When initially telling friends and family that I was moving to Leeds this September to study Fine Art, most people responded with excitement, stating how the city is filled with both traditional and contemporary artists, and how deeply the subject is ingrained into the area’s culture. It wasn’t until I moved here that I began to realise how true this is. There are countless galleries within Leeds and its surrounding towns; of these, four are nationally renowned for their exciting exhibitions which showcase the work of some of the most famous artists in the world.
Centred in the heart of the city, Leeds City Art Gallery (which was opened in 1888) holds fine art collections ranging from the early nineteenth- to late twentieth-century, as well as a changing exhibition programme showcasing more contemporary artists. The exhibition being held at the moment, running from October 23rd to November 19th, is called “The Yorkshire Photographers”, and is showcasing the incredible work of fifteen local photographers.
Just down the road in Bradford the Impressions Gallery and Cartwright Hall Art Gallery provide the area with even more opportunity to view art of an incredibly high standard. Cartwright Hall also holds contemporary exhibitions and nineteenth- to twentieth-century British artworks, as well as ensuring a relaxing day on the grounds of Lister Park. The hall boasts work from artists such as Francisco Goya, William Blake, Andy Warhol, David Hockney, and Roy Lichenstein, making it one of the most impressive galleries in the north. At the moment the hall is exhibiting June Russel’s exhibition, “Being There”, and will continue to do so until early next year. The Impressions Gallery, in contrast, is one of the first specialist contemporary photography galleries in Europe. Since its opening in 1972, the gallery has been established as a leading international exhibition space for photography and digital art, and is currently showcasing Melanie Friend’s exhibition, “The Home Front”, until Saturday 23rd November.
The Huddersfield Art Gallery primarily holds temporary exhibitions, featuring the work of the region and country’s most successful contemporary artists, as well as others from across the globe. People such as Francis Bacon, LS Lowry and Henry Moore have had their work exhibited here, proving just how high its standard of exhibition is. The gallery itself was established in 1893 but moved to its current building in 1940 and now shares this with the library. Its exhibitions not only showcase paintings, but a variety of craft, photography and sculpture also. The gallery is probably most famous for the “Kirklees Collection”, holding over 2000 items which represent the last 150 years of British art.
Although these four galleries only exhibit a fraction of the art world in West Yorkshire, they prove that the area is buzzing with exciting, contemporary art, whilst still expressing the importance of early nineteenth-century work. The city is known for its expressive nature and this is definitely heightened as a result of its people’s love of art. With so many famous galleries in the area, none of us have any excuse not to seize the many opportunities we have of viewing such brilliant work.
By Meg Vincent
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