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:
Penny McCarthy: How to Look Through Time
This exhibition (until 20 December 2025) looks at how time shapes our experience of art and history. Penny McCarthy presents drawings, glass works and film developed in response to a 16th-century print by Titian. Her work explores how historic images can be reinterpreted through new materials and ideas. The exhibition includes a short film made with Hugo Glendinning and a series of glass pieces titled The Light of Other Years.
Portraits and the Human Figure
Portraits and the Human Figure (until 25 April 2026) looks at how artists have approached portraits and the human figure over time. Drawn from Sheffield’s collections, it explores themes of identity, status and representation. The exhibition features more than 80 works, including paintings, photographs and drawings. Artists include Edward Burne-Jones, Claudette Johnson, Käthe Kollwitz, Lucian Freud and Goya. The display also considers how photography influenced the accessibility and purpose of portraiture.
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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