Sheffield’s Graves Art Gallery is an art museum with a permanent collection of British and European art that includes works by Alfred Sisley and JMW Turner. The gallery also hosts a programme of temporary exhibitions.
The gallery was established in 1934 and named after benefactor John George Graves, it showcases a diverse array of artistic movements spanning centuries.
What to see at the Graves Art Gallery
Visitors can explore permanent displays featuring works from Romanticism to pieces by artists like JMW Turner and Bridget Riley, alongside local talents such as George Fullard and Stanley Royle. Additionally, the gallery hosts rotating exhibitions, providing insight into both established and emerging artists.
Though smaller in scale compared to national counterparts, it offers a focused exploration of art history, complementing Sheffield’s contemporary-focused Millennium Gallery just a short distance away.
Temporary exhibitions at the Graves Art Gallery
The Graves Art Gallery hosts a programme of temporary exhibitions. Current and planned exhibitions include:
PostNatures
This exhibition (until 25 January 2025) explores JMW Turner’s painting The Festival of the Opening of the Vintage at Mâcon. It examines how imaginary subjects shape cultural perceptions of reality. Artworks and objects from Sheffield’s collections are displayed alongside recent works by Lucas and the Heavy Water Collective. The exhibition focuses on representations of the relationship between women and nature, encouraging visitors to reconsider ideas of the feminine in nature.
Portraiture and the Human Figure
This display (until 25 January 2025) explores artists’ long-standing interest in the human figure, featuring over 80 works from Sheffield’s collections. Portraits go beyond physical representation, offering insights into identity, status and the dynamics between sitter and artist. The exhibition includes works by David Hockney, Barbara Hepworth, Cecil Beaton and others. Highlights include Judith and the Head of Holofernes after Carlo Saraceni, newly conserved with support from the Woodmansterne Art Conservation Awards.
Visiting the Graves Art Gallery
The Graves Art Gallery in the centre of Sheffield close to the Millennium Gallery and the Winter Garden. It is also just a short walk away from Sheffield Interchange and the railway station.
The gallery is open Tuesday to Saturday (it is closed on Mondays and Sundays) and entry is free of charge.
Entry to the permanent collection is free, although entry fees apply to some temporary exhibitions.
Allow around an hour for your visit.
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