performance artist, Orozco now focuses on collector-friendly painting and hugely impressive sculpture. Be cosmopolitan at Tate Modern, SE1, from Wednesday to 25 April Photograph: PR
This compendium show, which features 17 minutes of Vito Acconci's unsuccessful attempts to force open the eyes of his subject in Pryings (1971, above), is all about visual taboo and the seductive power of the forbidden. In You Are a Very Naughty Boy! Katherine Nolan dares you to ogle her slinky high-heel poses while reprimanding you for doing so. Be watchful at Golden Thread Gallery by 29 January Photograph: PR
Removed and Destroyed Without Warning is a 12m-high model of a grounded submarine meticulously crafted from wooden slats, canvas, metallic wax and some 2,000 hand-tinted paper panels. It evokes the madcap childhood fascinations many of us never fully outgrow. Be dwarfed at the Bluecoat until 13 Feb Photograph: PR
To some he's a prankster cracking poker-faced one-liners; to others Martin Creed's cross-examination of art-making is inspired, delightful and provocative in equal measures. A monumental sculpture is billed as the centrepiece of this latest show, surrounded by a full range of Creed's ideas-rich output, including a new single from his band. Be divided at Hauser & Wirth, Savile Row, W1, from Friday until 5 March Photograph: Andrew Smart/Martin Creed/Hauser & Wirth
If photographer Robert Mapplethorpe were alive today he'd probably be a Scissor Sisters fan. The New York art band's kitsch, gender-bending disco-pop, waxing lyrical on the gay scene's darker side, chimes perfectly with his mix of witty camp and eroticism – so much so that they recently used the pictured 1980 shot of Peter Reed's behind on an album cover. Be scandalised at Alison Jacques Gallery, W1, from Wed to 19 February Photograph: The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation/Alison Jacques Gallery
Imaginatively curated by the one-man collaborative artist duo Bob and Roberta Smith – who contributes Eppy Daddy Battle Bot (2010, above) – this timely exhibition unashamedly tackles a whole range of emotive subjects and includes everything from a Van Gogh portrait to a Louise Bourgeois Cell assemblage. Be moved at the New Art Gallery from Friday until 20 March Photograph: PR
