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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The John Moores Painting Prize 2016
Since the first John Moores exhibition in 1957 the standard of entries for the painting prize has been extremely high. The contemporary pieces in the 2016 exhibition are stunning examples of modern art, from the stark minimalism of Squint (19) by Michael Simpson, one of the prize winners, through the hyper-detailed Cave Floor by Donal Maloney to the neon and black splendour of Totem by Alex Rennie. Other highlights include the realism of No Ball…
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Francis Bacon: Invisible Rooms At TATE Liverpool – Review
There have been some pretty prolific artistes cross the renowned orange threshold of TATE Liverpool and the bustling gallery is the gift that just keeps on giving, it seems. We’ve had Pollock, we’ve had Mondrian and of course, we’ve had wonderful Mr Warhol (just to name a few) but this summer TATE Liverpool is whetting our appetites with a taste of Francis Bacon. Definitely more of a three-course feast than a light lunch bite, the…
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CERN and FACT International Award Winner Announced
The laureate for the COLLIDE International Award was announced yesterday as Kunchul Kim, with two honorary mentions to the Mexican conceptual artist Julieta Aranda and British artist, James Bridle. Now in it’s fifth year, COLLIDE is a major arts and science residency programme, which runs between CERN (the European Organization for Nuclear Research) and an international party. The award is used as a platform which specialises in helping new artists with their work, specifically those…
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Africa Oyé 2016 Preview – Official Brochure Now Available
On 18th & 19th June Africa Oyé takes over Sefton Park once again, and organisers have now released the official brochure for this year’s event. With thousands of copies going out around Liverpool and as a supplement in The Big Issue, the annual brochure has all the information you need to make the most of the UK’s largest free celebration of African music and culture. You can download a PDF version of the brochure from…
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An Evening With Scroobius Pip; Leaf Bold Street
Waterstones Liverpool have announced performance poet, dj & broadcaster Scroobius Pip will be visiting Leaf on Bold Street on Tuesday 9th August to discuss his new book “Distraction Pieces”, based on his best-selling podcast of the same name. Distraction Pieces features both curated highlights from the iTunes-chart-topping podcast – from Akala to Howard Marks via the likes of Adam Buxton, Romesh Ranganathan and Amanda Palmer – and exclusive new content, with chapters on politics, social media, music, comedy and more.…
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1985 School Students’ Strike Recreated For Liverpool Biennial
Artist Koki Tanaka recreated the iconic march throughout the city on Sunday 5 June with some of the original participants In April 1985, children in Liverpool and cities across the country took to the streets in an impromptu strike against the Conservative Government’s Youth Training Scheme. The Liverpool strike was the largest in the country, with 10,000 children participating. On Sunday 5 June, as part of Liverpool Biennial 2016, artist Koki Tanaka revisited this event…
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House of Suarez Celebrates Birthday With Iconic Ball
House of Suarez has announced the return of the Vogue Ball for 2016 and as the company celebrates its 10th birthday, it is pulling out all the stops to ensure this year’s Ball is the fiercest and most fabulous yet. Tickets are now on sale for the Vogue Ball which will take place on Saturday, 15th October and House of Suarez is excited to reveal a brand new location for 2016. The multi award-winning event will take place in Liverpool’s hottest new arts and performance space – the Invisible Wind…
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The Invisible Wind Factory; Omphalos – ‘Energy Eternal’ Review
The Invisible Wind Factory is the Kazimier’s ‘vision of a cultural theme park from the future’. Situated on Regent Road in the North Docks, the warehouses will be a space for bespoke large scale performances. A ‘cultural themepark’ feels like an appropriate way to summarise the night we experienced on Wednesday. Not quite knowing what was in store for the night we waited patiently outside the large warehouse before the door swung open and we…
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Liverpool Biennial Open Call Out For Participants of The 1985 School Students Strike
School students strike of 1985 to be recreated for a new film as part of Liverpool Biennial 2016 Call out for those involved in the 1985 strike, their children, and students to take part in the recreation on Sunday 5 June at St. George’s Hall from 1pm In April 1985, children in Liverpool and cities across the country took to the streets in an impromptu strike against the Conservative Government’s Youth Training Scheme. The Liverpool…
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Liverpool Biennial 2016 Announces Full Programme
The programme for Liverpool Biennial 2016, the largest contemporary art festival in the UK, running from 9 July to 16 October 2016, was announced today by Sally Tallant, Director of Liverpool Biennial. For the ninth edition of the Biennial, 42 artists are invited to create new work for locations across the city, alongside a showcase of ten associate artists working in the North of England. Artists from Australia, Belgium, China, France, Greece, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Palestine, Portugal, Russia…
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New Large Scale Artwork At Liverpool Anglican Cathedral For LightNight 2016
