Art Exhibitions in Liverpool
Your guide to the latest art exhibitions in Liverpool, featuring major galleries, independent spaces, and must-see shows across the city.
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Turner Prize returns to Tate Liverpool
Tate Liverpool has announced that it will host the Turner Prize in 2022, marking a return to the city for one of the world’s best-known art prizes for the first time in 15 years. Over the summer of 2022 the gallery will also stage a major exhibition, Radical Landscapes, which will explore our individual and collective connection to the rural landscapes of Britain. Opening in October 2022, the Turner Prize is Tate’s annual celebration of…
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Emily Speed: Flatland Film Installation Coming to Tate
This autumn, Tate Liverpool will present a new film installation by artist Emily Speed as the inaugural Art North West commission. Flatland uses set design, choreography and costume to depict flattened hierarchies and close-knit community structures. Known for her work examining relationships between people and architecture, Speed’s practice considers how people are shaped by the buildings they have occupied and how they occupy their own psychological space. Flatland follows a community of women for the duration of one…
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Tate Liverpool will present first UK retrospective of Lucy McKenzie
This winter, Tate Liverpool will present the first UK retrospective of Glasgow-born, Brussels-based artist Lucy McKenzie (b. 1977). The exhibition brings together approximately 80 works dating from 1997 to the present, including large scale architectural paintings, illusionistic tromp l’oeil works, as well as fashion and design. McKenzie’s body of work defies easy categorisation but has simultaneously established her among the most singular artistic voices of her generation. Over the past two decades, McKenzie has revealed…
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Heavy Gardening Art Trail to Launch on LightNight
Heavy Gardening is a trail of seven art works, running from the back of FACT on Fleet Street, along the Baltic Corridor to Wapping Dock, produced by internationally renowned artist Andrew Merritt of Something & Son, in partnership with dot-art, Open Eye Gallery and First Take, as part of Liverpool City Council’s Urban GreenUP project which seeks to raise awareness about the future predicted impacts of climate change. Andrew has transformed seven small pieces of…
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River of Light Trail Coming To Liverpool Waterfront This Month
The River of Light Trail, an outdoor illuminated art gallery, is set to take over Liverpool’s world-famous waterfront. For 14 nights, from Tuesday 23 March to Monday 5 April, the city’s residents can experience the River of Light Trail, which will showcase the work of leading local, national and international artists. Partners across Liverpool have come together to stage the spectacle which residents can experience with covid-safe measures in place across the 2km walking loop.…
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Liverpool Biennial 2021 ‘The Outside Chapter’ Preview
Liverpool Biennial 2021 to open first chapter of The Stomach and the Port on 20 March with major series of outdoor sculpture, sonic and digital commissions, alongside the new Biennial Online Portal. Liverpool Biennial The Outside Chapter The 11th edition of Liverpool Biennial will open the first ‘outside’ chapter of The Stomach and the Port on 20 March 2021, starting with a major new series of outdoor sculpture, sonic and digital commissions by 9 different artists, alongside…
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British Music Experience To Host Temporary Exhibition Celebrating Frankie Goes To Hollywood
The Frankie Say 1984! Exhibition will be at the British Music Experience from 29 May 2021 to 9 January 2022. No band has ever dominated a year like Frankie Goes to Hollywood in 1984. Born out of Liverpool’s post-punk scene with a brash, mischievous, ‘do what you want’ attitude – Frankie were a one-off. With their first three singles all going to No.1 – a feat previously only achieved by fellow Liverpudlians, Gerry and the…
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New Brighton’s Oakland Gallery Brings Together Top Names In British Street Art
A brand new contemporary art gallery has opened in Wirral this month. Oakland Gallery exhibits a mix of contemporary art alongside pieces from artists heavily involved in the global street-art scene. Located in the heart of New Brighton’s independent Victoria Quarter, Oakland Gallery is the latest addition to regeneration company Rockpoint Leisure’s portfolio of hospitality and retail concepts within the town. Oakland has partnered with leading creative studio Our Types for the inaugural show which…
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Fabric District Outdoor Art Gallery Launches It’s First Exhibition
