The Grundy Art Gallery in Blackpool offers a contrast to the town’s often garish seaside attractions, providing a space dedicated to arts and culture. Opened in 1911, the gallery has become an integral part of Blackpool’s cultural landscape.
Over the years, the gallery has played a significant role in Blackpool’s cultural development. It has hosted numerous exhibitions featuring works by both local and international artists. The Grundy Art Gallery’s collection includes a range of paintings, prints and decorative arts, with a focus on British art from the 19th and 20th centuries. In recent years, the gallery has also become known for its contemporary art exhibitions, which often explore themes relevant to Blackpool’s social and cultural context.
![The Grundy Art Gallery is Blackpool’s principal art museum, noted for its collection of British modernist art. (Photo: Barbara Carr [CC BY-SA 2.0])](https://englandrover.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/grundy-art-gallery.jpg)
What to see at the Grundy Art Gallery
Visitors to the Grundy Art Gallery can see a diverse range of artworks across different media.
One of the highlights of the gallery’s permanent collection is its selection of British modernist works, including pieces such as Aircraftsman Shaw by Augustus John and the Yellow Funnel by Eric Ravilious. The gallery also houses an impressive collection of prints, ceramics, and decorative arts.
In addition to visual art, the Grundy Art Gallery occasionally features installations and performances that engage with the unique character of Blackpool.
Temporary exhibitions at the Grundy Art Gallery
In addition to its permanent collection, the Grundy Art Gallery hosts a programme of temporary exhibitions.
Current and planned exhibitions include:
Collection Spotlight: 1926
This exhibition (24 January–7 March 2026) brings together loans from Showtown and the Grundy Art Gallery Collection. It focuses on the year 1926. Paintings acquired by Grundy Art Gallery in that year are shown alongside objects connected to civic celebration. The display considers how local culture and collecting practices intersected at that time.
Collection Spotlight: A Body of Work
This is the second Collection Spotlight exhibition of 2026. Artist Jayne Simpson and Grundy’s Curator have selected works from the Grundy collection. The display (24 January–7 March 2026) is organised around themes found in Simpson’s practice. It examines how these themes appear across different periods and media within the collection.
Turning Point: Jayne Simpson – Lion
Turning Point is Grundy Art Gallery’s programme of solo exhibitions for artists based in Blackpool and the Fylde Coast. It supports artists at a specific stage in their practice. In Lion (24 January–7 March 2026), Jayne Simpson works at a larger scale and paints on and beyond the canvas. The exhibition is presented as an installation that functions as painting, sculpture and environment.
OPEN 2026
OPEN 2026 (24 January–7 March 2026) is Grundy Art Gallery’s annual open exhibition, similar to the open exhibitions at the Royal Academy and the RWA. It reflects a long-standing commitment to show contemporary work. Anyone aged 16 or over from Blackpool and the Fylde Coast may submit work. There is no entry fee or selection process. Submitted works must have been made within the past twelve months and not previously shown at the gallery.
Visiting the Grundy Art Gallery
The Grundy Art Gallery is on Queen Street, just a short walk from Blackpool North railway station and the North Pier. Its central location makes it a convenient stop for those exploring the town’s other attractions.
The gallery is open from Tuesday to Saturday but may be closed when there are no scheduled exhibitions.
Admission is free of charge, although there may be an admission fee for some exhibitions.
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