Event type: Exhibition

Goodbye to Goodison

 

Goodison Park’s final season as home to Everton Football Club will be documented from a fan’s perspective, through a new photo display opening on 5 April at Museum of Liverpool.

Featuring nine photographers from the club’s fanbase, Goodbye to Goodison is a love letter to the home stadium of Everton Football Club in its final season. The display of photos taken during the final season looks at the relationship between this iconic ground and the loyal fans who congregate around the stadium.

Goodbye to Goodison brings together fan photographers that document the matchday experience at Goodison Park. The photos selected highlight matchdays away from the Premier League glamour – the chippies, pubs, meeting places and family moments shared during the final season.

As the club moves into the next chapter of its rich history, relocating to a state-of-the-art stadium, fans are savouring the final moments in one of the country’s last great football stadiums.

Chris Wardle, co-curator and contributor to Goodbye to Goodison, said: “While a lot of attention is focused on the pitch for Goodison Park’s final season, I wanted to shift our focus to the pre-game experiences and moments that, to me, make this old ground so special.

“The display celebrates the streets, landmarks and establishments that have become an extension of the ground over the years.

“We’re lucky, as a fanbase, to have a talented group of photographers who have taken it upon themselves to document Goodison’s legacy from their own perspective. I am excited to showcase the work of these photographers and pay tribute to one of the great stadiums in world football.”

To mark the final game, museum curators will select an image taken from the final game of the season, capturing the emotion and importance of the final game at The Grand Old Lady.

Karen O’Rourke, curator for sport, music and performance at Museum of Liverpool, said: “Leaving a space for an image from the final game at Goodison Park seems like an important thing to do. We are hoping the photographers involved can capture the emotion that will no doubt overflow before and after the last game. The display pays tribute to a landmark of the city, before the club moves to its new ground on the banks of the River Mersey.”

Goodbye to Goodison opens in Museum of Liverpool’s Skylight Gallery on Saturday 5 April and runs until Sunday 10 August.

On Thursdays throughout the run of the display, visitors will be able to see additional images from the photographers and share their own memories and experiences of going to the match.

Running alongside the display, the museum will release an episode of the NML Podcast talking with staff, ex-players, ex-managers and other important figures who know Goodison Park best. Online a wider selection of photos from around the ground will be available to view.

For more information on Goodbye to Goodison, the photographers and special events, please visit: Liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/Goodison-park.

 

Liverpool Biennial 2025: Bedrock

The 13th edition of Liverpool Biennial, titled ‘BEDROCK’, will take place 7 June – 14 September 2025, curated by Marie-Anne McQuay.

The theme draws on Liverpool’s distinctive geography and the beliefs which underpin the city. It is inspired by the sandstone which spans the city region and is found in its distinctive architecture. ‘BEDROCK’ also acts as a metaphor for the social foundations of Liverpool and the people, places and values that ground all of us. 30 artists and collectives will respond to the theme of the 13th edition.

Liverpool Biennial is the UK’s largest free festival of contemporary visual art. Taking place in historic buildings, unexpected spaces and art galleries, the Biennial has been transforming the city through art for over two decades. A dynamic programme of free exhibitions, performances, screenings, community and learning activities and fringe events unfolds over 14 weeks, shining a light on the city’s vibrant cultural scene.

‘BEDROCK’ draws on Liverpool’s distinctive geography and the beliefs which underpin the city. It is inspired by the sandstone which spans the city region and is found in its distinctive architecture. ‘BEDROCK’ also acts as a metaphor for the unique social foundations of Liverpool, haunted by empire, and the people, places and values that ground us.

Taking over historic buildings, unexpected spaces and art galleries, Liverpool Biennial – the UK’s largest free festival of contemporary visual art – has been transforming the city through art for over two decades. A dynamic programme of free exhibitions, performances, community and learning activities, and fringe events unfolds over 14 weeks, shining a light on the city’s vibrant cultural scene.

New venues and sites announced today (25 March 2025) for the 13th edition include 20 Jordan Street located in the city’s Baltic Triangle, Pine Court, the heritage site of Pine Court Housing Association in the heart of Chinatown, and The Black-E, Liverpool’s pioneering arts and community centre, which join venues such as Bluecoat, FACT Liverpool, Liverpool Cathedral, Liverpool Central Library, Open Eye Gallery, Tate Liverpool + RIBA North and Walker Art Gallery.

