Past exhibitions

This was an exhibition of art books by one of the greatest artists of the 20th century, Henri Matisse (1869-1954), which went on public display for the first time in the UK.

The exhibition comprised 63 framed original illustrations with text from four of Matisse’s most significant books, including his famous 'Jazz' (1947), one of the most celebrated artists’ books in the history of modern art.

These works are part of Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s extensive art collection and were loaned to the gallery through the company’s Art in our Communities ® programme as part of a commitment to share its artworks with the wider public.

Also on display were a number of artists’ books from the Walker Art Gallery's permanent collection by artists such as Ed Ruscha, Derek Boshier, Gilbert & George, Tom Phillips and Jeff Nuttall.

Image: 'Icare' ('Icarus'), plate VIII of XX from the illustrated book Jazz, 1947, Bank of America Merrill Lynch Collection. © Succession H. Matisse/DACS 2011

Find out more about The Art Books of Henri Matisse

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Head (1993) © John Kirby, courtesy of Flowers, London

This exhibition was the first major retrospective of the work of John Kirby, an important contemporary artist who was born and grew up in Liverpool.

His paintings and sculpture reflect the complexities of gender, religion, sexual orientation and race, and his distinctive style draws on deeply personal subject matter.

This exhibition was developed in partnership with Flowers Gallery, London.

Find out more about The Living and the Dead: Paintings and sculpture by John Kirby

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Detail of Titian's 'Diana and Actaeon'

The Walker Art Gallery was the first of three venues throughout the UK to display the painting 'Diana and Actaeon' by Italian Renaissance master Titian.

The painting is considered amongst Titian's greatest works and portrays the moment in which the goddess Diana meets Actaeon.

This display was brought to the Walker Art Gallery by the National Gallery, who support regional galleries by touring works where they have not been seen before. The painting continued its tour and visited Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery and National Museum Cardiff.

Zoom in and explore the detail of this painting here.

Image: Detail of Titian's 'Diana and Actaeon', 1556-9. Bought jointly by the National Gallery and National Galleries of Scotland with contributions from the Scottish Government, the National Heritage Memorial Fund, The Monument Trust, The Art Fund (with a contribution from the Wolfson Foundation) and through public appeal, 2009 © The National Gallery, London.

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Image by Alistair Muir

If you've ever wanted to see some of Lily Savage's fabulous frocks up close then this is your chance! Savage Style will feature a selection of outfits worn by the acid-tongued alter ego of comedian and television presenter Paul O’Grady, on display for the first time.

There will be 7 dresses and outfits on display, worn by Lily in her many different guises, including host of television game show Blankety Blank, star of pantomime and all round fashion icon.

You can also see 4 outfits on display at the Museum of Liverpool.

Lily’s Birkenhead-born creator, Paul O’Grady, ‘retired’ the famous ‘blonde bombsite’ to a French convent in 2004, but she’s back in this display, bigger and brassier than ever !

Part of Liverpool's Homotopia festival.

Image: Productions shot by Alistair Muir from the Michael Rose Ltd 2010 production of Aladdin at The Mayflower, Southampton.

Find out more about Savage Style: costumes from Lily's wardrobe

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‘An Alphabet’ is a display of 26 silkscreen prints and shows Sir Peter Blake's fascination with letters, fonts and typography.

Peter Blake incorporates imagery from popular culture into his work, including comic books, consumer goods and advertisements. In this display you can find anything from a poem about Leopards (in 'L'), to images of Father Christmas (in 'X').

There is a childlike quality to ‘An Alphabet’ that has its roots in Peter’s own childhood, which was disrupted by the Second World War when he was evacuated.

Peter Blake is perhaps most well known for designing the cover of The Beatles' album 'Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band' (1967). He is one of the most influential painters in the UK and a leading figure in British Pop Art.

Peter Blake is also the first patron of the John Moores Painting Prize.

This exhibition is on loan from the Paul Stolper Gallery, London.

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A unique display of glass dresses and barbed wire corsets in the Craft and Design Gallery by contemporary artist, Diana Dias-Leão. Through this collection of inspirational dresses, the artist explores issues around beauty and body image.

Find out more about Dare To Wear: Glass Dresses by Diana Dias-Leão

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Detail of: Vincent van Gogh, 'The Oise at Auvers' © Tate, London, 2011

‘Art in Revolution: Liverpool 1911’ celebrated a ground-breaking art exhibition that took place in Liverpool 100 years ago amidst great social unrest in the city. It featured works by van Gogh, Matisse, Gauguin and Signac and brought together a mixture of works from the 1911 show and those similar in style and period.

‘Art in Revolution: Liverpool 1911’ also highlighted the wider socio-political context of the 1911 exhibition and the art establishment’s reaction to it.

This exhibition was part of the Liverpool and the World Exhibition Series, part-funded by the European Union. It was also part of the City of Radicals programme.

Find out more about Art in Revolution: Liverpool 1911

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Copyright Paul Trevor

Photographer Paul Trevor came to Liverpool in 1975 as part of the 'Survival Programmes' project, which looked at inner city deprivation. Over a period of several months he recorded family life on the fringes of the city centre, concentrating in Granby and Everton. Among the terraced streets and high rise flats, Paul captured images of a community defiant and proud despite a backdrop of mass unemployment and poverty. This exhibition was the first time that many of those photos had been shown.

Are you in one of Paul's photos? If you are then he'd like to get back in touch and maybe take an up-to-date photo of you. Find out how to get involved on the exhibition website.