The Fabric District outdoor art gallery is another monumental step in revitalising the Islington area of the city. What is believed to be the UK’s first socially-distanced outdoor art gallery to open post-lockdown is launching its first exhibition in The Fabric District. Walk with Me, a new solo exhibition by international artist John Hyatt, is now on display in the area. The free exhibition, open 24 hours a day, features 10ft by 8ft street-based vinyl…
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Liverpool Virtual Museum Tours – Explore World Famous Art From The Comfort of Your Home
Here’s your guide to Liverpool Virtual Museum Tours that you can do from the comfort of your couch, the perfect activity to do during lockdown. National Museums Liverpool On the National Museums Liverpool website you can do virtual tours of the International Slavery Museum, Dinosaurs and the Natural World, World Cultures and more. Visit https://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/virtual-tours#section–explore for information. Walker Art Gallery The Walker Art Gallery is available to do a virtual tour of on Google Arts…
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Join LightNight At Home This Year
LightNight At Home 15 May 2020 LightNight At Home will take place next week in place of the usual annual cultural event which happens around the city. From 5pm on Friday 15 May LightNight invite you to follow #LightNightatHome and join in an online exploration of work by many of the artists and organisations who had so much planned for the festival this year. Fittingly the theme for the festival this year is Home, and it…
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FACT Liverpool Launches Online Programme of Events During Lockdown
FACT Liverpool has announced a free online programme that explores our relationship with the natural world. Over the next few months and beyond, the FACT team will be sharing a series of podcasts, live streams, videos, challenges and activities for you and your loved ones to get involved, enjoy and learn remotely. The Living Planet will look at how we can build a more sustainable, responsible global community. In the midst of a global pandemic,…
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FACT’s Year of The Living Planet Launches With New Exhibition 20 March – 14 June 2020
On 19 March, FACT’s Year of The Living Planet launches with the opening of a major new art exhibition, And Say the Animal Responded? What would animals say to us if we listened to them? What might we learn about the state of our shared planet? At a time when billions of animals are being lost because of human activity, we still place the interests of humans above those of animals. Studies show that animals feel…
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Positive Vibration Announce Second Wave of Acts for 2020 Festival
The award-winning celebration of reggae music and Jamaican culture, Positive Vibration Festival has announced even more acts ahead of the festival’s return to the Baltic Triangle, Liverpool on 12 and 13 June 2020. Since its inception in 2016, Positive Vibration Festival of Reggae has established itself as one of the country’s most exciting and eclectic reggae festivals, playing host to internationally renowned bands, legendary sound systems + selectors and some of the brightest new talent.…
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LightNight To Return On 15 May With ‘Home’ Theme
LightNight will return on Friday 15 May, once again keeping the doors to the city’s unique venues, museums and galleries open late to celebrate the arts and culture scene in Liverpool. LightNight is Liverpool’s one-night arts festival giving visitors the chance to see the city in a new light. The event presents new and ambitious artistic commissions amidst a vibrant programme of more than 100 events happening across the city. There’s everything from large-scale light…
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Live Music Photography Exhibition Coming To British Music Experience
The British Music Experience will present Capturing Live Music Through Photography, a solo exhibition by photographer Realm of Pixels/Charlotte Wellings. The exhibition will run from Friday 6 March – Sunday 3 May 2020. The exhibition features a striking series of photographs captured by Charlotte, featuring some of the world’s most iconic musicians – from high-calibre international artists Cher, KISS, Grace Jones and Lizzo to renowned UK acts Iron Maiden, The Charlatans, James Bay and many…
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‘Open Air Gallery’ Guide Launched To Showcase New Brighton Street Art
New Brighton Street Art is leading the way in the regeneration project of the area. Over the past twelve months, New Brighton has seen a number of large-scale murals appear on commercial and private premises within the town’s Victoria Quarter. Commissioned and funded by local regeneration company Rockpoint Leisure, there are now more than fifteen artworks, designed and painted by both local and International street artists. A new map to the artworks is now available…
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I See The Sea Street Art Unveiled In New Brighton As Part of Continued Regeneration
One of the most successful letterform artists, Ben Eine has just completed his latest work in the Victoria Quarter, New Brighton’s emerging independent district. Painted on the end gable of a privately-owned house, the piece which is entitled ’I SEE THE SEA’ is a bright and joyous work, and echoes the delight of a child first spotting the seaside. The work has been commissioned by Wirral-based regeneration company Rockpoint Leisure as part of their ongoing…
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dot-art Opens Liverpool’s Only Public Darkroom
dot-art has announced the launch of their new, public darkroom in Liverpool city centre’s Cotton Exchange. Building on the continued success of their creative courses and art workshops, the darkroom will offer classes for beginners and the option to hire the space for more experienced photographers. This Autumn will also see the launch of a range of new courses to add to their popular regular sessions, including Introduction to Cartooning, Portrait Painting and Sketching in…
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Discover Liverpool’s Most Instagrammed Street Artists & Murals
Liverpool street art is amongst some of the most talked about in the country, so what’s the most popular in the UK and which one’s feature in Liverpool’s top ten? New research by Transpennine Express has found Liverpool to be amongst the northern cities most documented for street art with over 9,000 Instagram posts relating to date. This Liverpool in fourth place behind Manchester, Sheffield and Glasgow for the most talked about street art. We…
Art exhibitions in Liverpool form a central part of the city’s thriving creative landscape, reflecting both its rich cultural history and its forward-looking artistic energy. Liverpool has long been recognised as a city of creativity and innovation, and its galleries, museums, and independent art spaces provide countless opportunities to experience work from local, national, and international artists. Whether you’re passionate about contemporary art, intrigued by historical collections, or looking to discover emerging talent, Liverpool’s art exhibitions offer something for everyone.
The city is home to some of the UK’s most renowned galleries. Tate Liverpool, located at the Royal Albert Dock, is one of the country’s leading contemporary art galleries, hosting major touring exhibitions and showcasing works from the Tate Collection. The Walker Art Gallery, often referred to as the “National Gallery of the North,” offers an impressive collection of Renaissance masterpieces, Victorian classics, and modern works, alongside regular temporary exhibitions that shine a spotlight on diverse artistic practices.
For those seeking a more contemporary and experimental edge, Bluecoat — Liverpool’s oldest contemporary arts centre — presents thought-provoking exhibitions alongside a vibrant programme of performance, literature, and community-focused projects. FACT (Foundation for Art and Creative Technology) is another must-visit, dedicated to exploring the intersection of art, film, and digital culture. Its exhibitions often push boundaries and highlight the ways technology and society influence creativity.
Beyond the larger institutions, Liverpool boasts a thriving independent arts scene. Galleries such as Open Eye Gallery, dedicated to photography and visual culture, and OUTPUT Gallery, which showcases work by artists from or based in Merseyside, provide vital platforms for fresh perspectives. Rathbone Studio and dot-art Gallery also play an important role in championing local talent and offering audiences the chance to engage directly with artists’ work.
Art exhibitions in Liverpool aren’t confined to traditional gallery spaces. The city’s creative energy spills into its streets and public spaces through murals, installations, and site-specific projects. Biennial festivals such as Liverpool Biennial, the UK’s largest festival of contemporary visual art, transform the city into an open gallery, bringing international attention and creating opportunities for residents and visitors to engage with art in unexpected ways.
Whether you’re planning a gallery day out, looking for inspiration from leading names in the art world, or wanting to support grassroots initiatives, Liverpool has an exhibition for you. From family-friendly shows to conceptual installations, the city’s art scene is inclusive, diverse, and ever-changing. Our coverage of art exhibitions in Liverpool brings together reviews, previews, and features to help you discover what’s on now and what’s coming up next.
If you’re passionate about visual arts or simply curious about new experiences, Liverpool is the perfect place to explore. The city’s exhibitions not only showcase incredible artistic talent but also reflect its character — open, experimental, and deeply connected to its community.