Daniel Thorne (founder of IMMIX ensemble), to arrange stunning Bill Ryder-Jones composition for large scale audio visual artwork, ‘NO WORST, THERE IS NONE’, featuring Liverpool Cathedral Youth Choir and visual artists Sam and Damien Wiehl, at LightNight 2016. Ad Hoc Creative, a collaboration between Bido Lito! Magazine and Ad Hoc Property Management, have announced ‘No Worst, There is None’, a one-off audio visual composition for LightNight 2016 being held at Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral on Friday…
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New Pop Up Exhibition At FACT – Scouse Roots: Art That Makes Itself
Scouse Roots: Art That Makes Itself is a new pop-up exhibition at FACT by Liverpudlian father and son artist duo Paul and Daniel Brown. Scouse Rootstells the story of the artists’ roots in the city, and Liverpool’s influence on digital creativity, exploring empowerment through digital design in computer based and generative art from two generations. The exhibition explores the history of digital art, showcasing several of Brown & Son’s early artworks including pieces made while in residence in…
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Light Night 2016; Friday 13th May
LightNight, Liverpool’s one-night arts & culture festival, takes place Friday 13th May. Experience an unforgettable evening of more than 100 free events as they unlock the doors of our world-class museums, galleries and heritage sites until late. Venues that will be opening late include Walker Art Gallery, Tate Liverpool, Liverpool Philharmonic, Liverpool Cathedral, Liverpool John Moores University, The Bluecoat, FACT, Baltic Creative, Liverpool University and many more. Follow your own exciting trail of light projections,…
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‘The Creative Process’ Documentary of Liverpool Artists & Why We Make
The Creative Process interviews fourteen Merseyside artists – painters and photographers, sketchers and sculptors, each with their own compelling stories – and investigates the highly subjective nature of their creativity. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukUQQZ2A6Q0] The documentary asks them to explore their artistic journeys – uncovering the varying and extremely personal idiosyncrasies of each individual. We will see how emotionally charged the creation of art is – that the methods and styles of each artist are linked with deeply important people…
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Liverpool Tattoo Convention Returns For Three Days of Entertainment This May
Liverpool Tattoo Convention returns to the city for its 9th year on the 6th, 7th & 8th May 2016 with a theme of ‘Respecting the Past, Celebrating the Present and Embracing the Future’. Renowned for its innovation, non-stop entertainment and atmosphere, and widely perceived as the most prestigious and innovative tattoo event in the UK – the convention returns to the Britannia Adelphi Hotel this year. The 3-day event will include over 250 UK and international tattoo artists, the…
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FACT Exhibition Ryoichi Kurokawa: unfold 11 March – 12 June ’16
The seasoned, Japanese born, avant-garde artist Ryoichi Kurokawa has received varying accolades and acclaim for his work with both music and film. His new project ‘unfold’, produced and funded by FACT, gives the artist his first major exhibition in the UK. Placed in the upper echelons of art with his synthesis of sound and vision. Ryoichi, has a certain notoriety for stimulating the brain with simultaneous audio/visual responses, examining the nexus between sensory stimuli and the physical experience. This is a…
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Sound City: Tim Peaks Diner / Tier 3 Tickets Running Low
Sound City have just announced that Tier 3 tickets are now running very low and are expected to sell out very soon. Be sure to get your tickets now at the limited price of £38 + booking fee for day tickets and £70 + booking fee for weekend tickets. Sound City are also delighted to add more great artists to the Tim Peaks Diner lineup in 2016. Including: Bear Growls • Beds In Parks • Blueprint Blue • Cabbage • Documenta • Hot Vestry • Pheromoans • Riding The Low • Tear…
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FACT Presents New Pop-up Exhibitions With Strong Community Links
This spring, a special programme of pop-up exhibitions will be showcased in the FACT Connects space, in the foyer at FACT (Foundation for Art and Creative Technology). FACT Connects is a wide- ranging programme, which engages with members of the community, and allows FACT to connect even more with artists, musicians, and makers. The first two FACT Connects exhibitions of 2016 will explore perspectives on disability and empowerment, as well as delving into Liverpool’s position as a catalyst for digital…
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New Mini Documentary From LaBeouf , Rönkkö & Turner’s #TOUCHMYSOUL Performance at FACT
There is now a mini documentary from LaBeouf, Rönkkö & Turner’s #TOUCHMYSOUL performance at FACT available online. The project #TOUCHMYSOUL by LaBeouf, Rönkkö & Turner took place at FACT (Foundation for Art and Creative Technology) in Liverpool from 10 to 13 December 2015, as part of the group exhibition Follow, open to visitors until 21 February 2016 (admission free). Over the four days, LaBeouf, Rönkkö & Turner invited the public to pick up the telephone…
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Ryoichi Kurokawa: unfold Exhibition at FACT, Liverpool 11 March – 12 June 2016
unfold is a major new commission by acclaimed Japanese artist Ryoichi Kurokawa, exploring the birth and evolution of stars in a groundbreaking immersive and tactile audiovisual installation. This unique sensory experience will be part of Kurokawa’s first ever solo exhibition in the UK, premiering at FACT (Foundation for Art and Creative Technology) in Liverpool 11 March – 12 June 2016. unfold will offer viewers an artistic, yet scientific, representation of how the solar system was born, and how…
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.