Find out more about Like you've never been away

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Wael Shawky is one of Egypt’s most prominent contemporary artists, creating film, animation, drawings and sculptural installations. In his series of works 'Cabaret Crusades' he re-tells the story of the crusade, often blurring the distinction between good and evil, and between aggressors and victims. What at first sight appear like charming and harmless images and objects, soon reveal a darker side.

Part of Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival 2011.

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An installation from David Jacques, the winner of the Liverpool Art Prize 2010. The artist's work is inspired by the history of trade union banners and the entrepreneur George Tutil, whose workshop dominated banner production in the 19th century. The work represents items from a fictional subversive banner workshop discovered in an abandoned flat in Irlam House, a tower block in Bootle.

Part of 'City of Radicals' a city wide programme of events commemorating the 1911 General Transport Strike in Liverpool.

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© David Lewis family interests

'A Collector’s Eye: Cranach to Pissarro' will include five centuries of art and 60 works ranging from tender 15th-century devotional images to 19th-century French Impressionist landscapes. Old Master artists Rubens, El Greco, Delacroix and Cranach are included alongside Impressionists such as Pissarro and Sisley.

The exhibition features works from the Schorr Collection assembled by private collector David J. Lewis for his family interests. As well as being an exhibition of great breadth and depth of style and time periods, it is also a story of how a collection grows and develops, and how the taste of the collector changes and diversifies.

Image: Detail of 'Battle of the Amazons' by Rubens

Find out more about A Collector's Eye: Cranach to Pissarro

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‘From Past to Present’ is a collaborative display produced by the Walker Art Gallery and Hope University’s design students. Students will use objects from our ceramic, metalwork and textile collections to inspire them to produce an object of their own. Their final pieces will centre around three themes; commemoration, status and form/function. A small selection of the best pieces will be displayed in our Craft and Design gallery at the Walker, while all of the other pieces produced by the students will be displayed at The Cornerstone Gallery.

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A small selection of work by Ruth Ball; a well established designer enameller from Southport. Ruth is highly acclaimed for her innovation in enamel as well as her commitment to education work in this specialist area. The display focuses on the various methods of enamelling, demonstrating how traditional techniques can be used in a contemporary way. This includes a new painted piece of the Walker Art Gallery which will become part of the Decorative Art collection. ‘Enamelling’; a ‘how to’ book written by Ruth Ball, is also on sale in the Walker Art Gallery gift shop.

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Detail of 'Spectrum Jesus' by Prizewinner, Keith Coventry

A major exhibition of contemporary paintings, selected through open competition and one of the most illustrious events in the British art world. The exhibition, which was founded by the late Sir John Moores and continues to be supported by the Moores family, has a track record for spotting rising talent. The exhibition also forms a major part in the Liverpool Biennial, the only biennial of contemporary art in the UK.

In partnership with the John Moores Liverpool Exhibition Trust

Find out more about John Moores Painting Prize

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Detail from the 1987 winner, 'Cow Mutations' by Tim Head

A rare chance to see a selection of the prestigious competition's past winning art works together in one place.

Find out more about John Moores Prizewinners 1957-2006

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paper drop (London), 2008

An exhibition featuring nine photographic works by the Turner-prize winning artist, recently acquired by the Arts Council Collection, as well as a number of works from Tillmans’ own collection. The photographs are displayed as installations and interventions, curated by Tillmans, around the Walker Art Gallery.

The installations reflect the artist’s very personal response to the Walker Art Gallery’s distinguished permanent collection. The exhibition promises to reinterpret some of the gallery's best-known works as Tillmans invites us to consider the relationship between works and the locations in which they sit, rather than simply looking at an individual piece.

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 'The Temple of a Thousand Bells' is an evocative and poignant work featuring a thousand hand-blown glass bells and polyphonic sound, filling the Oratory in St James' Cemetary, Liverpool.

Brazillian artist Laura Belém’s beautiful installation is a new commission for 'Touched', Liverpool Biennial’s International 10 exhibition. The Oratory is not normally open to the public, so this is an unusual opportunity for visitors to gain access to a wonderful heritage site. Sound will move between loudspeakers in the Grade I listed building, unveiling an ancient legend about a temple of a thousand bells that was built on an island. 

Location: This exhibition is NOT showing at the Walker Art Gallery. The Oratory is located next to Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral and is owned by National Museums Liverpool. It houses many pieces from the Walker Art Gallery's collections. Check Google Maps here for the location of the Oratory.

Opening hours: The Oratory will be open to the public Thursday - Sunday, 10am - 6pm until the Biennial officially opens on 18 September. From this date onwards it will open daily from 10am - 6pm, including Bank Holidays. Find out more about the Oratory here.

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We have a wealth of exciting art on display for you during the Biennial period from Saturday 18 September - 28 November 2010. With everything from full exhibtions of contemporary paintings to individual video installation pieces, you can explore a variety of mediums that make up contemporary art today.

All the following exhibtions and one-off pieces will be on show during the Biennial and some will continue beyond this period:

John Moores Painting Prize exhibition - Now, in its 53rd year the competition boasts a roll call of esteemed winners, including David Hockney and Peter Doig. Almost 3,000 entrants submitted work in the hope of winning the first prize of £25,000. Forty five works are included in the exhibition. More information here.

