Leeds Art Gallery

The art gallery recently closed for a major renovation, reopening in October 2017. This renovation uncovered the Central Court Gallery’s glass roof, which had previously been obscured by a false ceiling.

What to see at the Leeds Art Gallery

The Leeds Art Gallery houses mostly British art from the 19th and 20th centuries.

The gallery’s most important paintings include the Retribution (1858 by Edward Armitage, Shadow of Death (1873) by William Holman Hunt, Scotland Forever! (1881) by Elizabeth Thompson, the Bridesmaid (1883–85) by James Tissot, the Lady of Shalott Looking at Lancelot (circa 1894) by JW Waterhouse, The Valley of Shadows (1899) by Evelyn De Morgan, Praxitella (1921) by Percy Wyndham Lewis, the Tin Mine (1954) by Graham Sutherland, Postcard Flag (Union Jack) (1981) by Tony Cragg and The Artist in her Studio (1993) by Paula Rego.

Highlights of the gallery’s sculpture collection include a cast of The Age of Bronze (1877, cast in 1906) by Auguste Rodin, Reclining Woman: Elbow (1981) by Henry Moore, Hieroglyph (1953) by Barbara Hepworth, Mother and Child (1936) by Henry Moore, a maquette of Anthony Gormley’s Leeds Brick Man as well as a 1712 marble statue of Queen Anne, Leeds oldest civic sculpture, in the gallery’s entrance hall.

Temporary exhibitions at the Leeds Art Gallery

In addition to its permanent collection, Leeds Art Gallery also hosts a programme of temporary exhibitions. Current and planned exhibitions include:

Karanjit Panesar: Furnace Fruit
Furnace Fruit (until 15 June 2025), a mixed media exhibition by Leeds-based artist Karanjit Panesar, draws on research into the Leeds Sculpture Collections and oral histories from the British Library. The exhibition centres on a new moving image work, exploring the experiences of Punjabi immigrants working in British foundries in the 1950s and 1960s. Through a film and related artworks, Panesar examines themes of diaspora, memory, and transformation, connecting industrial foundries with metaphorical and historical narratives.

Helen Chadwick: Artist, Researcher, Archivist
This exhibition (until 4 November 2025) examines the working methods of British artist Helen Chadwick (1953–96), whose practice spanned sculpture, photography and installation. Drawing from science, art history and philosophy, her work often explored identity, gender and the body. Chadwick’s archive includes notebooks, sketches and research material used in key projects such as Ego Geometria Sum and Viral Landscapes. The exhibition highlights how research and self-archiving shaped her artistic process throughout her career.

An Axis of Abstraction: Art in Cornwall and Yorkshire – Then and Now
This exhibition (until 7 December 2025) explores the links between artistic communities in West Cornwall and West Yorkshire from the 20th century to today. It includes works by Barbara Hepworth, Ben Nicholson and others connected with St Ives, alongside recent acquisitions by Veronica Ryan, Ro Robertson and Emii Alrai. The display highlights shared influences, residency programmes and the continuing dialogue between artists working in these two regions over several generations.

Portrayals of Women
This display from Leeds Art Gallery’s works on paper collection (until 5 April 2026) explores depictions of women from the 17th century to today. It features older works by artists such as Rembrandt alongside recent acquisitions by Skye Davies and Sumuyya Khader. The selection reflects a broad range of perspectives and approaches, drawn from a collection of over 10,000 items spanning more than five centuries.

To Improvise a Mountain: Lynette Yiadom-Boakye Curates
Lynette Yiadom-Boakye curates an exhibition (16 May–5 October 2025) exploring how art influences her visual and written practice. Developed with Hayward Gallery Touring, the show places her work alongside that of contemporary and historical artists. Featured names include Walter Sickert, Jennifer Packer and The Otolith Group. Drawing inspiration from poetry and music, the exhibition reflects on how rhythm and feeling can shape both painting and perception.

Visiting the Leeds Art Gallery

The Grade II-listed building has a prominent position on the Headrow, right next to the Henry Moore Institute and just a three-minute walk from Leeds City Museum. Most other points of interest in the city centre are just a short walk away, including the Corn Exchange, Leeds Kirkgate Market and the Victoria Quarter, which are around a 10-minute walk away.

It is a 10-minute walk from the railway station and a 15-minute walk from the bus station.

Leeds Art Gallery is open Tuesday to Saturday and admission is free of charge. It is fully wheelchair accessible.

The art gallery has a gift shop and an excellent cafe. Although it can get busy, the Tiled Hall Café is a delightful spot for a hot drink and a light meal. It was originally the main reading room of Leeds Central Library and was extensively renovated in 2007 making it one of Leeds most iconic cafes.