Blockbuster exhibitions in the North

Inject some colour into your life with this vibrant exhibition that celebrates the powerful allure of colour. Marvel at iridescent insects, contemporary works of art, a spectacular carnival costume, and so much more, to uncover how colour plays an important role in the world, from protecting the natural world to displaying symbols of power.

Meet an innovative feminist artist who broke traditions and taboos. Helen Chadwick's provocative works blended beauty conventions with the grotesque, employing materials such as bodily fluids and meat. And did you know? She was one of the first women artists nominated for the Turner Prize. And while you're there, don't miss Caroline Walker: Mothering, an exhibition of a contemporary painter examining the everyday lives of mothers.

Witness a majestic portrait on its first national tour across the UK since it was saved for the nation in 2023. Did you know? We gave the biggest grant in our history as a charity to ensure the National Portrait Gallery and the Getty could jointly acquire this important work of art by 18th-century painter Joshua Reynolds.

Celebrate 250 years since JMW Turner and Jane Austen were born at this major exhibition showing their work side by side for the first time. Witness an imaginary encounter between the prolific painter and beloved writer who both shared an interest in British country houses. And did you know? We supported this exhibition.

What can archaeological artefacts reveal or conceal about a nation? How can museum collections bear witness to political violence? Ali Cherri creates works across film, sculpture, installation and performance to examine the connections between archaeology, history and heritage and the impact of preserving cultural objects in museum collections.

Małgorzata Mirga-Tas is a contemporary Polish Romani artist, teacher and activist. She stitches together fabrics to build textile collages that tell vibrant stories of Roma history and culture, and her family's experiences. Grounded in research and family stories, she finds inspiration in museum collections and her personal archives to challenge stereotypes of Roma people, while demonstrating the community's rich heritage and resilience.

Marvel at these monumental porcelain sculptures by Felicity Aylieff. Towering up to five metres tall, these vast blue and white works are made in collaboration with master ceramicists in Jingdezhen AKA the 'Porcelain Capital'. Aylieff blends traditional Chinese pottery techniques with abstract painting to reimagine them as supersized, contemporary sculptures.

Get a fresh perspective on the iconic and influential landscape painter Turner, in this celebratory exhibition making 250 years since he was born. Get up close to his staggering works that expertly crafted to depict light in its most glorious form. Watercolours from the Whitworth's own collection will be displayed alongside a lesser-known series of prints.

Did you know that bees date back to the dinosaurs? This immersive exhibition blends art and science to follow their story from its origins 120 million years ago, to the environmental challenges they face today. Featuring interactive displays, a soundscape of a live beehive, sculptures and projections, rediscover these vital creatures and their current struggle for survival.

Travel back in time to 1980s Britain, where punks and new wave bands were revolutionising the culture, in this exhibition celebrating Frankie Goes to Hollywood frontman and Liverpool local Holly Johnson. Charting his personal life and career, from budding musician to international star, discover how Johnson dealt with fame, an HIV+ diagnosis, and in turn becoming an LGBTQ+ icon.

Through portraiture, self-taught artist Lela Harris reimagines six Black people connected to the transatlantic slave trade who lived in Lancaster during the 18th century. Harris has combed through archival material to produce visual records of these people who have been historically erased, crucially reminding us of their existence and humanity.