Wolfgang Tillmans - Look out for Tillmans' stunning photographic interventions around the gallery, showing the Turner Prize winning artist’s very personal response to the Walker Art Gallery’s distinguished permanent collection. More information here.

Marcus Coates: Journey to the Lower World - A unique video artwork featuring residents from a tower block awaiting demolition who watch with a mixture of anxiety, faith and good humour as Coates performs a shamanic ritual. More information here.

The Temple of a Thousand Bells by Laura Belém - Situated at The Oratory in St James' cemetary (not at the Walker Art Gallery), this evocative and poignant artwork features a thousand hand-blown glass bells and polyphonic sounds. More information here.

All exhibitions are free.

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This exhibition shows a sample of work from 150 local people who have produced  around 200 embroidered tapestry panels. They feature iconic images of the city such as the Superlambananas, historic buildings and aspects of Liverpool with special meaning to the individual embroiderers.

The project is a continuation of Liverpool's 2008 Capital of Culture celebrations. TJ Morris Ltd, the company behind discount retailer Home Bargains, is working with the Merseyside Embroiderers’ Guild to use these panels to create a tapestry that will capture the spirit of Liverpool - its people, places and passions. The tapestry will be completed in 2011. 

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Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, 'Divan Japonais', 1893.
Colour lithograph. © The Trustees of the British Museum.

An exhibition of evocative prints that portray theatrical life and studies of daily life, including Lautrec’s very personal observations of the lives of prostitutes. The exhibition includes depictions of the dancer Jane Avril and the actress Sarah Bernhardt, as well as Lautrec’s iconic poster 'La Goulue' at the Moulin Rouge.  

A British Museum tour.

Find out more about High Kicks & Low Life: Toulouse-Lautrec prints

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'The sense of sight' by Annie Louisa Swynnerton

Tracking the historical changes influencing women artists, this exhibition explores the similarities and differences between the status and careers of women working in different areas within the fine and decorative arts fields as reflected in the collections of the Walker Art Gallery.

A rich variety of work from both recent and contemporary painters and designers such as Paula Rego, Helen Chadwick, Louise Bourgeois and Alison Britton will be shown alongside historic works drawn from the Gallery’s collections. Includes paintings, prints, textiles and ceramics.

Find out more about The Rise of Women Artists

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Emma Rodgers is a Wirral based artist who has achieved international acclaim for her sculptures. This display focuses on a recent work called 'The Dancer'. This beautiful sculpture is shown alongside original preparatory sketches and items from the casting process. These objects explore how the idea for a work of art becomes reality.

This sculpture was commissioned and is now owned by Hugh Frost.

You can watch videos of Emma at work and talking about her practise here.

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'Rhianna Pop Art' by Jessica Williams

'Reclaim Your Space' was an exhibition of 71 works by talented young people, displayed at the Walker Art Gallery and World Museum. Themes including identity, diversity and environment are explored, giving a voice to topics and issues deemed relevant by local young people today.

Works in watercolour, acrylic, photography, collage, mixed media and recycled materials were featured, bringing an eclectic feel to the display.

Highlights included a colourful portrait of pop star Rihanna and a painting depicting the city’s top cultural attractions peppered with contruction and roadwork signs.

'Reclaim Your Space' gave emerging artists from local schools an extraordinary opportunity to exhibit in venues that house rare artefacts and world-class masterpieces.

The scheme was part of Liverpool City Region’s Find Your Talent pathfinder, a government initiative which aims to get young people into creative and cultural activities. 

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Aubrey Williams, 'Hymn to the Sun IV' (Olmec Maya series) 1984
© Estate of Aubrey Williams, All Rights Reserved DACS.

Aubrey Williams is an important modern artist whose paintings resist classification. They include influences and elements as diverse as American abstract painting, Amerindian and Mayan symbols, and the music of Shostakovich. Williams' work reflects the meeting of Atlantic and black Atlantic cultures in Europe, the Caribbean, North America and the Americas.

Presented in collaboration with October Gallery, London and the Aubrey Williams Estate. This exhibition was also part of 'Liverpool and the Black Atlantic', a city-wide series of exhibitions and events.

Find out more about Aubrey Williams: Atlantic Fire

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Bridget Riley, 'Ecclesia' 1985. Courtesy Arts Council Collection, Southbank Centre, London.

Flashback was the first in a new series of monographic exhibitions from the Arts Council Collection; each exhibition brought together outstanding early works by high profile British artists, and set them against major recent works borrowed from the artists themselves.

The series launched at the Walker Art Gallery with internationally renowned abstract painter Bridget Riley. It tracked her career from its sensational beginnings in the early 1960s to the ambitious and powerful works of recent years.

Find out more about Bridget Riley Flashback

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Bernard Meninsky, The Bathers © National Museum Liverpool

'New Radicals: From Sickert to Freud' focused on the Walker Art Gallery’s impressive collection of early 20th century British masterpieces. The exhibition included responses to Impressionism and works by members of groups such as the Camden Town and London Group, through to independent figures including Ceri Richards, L.S. Lowry, Cecil Collins and Stanley Spencer. The display explored the development of art in Britain from the start of the 20th century to the period just after the Second World War, looking at the stories behind these unique works of art. 