A series of outdoor works are set to be installed at sites across the city including Liverpool ONE, Mann Island, St John’s Gardens and the grounds of The Oratory at Liverpool Cathedral.

Click here to register for Liverpool Biennial 2025 Previews – Registration is open until 30 May.

The participating artists for Liverpool Biennial 2025 are:

Alice Rekab (Ireland/Sierra Leone); Amber Akaunu (UK/Nigeria); Amy Claire Mills (Australia); Ana Navas (Venezuela/Ecuador/Netherlands); Anna Gonzalez Noguchi (Spain/Japan/UK); Antonio Jose Guzman & Iva Jankovic (Netherlands/Panama/Serbia); Cevdet Erek (Turkey); ChihChung Chang 張致中(Taiwan/Netherlands); Christine Sun Kim (USA); DARCH (India/Somaliland/Wales); Dawit L. Petros (Eritrea/Canada/USA); Elizabeth Price (UK); Fred Wilson (USA); Hadassa Ngamba (Democratic Republic of the Congo/Belgium); Imayna Caceres (Peru/Austria); Isabel Nolan (Ireland); Jennifer Tee (Netherlands); Kara Chin (UK/Singapore); Karen Tam 譚嘉文(Canada); Katarzyna Perlak (Poland/UK); Leasho Johnson (USA/Jamaica); Linda Lamignan (Nigeria/Norway); Maria Loizidou (Cyprus); Mounira Al Solh (Lebanon); Nandan Ghiya (India); Nour Bishouty (Lebanon/Jordan/Palestine/Canada); Odur Ronald (Uganda); Petros Moris (Greece); Sheila Hicks (France/USA); Widline Cadet (Haiti/USA).

Liverpool Biennial 2025 Programme

Outdoor Works

Celebrating Liverpool’s iconic architecture and public spaces, a series of newly commissioned outdoor artworks will be installed at sites across the city centre.

Alice Rekab presents a multi-city billboard project in Liverpool and Edinburgh, in partnership with EAF25 (Edinburgh Art Festival). In Liverpool, the work is co-created with students from The City of Liverpool College through a series of workshops. Displayed throughout Liverpool ONE, these collaborative works explore experiences of race, migration and belonging. Meanwhile at Bluecoat, the artist presents a multi-layered gallery installation titled ‘Bunchlann/Buncharriag’ (Irish Gaelic for ‘Origin Family’ or ‘Bedrock’).

Anna Gonzalez-Noguchi presents a modular sculpture at Mann Island, inspired by the historical import of ‘foreign’ plants into Liverpool. The three towers, constructed out of metal and reflective materials, incorporate seating, spinning elements and tubular structures engraved with records of the city’s botanical collections.

Isabel Nolan presents a steel and concrete sculpture in St John’s Gardens, supported by Art Fund. The design is inspired by a drawing of a stained-glass window held in the St Nicholas Pro-Cathedral archive and the leadwork in the windows of Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral’s Lutyens Crypt. Painting and textiles by the artist are also shown at the Walker Art Gallery.

A selection from Petros Moris’ ‘ALONE’ series of mosaic sculptures referencing an abandoned playground and his parent’s own mosaic studio, will be exhibited in the grounds of The Oratory at Liverpool Cathedral, as well as at Bluecoat and Walker Art Gallery.

Further works will be exhibited across the city on streets, shop fronts, hoardings and other unexpected places:

Anna Gonzalez-Noguchi – Eurochemist, Berry Street

ChihChung Chang 張致中 – Chinatown

Kara Chin – Berry Street

Odur Ronald – SEVENSTORE, Jamaica Street

Liverpool Independents Biennial 2025

Independents Biennial 2025 will return to Liverpool City Region with 22 new artistic commissions, 64 artists and new work appearing across Liverpool, Sefton, Knowsley, Wirral and St Helens.

The artist-led festival, which runs concurrently to Liverpool Biennial, is created to showcase the vibrant art and art scene of the city-region.

The Independents Biennial has been showcasing the work of grassroots artists since 1999 and has been known by various names including Tracey, Biennial Fringe and Liverpool Independents. It is managed by Art in Liverpool but programmed at venues and locations across the city-region by artists, artist groups, art studios and artist networks.

In 2025, art will be exhibited at over 120 locations, some of which are traditional art spaces, others which are empty or unused high street or retail units. This year’s venues include Bidston Observatory, Hilbre Island, Dibbinsdale Nature Reserve, Bluecoat, The Atkinson, Huyton Village, The World of Glass, Crown Building Studios, Liverpool ONE, Mersey Ferries, Hamilton Square, Victoria Road in New Brighton and Fort Perch Rock.

The artists who are commissioned as part of Independents Biennial live and work in one of Liverpool city-region’s boroughs.

Those commissioned artists are Claire Beerjeraz, CBS Gallery, Rebecca Chesney, Jon Davies & the Sound Art Network, Alan Dunn, Ellis Eyo Thompson, Amy Flynn, Freddy Franke & Rat Shack, George Grace Gibson & Gee Collins, Ellie Hoskins, Anna Jane Houghton & Abbie Bradshaw, Noel Jones & 24 Hope Street, Brigitte Jurack, Dongni Laing, Georgina Tyson & The Royal Standard, Sufea Mohamad Noor, Daniel O’Dempsey, Tom Stockley & Ruaíri Valentine, The Drawing Paper (Show), Stephanie Trujillo, Jacques Verkade & Callan Waldron Hall, and Les Weston.

Bees: a Story of Survival

 

Bees: a Story of Survival is a visually stunning and immersive adventure that explores the epic tale of these incredible creatures and their essential relationship with the natural world.

In a unique partnership with the award-winning artist and sculptor Wolfgang Buttress, Bees: a Story of Survival is a beautiful harmony of art and science featuring cutting edge technology.

Using sculptural sound and light environments, the exhibition provides visitors with a real-time connection to bees within their natural habitat, revealing and expressing an ever changing picture of their activity.

Journey with us into their universe, from the tiny and fascinating anatomy of a single bee to the magic and wonder of bee colonies, the role bees play in the environment and the threats they face.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ParisToxteth Exhibition by Lawrie Vause

 

Paris Toxteth presents

An Exhibition of work by Liverpool based Artist and Animator, Lawrie Vause will be opening at The Egg Cafe from Monday 05.05.2025.

Showcasing Lawrie’s art in the form of paintings, hand printed posters and sculpted pieces.

On Thursday 8th May, a live screening of the artist’s films will be supported with live music accompaniment, presented at 7pm and 8pm.

Free at The Egg Cafe, top floor, 16-18 Newington, L1 4ED, just off Bold Street.The exhibition runs through to 16.06.2025.

 

 

 

Graham Crowley: I Paint Shadows

 

Walker Art Gallery is proud to present Graham Crowley: I Paint Shadows, a new exhibition of works by Graham Crowley, winner of the 2023 John Moores Painting Prize. Opening 14 March 2025, this solo display offers visitors unprecedented insight into Crowley’s distinctive exploration of light and shadow through painting.

The exhibition marks a significant return to Walker Art Gallery for Crowley, who first entered the John Moores Painting Prize in 1976. Nearly five decades later, his 2023 Prize-winning painting ‘Light Industry’—now part of the gallery’s permanent collection—serves as a cornerstone for this comprehensive showcase of new works.

Through his signature style, Crowley investigates what he terms ‘sites of creativity’, from gardens to workplaces, using varied brushwork to create images that appear simultaneously familiar yet disrupted. His tonal approach builds layers of meaning, challenging viewers’ perceptions of everyday scenes through masterful manipulation of light and shadow.

 

National Treasures: Velazquez in Liverpool

 

‘National Treasures: Velázquez in Liverpool’ sees ‘The Rokeby Venus’ form the centrepiece of a new display.

The work is Diego Velázquez’s only surviving female nude and one of his most celebrated pieces. It will be shown in Walker Art Gallery alongside collections from National Museums Liverpool, both ancient and contemporary, exploring this iconic 17th century painting in an unexpected new way.

The display will challenge traditional readings of the painting by setting it alongside unexpected artworks by women and non-binary artists from our collection. These include Ethel Walker’s ