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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23ft Replica Earth Installation ‘Gaia’ Coming To Liverpool Cathedral
Following the spectacular Museum of the Moon exhibition last year, Liverpool Cathedral will welcome ‘Gaia’ – a 23ft replica of Earth with detailed NASA imagery from 25 May to 23 June. The installation, by renowned British artist Luke Jerram, will be complemented with a sound composition created by BAFTA and Ivor Novello award-winning composer Dan Jones. The artwork forms part of the ‘Changing Tides’ creative programme, which also incorporates the free River Festival (1 &…
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LightNight 2019 Guide
LightNight returns for its 10th year on 17 May with over 100 free events happening across 50 venues in the city. LightNight is a free, diverse, late-night cultural programme which celebrates different art forms in one spectacular night of entertainment and this year the theme is ‘Ritual’. “For LightNight 2019, we will consider ritual as a universal phenomenon, spanning the breadth of human history, and also as an artistic process by which we shift our…
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Leonardo da Vinci: A Life In Drawing At The Walker Art Gallery
Leonardo da Vinci: A Life In Drawing is coming to Liverpool this Spring. The Walker Art Gallery will host an exhibition of 12 Leonardo da Vinci drawings to mark the 500th anniversary of the Renaissance master’s death, exploring the diversity of subjects that inspired his creativity, including painting, sculpture, architecture, music, anatomy, engineering, cartography, geology and botany. The free exhibition will also present new information about Leonardo’s working practices and creative process, gathered through scientific research…
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Toxteth Reservoir: Aurora Installation Review
Toxteth Reservoir Aurora Installation is not to be missed… Toxteth Reservoir in Liverpool has become the setting for a unique art installation that harnesses the power of Earth’s most valuable element, water. The cavernous reservoir once used to supply the surrounding areas with two million gallons of water, has been home to Aurora for the last three weeks. An immersive installation that not only addresses the building’s history, Aurora, also seeks to remind spectators the…
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Toxteth Reservoir Brought Back To Life With Art Installation
For over 100 years it held 2 million gallons of water…but now you’ll be able to experience Toxteth reservoir in a very unique way thanks to a new art installation known as Aurora. Aurora is an experience like no other. Step inside the cave-like vaults of Toxteth Reservoir for a 40-minute ‘walk on water’. Through dark chambers and between towering iron arches, water surrounds, floods and falls around you, both beautiful and terrifying. The sights,…
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Liverpool Museums and Art Galleries Guide
Welcome to the vibrant city of Liverpool, a cultural hub brimming with art, history, and creative expression. From its famous musical heritage to its rich maritime history, this city has captured the hearts of millions worldwide. But Liverpool’s allure extends beyond its legendary music scene and architectural splendors; it is also home to a captivating array of art galleries and museums that showcase the city’s artistic prowess. Check out our guide to Liverpool’s unmissable museums…
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The Mind Map Presents: We Love Life – Mental Health In Music Photo Exhibition
We Love Life is a series of 7 photo interviews based around the issues of mental health in musicians. The event is brought to you by The Mind Map, a Liverpool based mental health enterprise and by Newcastle based photographer, Darina Mohammed. Launching at Liverpool Sound City and continuing through mental health awareness week, the show uncovers the different ways musicians stay mentally well. Photographed in Liverpool and Newcastle, the exhibition, held at Constellations, features beautifully saturated film…
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LightNight Liverpool Returns on Friday 18th May
LightNight returns on Friday 18 May 2018, unlocking the doors of Liverpool’s best-loved and lesser-known arts, culture and heritage venues late into the night. A culture crawl like no other, visitors of all ages are invited to follow an unforgettable trail of events in celebration of the city’s year-round world-class cultural offer. LightNight showcases the creative lifeblood of Liverpool, presenting new and ambitious artistic commissions amidst a vibrant programme of more than 100 events including…
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New FACT Exhibition To Explore Liverpool’s Unique History of Observation
On 22nd June ‘The New Observatory’ transforms FACT into an observatory for the 21st century, bringing together an international group of artists exploring new and alternative modes of measuring, predicting, and sensing the world. In collaboration with the Open Data Institute, the exhibition engages with Liverpool’s unique history of observation, and showcases works developed with local communities. Highlights include a 40-ft high four-storey wooden watchtower, works allowing us a peek into the lives of a colony…
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Liverpool LightNight 2017 Preview
The annual LightNight festival is coming back to Liverpool for its 8th consecutive year. Mark your calendars for Friday, 19th May – with the festivities kicking off at 5pm until late. Festival-goers can choose from over 100 different events across the city, with something for everyone, including art, music, performances, workshops, walking tours and arts and crafts. The theme for this year’s festival is ‘Time’ so you can expect a unique look at the past,…
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New LaBeouf, Rönkkö & Turner Art Project At FACT
Starting from 22 March 2017, the durational art project HEWILLNOTDIVIDE.US by LaBeouf, Rönkkö & Turner will be adopted by FACT (Foundation for Art and Creative Technology) in Liverpool, UK. A flag emblazoned with the words “HE WILL NOT DIVIDE US” will be continuously live-streamed from the arts organisation to www.hewillnotdivide.us for four years, or the duration of the 45th Presidency of the United States. The artwork is conceived by the artists as a resistance to division, and to the…
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World Famous Photographer Turns Titanic Hotel Room Into A Camera
International photographer Luke Ching, has created a work of art at Titanic Hotel & Rum Warehouse, Stanley Dock for LOOK/17, Liverpool’s International Photography Festival. Ching, who is widely acknowledged as one of Hong Kong’s most exciting conceptual artists was commissioned to turn one of Titanic’s rooms into a pinhole capture camera photographing the Tobacco Warehouse opposite. Interested in regeneration, Ching combined a camera and architectural space to create a work reflecting on Liverpool’s grand warehouse…
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FACT Exhibition ‘How Much of This Is Fiction’ Opens 2nd March
FACT (Foundation for Art and Creative Technology) has announced their next exhibition How Much of This Is Fiction; open from 2 March until 21 May, and focusing on politically inspired media art that uses deception in all its forms. The exhibition shows the artist as trickster, using a variety of hoaxes and hacks to reveal the hidden workings of power structures. One local example of a media hoax to make a statement which the Echo…
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The Snowflake Trail Returns To Liverpool
From 1 December – 3 January, The Snowflake Trail returns to Liverpool city centre. Follow the story specially created for you to follow the trail to find sculptural snowflakes and see local landmarks transformed into a festive wonderland. The Snowflake Trail will see children and adults alike trekking across the city centre in search of each giant snowflakes to unlock the story and be in with a chance of winning some incredible prizes. All you need…
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FACT Exhibition; No Such Things As Gravity
What is the nature of scientific truth? FACT’s new exhibition No Such Thing As Gravity explores the limits of science where the absence of established facts may leave room for new theories, alternative science, and conspiracy theories. This exhibition shines a light on those areas of science that can cause unease and controversy because of the public’s fascination with alternative science, conspiracy theories and irrational beliefs. Curated by Rob La Frenais, the exhibition features work by Tania…
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Winter Arts Market held at Liverpool Cathedral
Merseyside’s largest arts and crafts market, the Winter Arts Market will return for an eighth year on Saturday 3 December 2016. Staged this year in the breathtaking surroundings of Liverpool Cathedral the market will see this awe-inspiring space, one of the most beautiful in the city, transformed into a bustling independent shopping experience that’s the perfect place to pick up unique Christmas gifts. This year’s market will feature work from more than 200 of the…
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Liverpool Ghost Stories, A Car Fuelled By Water & Mass Hypnotism In FACT’s New Autumn Exhibition ‘No Such Thing As Gravity’
Opening this autumn, FACT’s new ambitious exhibition No Such Thing as Gravity will explore the ever-changing limits of science, through art. Showing from 11 November 2016 until 5 February 2017, the exhibition will feature a wide range of works merging art with scientific experiments, new and future technologies, and exploring the borders between life and death. Curated by Rob La Frenais, No Such Thing as Gravity will exhibit both new commissions and existing works by…
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Mark Leckey Creates A Unique Film For Liverpool Biennial 2016
For this year’s Biennial, Mark Leckey has assembled a film using archival material from television shows, advertisements and music, to create a record of all the significant events of his life from the 1970s until the 1990s. Dream English Kid is presented in an environment that contains new sculptural works connected to material in the film. In Liverpool Biennial 2016 unfolds throughout the landscape of the city. It is organised as a story narrated in several…
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Get Creative At FACT This Summer
This summer, leading media arts centre FACT (Foundation for Art and Creative Technology) offers a range of exciting activities for young people and families, and continues to expand its programme for anyone interested in getting involved with making and experimenting with electronics. A partnership between FACT and the Liverpool School of Art and Design at LJMU, FACT’s creative technology hub FACTLab continues to welcome visitors of all ages to experiment and explore. Since its launch…
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“A Collage For The Most Famous Club In The World” – The Cavern Club at 60
The Cavern Club is sixty years old in 2017. Members of the press and Liverpool’s music community are invited to The Cavern’s offices on North John Street to witness the unveiling of a collage created by local artist Philip Hayes to celebrate the Club’s 60th Birthday. Philip has previously produced collages for CREAM nightclub, The Farm, Cast, and is working with the Hillsborough campaign, local festivals, music venues and Unite the Union at the present time. Bill Heckle and Dave Jones, Cavern City…
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.