Find out more about New Radicals: From Sickert to Freud

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Audrey Hepburn © Cecil Beaton Archive, Sothebys London / Collection National Portrait Gallery, London

This major restrospective exhibition brought together captivating images from Cecil Beaton, one of the most celebrated photographers of the twentieth century. Renowned for his images of elegance, glamour and style, Beaton's work has inspired many famous photographers including David Bailey and Mario Testino. The exhibition covered five decades of Beaton's career capturing 50 years of fashion, art and celebrity. Highlights included portraits of Marilyn Monroe, Jackie Onassis, Audrey Hepburn, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles.

Exhibition organised by the National Portrait Gallery, London.

Find out more about Cecil Beaton: Portraits

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Taking her inspiration from traditional forms of Islamic art and architecture, Cassell juxtaposes established styles with a more modernist approach, creating new and surprising forms. Her main material is heavily grogged clay that allows her to work on a large scale and utilise thick surfaces to carve patterns to the desired depth. This approach provides her with the tools to create the compelling drama and playful dynamism that characterises her work. Halima Cassell was born in Pakistan in 1975, brought up in Manchester and is now living in Blackburn, Lancashire. She exhibits internationally and was selected to exhibit at Parcours Ceramique Carougeois 2009 Biennial in Switzerland.

This exhibition was part of the Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival.

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Showcase was an exhibition of A-level art students’ work, created as part of the Find Your Talent initiative. Young people from Sutton Sports College, All Saints Catholic High School and North Liverpool Academy were given the once-in-a-lifetime chance to see their work exhibited at the Walker.

Each school  created art work with different themes and in different mediums. Sutton Sports College explored the theme of sanctuary, All Saints Catholic High School worked with artists in residence and North Liverpool Academy produced a series of stunning digital images.

The diversity in their artistic approaches and influences provided a broad range of art work on display, including drawings, paintings, photographs and sculpture.

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Photograph by Ibrahim Rahmin and Ian Burns.

Inspired by Fashion V Sport, the striking images from Liverpool street fashion explored current fashion trends among young people today. It was made up of two exhibitions by students from Liverpool Community College. 

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'George Always I', Maggi Hambling (2007/2008), courtesy of The Ivy

Liverpool's George Melly - jazz performer, surrealist, comic, raconteur, critic and author - was captured in this exhibition of portraits by his great friend, the distinguished contemporary artist Maggi Hambling.

The exotic nature of her subject inspired a rich, compelling celebration in works that were shown together for the first time at the Walker Art Gallery, including ink drawings from life, oil paintings executed during his final days and a series of portraits painted after his death from memory and imagination.

Find out more about George always - portraits of George Melly by Maggi Hambling

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Dashing Tweeds Cycle Suit © Guy Hills/Victoria and Albert Museum London

This stylish exhibition on tour from London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, explored the relationship between contemporary fashion and global sportswear brands over the last 20 years. Divided into four sections, Dare, Display, Play and Desire, the exhibition guided visitors through a range of styles, outfits and objects to reveal the factors which interlink fashion and sport.

Around 50 outfits and 120 objects were on display, including contemporary sportswear, streetwear, accessories and shoes. 'Fashion V Sport' showed how designers such as Dries van Noten and Vivienne Westwood reworked original sportswear staples such as the grey jersey tracksuit, redefining them as high-end must-have fashion items.

Find out more about Fashion V Sport

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The Botanic Garden was an installation created especially for the Walker. Artist Jyll Bradley constructed a 'virtual' Liverpool botanic garden using a series of large scale documentary style photographic images. Seen as a group they propose an idyllic garden, yet in reality this garden does not exist.

The work was a response to the artist’s year long exploration of Liverpool’s extraordinary botanic history. This 200 year history has always been strongly identified with William Roscoe, one of Liverpool’s best-loved figures who in 1803 founded the first Liverpool Botanic Garden.  The garden was Roscoe’s version of ‘elysium’ in Liverpool and in time led to the creation of two more botanic gardens in the city, both of which played an important role in Liverpool’s identity.

Find out more about The Botanic Garden

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Detail from 'Fontana', Peter McDonald, first prizewinner in John Moores 25

2008 marked the 50th year of this exhibition, which continues to be a major part of the Liverpool Biennial, a city-wide festival showcasing international contemporary art. The first prizewinner, Peter McDonald, was awarded a prize of £25,000 and visitors were able to vote for their favourite painting from the exhibition. The winner of this Visitors’ Choice Award was Julian Brain and he was awarded a prize of £2008.

Find out more about John Moores 25 Contemporary Painting Prize

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For 2008, National Museums Liverpool commissioned celebrated artist Ben Johnson to create an iconic cityscape of Liverpool, the most ambitious of his distinguished panoramas to date.

This painting is now part of the permanent collection in the Walker Art Gallery.

Find out more about Ben Johnson's Liverpool Cityscape 2008 and the World Panorama Series

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This visually exciting international exhibition included some of the great names of European and North American art including Frith, Manet, Monet, Van Gogh and Hopper.

With over one hundred works including paintings, drawings, prints and photographs covering a variety of themes, the exhibition celebrated the power and impact of the railway on artists - from its embryonic beginnings in the 19th century through the golden age of rail to the 20th century.

At the time, it was the only European showing of the exhibition, which was organised in collaboration with The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City.

Find out more about Art in the Age of Steam

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'Standing Stones by Terry Duffy' was a vibrant and challenging start to a series of exhibitions by the Liverpool born international artist in 2008. It formed part of his 'MONUMENTS' project, that were held at various venues across Liverpool during European Capital of Culture year.

Find out more about Standing Stones by Terry Duffy

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Still from 'Ascension', Rikke Lundgreen, 2007, inspired by 'The punishment of lust', Giovanni Segantini, 1891

For their project ‘Changing Places’ the artists Phil Sayers and Rikke Lundgreen made artworks which reinterpreted selected paintings and sculptures in the collections of the Walker and Lady Lever Art Galleries.

19th century images that depict women as passive, submissive objects of male desire are of particular interest to them. Other themes, including gender, identity, myths, ageing and the architecture and ‘power’ of the galleries are also a focus for their work. The artists seek to connect our everyday experiences with precedents from art historical sources.

Find out more about Changing Places

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An exhibition of major works by Joseph Wright of Derby, one of the most significant British artists of the mid 18th century and the first major artist to make his career outside London.

The exhibition will focused on the period 1768-1771 when Wright worked in Liverpool, a dynamic time in the city’s development as it aspired to be a centre of artistic excellence.

Find out more about Joseph Wright of Derby in Liverpool

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Menagerie - by Emily Stainer. Part of the Bound exhibition

'Menagerie' by Emily Stainer was part of Bound, a group exhibition between Open Eye Gallery, FACT, National Museums Liverpool and Tate Liverpool  that explored slavery from historical manifestations to modern-day bondage.  Menagerie could have been seen in contrasting and contradictory ways and uses cages that are copies of elaborate, ‘gilded’ birdcages belonging to the Victorian drawing room. But in their new configurations they were moved beyond the safe domain of the domestic environment. The caged items - stuffed birds and mechanised body pieces – suggested an atmosphere of brooding menace. The boxed theatres foregrounded the ‘doll’, trapped in a never-ending cycle of movement, forever impaled and captive. Menagerie was permeated by many historical allusions, but its major concern was with the hidden practices of human bondage that still exist today.

Find out more about Menagerie - by Emily Stainer. Part of the Bound exhibition

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We are pleased to present the first major British exhibition of Liverpool artist Peter Chang which includes jewellery, sculpture, objects and prints.

The extraordinary sculptural shapes of the objects made by Peter Chang are unique. He exploits the intrinsic qualities of plastic; its malleability and colour, adding depth and sensuality. This is the first time early and contemporary drawings, prints and sculptures are presented alongside his explorations into jewellery, objects and current sculptural activities showing a comprehensive overview of his work.

His drive to continually develop new ideas and techniques has earned him an international reputation, and his work is collected by individuals and museums all over the world. He is also the recipient of numerous National and International Awards, including the Jerwood Prize for the Applied Arts in 1995 and has recently been awarded a 2005-2007 Wingate Scholarship.

Find out more about Unnatural Selection: jewellery, objects and sculpture by Peter Chang

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Out of this World: The Art of Josh Kirby

This exhibition was the first retrospective of science fiction artist Josh Kirby. Born in Liverpool in 1928 and trained at Liverpool School of Art he began his career producing film posters, moving to book and cover art for magazines. Some of his more famous work includes the first cover of Ian Fleming’s Moonraker and the poster for Monty Python’s Life of Brian. He is best known for his cover illustrations of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series.

The exhibition comprised around 150 works spanning the whole of his career such as artwork for book covers, for magazines, personal studies, large-scale oils, film posters, preparatory sketches. Selections from the Discworld series were included, but the exhibition also reached far beyond that to show visitors the full range of his output. It was packed with visions of weird worlds, fantastic and magical creatures, monsters, maidens and much more. The incredible detail, imaginiation and skill behind Josh's art was fully revealed.

Find out more about Out of this World: The art of Josh Kirby

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The stunning architectural model of Lutyens' design for Liverpool's catholic cathedral brings to life the story of an ambitious building that was never built. The model was displayed in this exhibition for the first time since the completion of a major 13 year conservation project to restore it, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. The exhibition helped to interpret the model and its construction, as well as the background to Lutyens' commission.

Find out more about The cathedral that never was - Lutyens' design for Liverpool

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Doves and Dreams: The art of Frances Macdonald and J Herbert McNair

This is the first major exhibition devoted to the avant-garde art of Frances and J Herbert McNair, exploring their life and work in both Glasgow and Liverpool, featuring more than 80 pieces including watercolours, graphics, furniture, metalwork and decorative art. The exhibition will spotlight the achievements of these two remarkable artists: McNair, the innovator and inspirational teacher and his wife, Francis Macdonald, sister-in-law to Charles Rennie Mackintosh, who produced some of the most remarkable symbolist watercolours of the early 20th century. Exhibition organised by the Hunterian Art Gallery, University of Glasgow, in partnership with the Walker Art Gallery

Find out more about Doves and Dreams: The Art of Frances Macdonald and J Herbert McNair

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Insyde is a unique interactive installation created by multi-disciplinary design collective, Airside. The artwork is specially commissioned for the fourth Liverpool Biennial. The piece is designed specifically for the upper hall in the Walker and envelops the exterior and interior of a large, cubed space built within four existing neo-classical columns. On entering the space, visitors are transported to a fantasy world– a mixture of actual and virtual objects where the distinction between reality and fantasy is blurred. The world comprises a mixture of real world objects, wall projections and music. Fred Deakin, who is one half of dance act Lemon Jelly, has specially composed the music.

As the viewer immerses in the environment, they meet the animated inhabitants of the world. Creatures gradually emerge from the projections until they become clearly visible, reacting to motion detected by sensors built into the structure. But, the inhabitants are shy. Sudden movements can scare them away. They respond only to slow, gentle movement from individuals, encouraging viewer and inhabitant to come to an understanding, which in turn, allows for a scene to fully unfold.

Find out more about Insyde

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The John Moores competition produces Britain’s leading contemporary painting exhibition.  John Moores 24 coincides with the Liverpool Biennial and runs from 16 September to 26 November 2006. It promises to be as exciting and inspiring as ever with artists Tracey Emin, Sir Peter Blake on the jury, as well as curator Ann Bukantas and Head of Visual Arts at the British Council, Andrea Rose . 

Find out more about John Moores 24 exhibition of contemporary painting

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National Museums Liverpool together with John Moores University is hosting the thought-provoking exhibition Cape Farewell: Art and Climate Change as part of the Liverpool Biennial. Cape Farewell came into being when artist David Buckland gathered together a group of artists to join climate scientists and educators onboard The Noorderlicht, a 46m schooner, bound for the High Arctic. To date there have been three expeditions enabling both the scientists and the artists to chart the effects of climate change in the region. The artists have created work inspired by their voyages, using a range of different media including sound, video, sculpture, photography and painting. At the Walker you can see:

Hermaphrodite Polar Bear, Gary Hume – an enamel painting is inspired by the effects of pollution on the polar bear population.

80° 05’N 16°44’E; Ultima Thule; Fata Morgana, Nick Edwards – three video artworks inspired by Edwards’ watercolour sketches of the mysterious Arctic seascape displayed amongst the Walker’s Impressionist paintings.

Find out more about Cape Farewell: The Art of Climate Change

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This exquisite costume exhibition gave an exclusive glimpse into what is probably the largest surviving collection of period clothing from one person's wardrobe in Britain. The exhibition told the story of Mrs Emily Tinne's passion for clothes and shopping. Among the 130 items on display were daywear, evening wear, coats, swimwear and accessories such as hats, shoes and jewellery, dating between 1910 and 1940, all formerly belonging to Mrs Tinne and her children. Together they provided an insight into a long-vanished part of Liverpool's past.

Find out more about A Passion for Fashion: A Liverpool Lady's Wardrobe

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Detail from 'Molly Longlegs' by George Stubbs

An exhibition celebrating the work of George Stubbs, Liverpool's greatest artist and the nation's best sporting artist. The display highlighted the Walker's own collection, with masterpieces such as 'Molly Longlegs' and 'The Lincolnshire Ox', as well as loans from Tate Britain and other private and public lenders. Featuring 26 pictures, the exhibition paid tribute to this magnificent painter, marking the bicentenary year of his death.

This exhibition was organised by the Walker Art Gallery, National Museums Liverpool, the Tate Britain, London and the Frick Collection, New York.

Find out more about George Stubbs: A Celebration

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Detail from 'The Murder' by Cézanne

Manchester Art Galleries and the Walker Art Gallery present two paintings on the theme of murder as part of their latest partnership project. Partners in Art aims to bring together significant works of art to people in the North West.

Sickert's gloomy and mysterious interior entitled, 'Jack The Ripper's Bedroom' from Manchester's collection has been paired with 'The Murder', a bleak early painting by Cézanne from the Walker.  The display is at Manchester Art Gallery until 5th February 2006, before coming to the Walker Art Gallery in March.

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Celebrity jockey silks designed by chef Gordon Ramsay

Like the Grand National this display aims to capture the nation's imagination. Stars from the world of sport, fashion, entertainment and business have each designed an exclusive jockey silk, imprinting their own style on the design.

The silks will eventually be auctioned for the IMAGINE Appeal at Alder Hey Children's Hospital.

Find out more about Celebrity Silks

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A major solo exhibition by artist Conrad Shawcross. The exhibition fuses science with art in three new sculptures that draw upon cosmology, quantum mechanics and musical theory to form a fascinating sensory experience. Space Trumpet, Loop System Quintet and Harmonic Tower have been specially commissioned in a collaborative project with The New Art Gallery Walsall.

This project has been supported by the Arts Council England, The New Art Gallery Walsall, Henry Moore Foundation and the Arts Council National Touring Fund. Conrad Shawcross is represented by Victoria Miro Gallery, London.

Find out more about Conrad Shawcross: The Steady States

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Art Craziest Nation

The Little Artists (John Cake and Darren Neave) immortalize iconic artists and their artworks in un-manipulated Lego. In Art Craziest Nation they have curated and built their own 'mini-exhibition' of modern art.

Find out more about Art Craziest Nation

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A small exhibition marking 150 years since the birth of Croatian artist Vlaho Bukovac. This previously forgotten artist is now regarded as Croatia’s leading artist of the late 19^th century. The exhibition also gives a rare glimpse into the lost world of art patronage in the Victorian business community. Amongst those who patronised Bukovac was Liverpool marine paint manufacturer Richard LeDoux. The display features six paintings by Blaise, as he was known in England, including one of LeDoux’s wife Laura from the Walker’s own collection.

Find out more about Searching for Blaise: Vlaho Bukovac (1855-1922) and his northern patrons

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You can see three sketches by Maclise and West for the Death of Nelson paintings, plus a miniature of the naval hero with an unusual claim to fame, in this small spotlight display at the Walker.

Find out more and see another sketch that wont be on show in the gallery in our online feature.

Find out more about The Death of Nelson spotlight display

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The 20s and 30s were a time of glamour, elegance and high style. In this major exhibition Age of Jazz: British Art Deco Ceramics Walker Art Gallery showcases the beautiful, the brash and the Bizarre. Using ceramics from Walker Art Gallery’s decorative art collections and loans from all over the Britain, the exhibition is the first of its kind in the UK. It includes paintings, costume and other decorative objects to recreate the feeling of the period.

Featuring some top art deco manufacturers and designers such as Clarice Cliff, Susie Cooper, Crown Devon and Shelley, Age of Jazz highlights some exceptionally rare objects, some of which are thought to be the only examples in existence. Pieces made by leading artists of the day will show next to some of the more cheaply-produced wares which brought a sense of fun to the tea table.

Find out more about Age of Jazz - British Art Deco Ceramics

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A photographic exhibition celebrating the career of Terry O'Neill, whose pictures span 40 years. Witty, beautiful and strikingly original, the photographs celebrate the 'star' quality of celebrities such as Mick Jagger, Brigitte Bardot and The Beatles.

Find out more about Terry O' Neill: Celebrity

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A large retrospective show of paintings by locally-based, international artists Amrit and Rabindra Singh. Representing a fusion of Asian and Western cultures that embraces a variety of contemporary themes presented in an Indian miniature style.

Find out more about Past Modern - The Singh Twins

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Photographer: Kira Perov

Leading American video artist Bill Viola is the focus of this moving and thought-provoking exhibition that celebrates the acquisition by Walker Art Gallery of Viola’s major artwork, ‘Observance'.

This intimate, emotionally stirring single-screen video piece has been purchased for the gallery with the assistance of the National Art Collections Fund. In ‘Observance’, a line of people queue in shared grief, mourning an unseen figure. ‘Mater’ and ‘Witness’, two works loaned from private collections, add further poignancy to the display.

Organised with the assistance of Haunch of Venison and Bill Viola.

Find out more about Bill Viola: Observance

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The first major exhibition to recognize the Stuckists, the group founded in 1999 by Charles Thomson and Billy Childish, which has subsequently become an international art movement. Stuckism marks the birth of 'Remodernism' - "a renewal of spirituality and meaning in art, culture and society". The Stuckists oppose 'Postmodernism' and conceptual art, famously campaign against the Turner Prize and declare painting as the radical medium of self-discovery: "The Stuckist paints pictures because painting pictures is what matters."

This Walker & Lady Lever exhibition offers visitors the opportunity to make up their own mind about this provocative new figurative art and features over 250 paintings - eighteen of them at Lady Lever Art Gallery.

The Lady Lever will also have the first major national display of photographs by The Stuckist Photographers, whose work carries the Stuckist ethos into another medium. They were founded in 2003 by Andy Bullock and Larry Dunstan, because Dunstan asked, “Is there a place for photography in Stuckism?” The four photographers featured are Andy Bullock, Larry Dunstan, Charles Thomson and Wolf Howard. 

Part of the Liverpool Biennial 2004.

Find out more about The Stuckists Punk Victorian

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Art DIY is an exhibition of work by people from Liverpool and Birkenhead. The work has been created by artist-led workshops run in association with WEA and Fivearts cities - a partnership between Channel Five and Arts Council England. The idea was to give Merseyside people the opportunity to explore their creativity and gain better access to the rich artistic life of the region. Hundreds of free workshops and courses in the community and workplaces catered for more than 200 people.

Artwork on show includes a mural based on the Liverpool skyline, a book focusing on the five stages on women's lives, a textile portraying aspects of everyday life, puppets themed on children's books, Somali traditional glass painting, a wall hanging exploring self-identity and a life-sized figure of John Lennon made from recycled materials. It also features life-sized cardboard vessels created by learners at Walton Prison embellished with images of their thoughts and interests.

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A singing gallery guard, poems written on apples, an unravelled knitted artwork and plaster dresses feature in Ritual Bodies exhibition, part of the Liverpool Biennial.

This series of four artists’ interventions highlights Walker Art Gallery’s collection in visual, cultural and political terms. The exhibition has been co-ordinated by Manchester artists Margaret Cahill and Jacqueline Wylie.

Find out more about Ritual Bodies

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Take the pulse of contemporary British painting. The John Moores is the leading open competition for today's painters. It was established in 1957 and is supported by the John Moores Liverpool Exhibition Trust. Former winners whose work has joined Walker Art Gallery's collection include David Hockney, Lisa Milroy, Peter Doig, Michael Raedecker and Peter Davies, the 2002 winner. The exhibition is part of Liverpool Biennial 2004.

Find out more about John Moores 23 & Liverpool Biennial

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An exhibition of over 50 original illustrations and humorous drawings by 'The Gadget King' Heath Robinson. The show will include his graphic inventions as well as lesser-known book illustrations for Poe, Kipling and Hans Christian Andersen's 'Fairy Tales'. Pictures from Heath Robinson's own books including 'The Adventures of Uncle Lubin' and 'Bill the Minder' will also be on display. The works are on loan from The William Heath Robinson Trust and the exhibition is created by Dulwich Picture Gallery in partnership with the Trust.

Find out more about Heath Robinson

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Works by contemporary artist Tim Lewis, inspired by the traditions of kinetic art and the development of photography, defy easy categorisation. In this, his first solo exhibition at a public gallery, Lewis explores the relationship between mankind and the manufactured environment with a variety of machines, large scale stroboscopic animations and automated arrangements of everyday objects. Drawings and maquettes will provide an insight into this unusual creative process. Tim Lewis will be making new work for the show.

Find out more about Uncanny Valley, recent sculpture by Tim Lewis

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'Art Behind Barbed Wire' is a rare chance to see art from a forgotten episode of British history. The exhibition features pictures created by refugees held in the Huyton internment camp, near Liverpool, during the Second World War. The artists used whatever materials they could find and many of the drawings and watercolours were done on newspaper. Don't miss this opportunity to discover one of the lesser-known stories from the war.

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Since its inception, Walker Art Gallery has been committed to collecting and displaying contemporary art.

This new display features some of the best examples of the gallery's contemporary acquisitions over the past 20 years. Some pieces are drawn from the John Moores painting competition held at the gallery. Others were gifts from the Contemporary Art Society. Featured artists include Anish Kapoor, Dhruva Mistry, Peter Doig and Fiona Rae. The local art scene is represented by a group of paintings by Maurice Cockrill.

Also on display, for the first time, are examples of installation, performance and video art. Works by Turner Prize nominee Christine Borland and the collaborative partnership of Smith/Stewart show our growing commitment to these more recent art forms.

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The first major exhibition of works by Dante Gabriel Rossetti in the UK since 1973. Rossetti was a founding member of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood in the 1850s, and his haunting images of beautiful 'femmes fatales' are known around the world. The exhibition will consist of approximately 150 items, including oils, watercolours and drawings as well as decorative arts such as furniture, stained glass and jewellery. Paintings and drawings from his early career will be displayed as well as his visionary images from his Pre-Raphaelite period and beyond. The show is being rigorously selected to show Rossetti at his very best.

Find out more about Dante Gabriel Rossetti

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World AIDS Day is 1 December. To mark this event Walker Art Gallery will be displaying a painting by Gary Sollars. The painting can be seen on the first floor of the gallery from 27 November to 7 December 2003.

Find out more about World AIDS Day - special display

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Explore the elegance of time through this dazzling collection of rare 17th century English clocks. Over 50 of these beautifully crafted timepieces are on display, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Antiquarian Horological Society.

Find out more about Horological Masterworks: English 17th century clocks from private collections

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The Audsley brothers were designers that worked together in Liverpool during the 19th century. They produced a myriad of exotic designs for a diverse range of objects - from stained glass windows and pattern books to musical instruments. This intriguing exhibition revisits their influential designs and architectural achievements, including the celebrated interior of Princes Road synagogue.

Find out more about The Audsleys, Masters of Victorian Design

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Shirley Hughes is best-loved for the children's book favourites, Alfie and Dogger. This wonderful illustrator and author was the daughter of Liverpool store owner TJ Hughes and was a regular visitor to Walker Art Gallery, where she found the paintings inspirational. Born and brought up in West Kirby, she studied at Liverpool School of Art and then at the Ruskin School, Oxford. This exhibition includes sketchbooks, drawings and paintings, and coincides with the release of her autobiography, 'A Life Drawing'.

Find out more about Shirley Hughes - Alfie, Dogger & Friends

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John Deakin is one of the most neglected British photographers of the 20th century. He is best-remembered for his portrayals of the artistic, literary and bohemian inhabitants of London's Soho and for his work as staff photographer on Vogue. The exhibition comprises of over 150 of Deakin's striking photographs, which are marked by a clarity of vision and a brutal directness. As well as pictures of Hollywood stars and artist friends like Francis Bacon and Lucian Freud, the show includes a powerful selection of documentary photographs, shot on the streets of post-war London, Paris and Rome.

Find out more about A Maverick Eye - the photographs of John Deakin

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A display of four of the finest full-length portraits of Henry VIII, based on the Whitehall mural by Holbein that was destroyed by fire. Walker Art Gallery's portrait has been investigated and conserved using state-of -the-art techniques, leading to a number of discoveries about the painting. Other items include King Henry's psalter, plus original Holbein designs for jewellery and dagger sheaths. A must for art and history lovers!

Find out more about Henry VIII Revealed

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This popular and prestigious competition and exhibition returns to Walker Art Gallery to coincide with the Liverpool Biennial.

Find out more about John Moores 22

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A celebration of the 13th Earl of Derby, Edward Smith Stanley, whose groundbreaking zoological collections founded Liverpool Museum. The exhibition will illustrate his patronage of zoological collectors, wildlife artists (particularly the nonsense poet Edward Lear) and his outstanding collection of living animals at Knowsley Park.

Find out more about The Earl & the Pussycat: The 13th Earl of Derby's Life and Legacy

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An exhibition of paintings, watercolours and prints by Turner, placing his work in the context of the cultural tourism of his day.

Find out more about Turner's Journeys of the Imagination

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Discover the paintings of this world-famous musician in the first comprehensive exhibition of his artwork in Britain.

Find out more about the art of Paul McCartney

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In collaboration with Tate Liverpool, three marbles sculptures will be shown in Walker Art Gallery's sculpture gallery as part of the Tate's major exhibition of Quinn's work.

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In February, Walker Art Gallery celebrates the opening of its renovated exhibition galleries with George Romney 1734 - 1802. The show marks the bi-centenary of Romney's death and will be the first comprehensive survey of this key figure in eighteenth-century British art, including over sixty paintings and seventy works on paper.

Find out more about George Romney 1734-1802: British art's forgotten genius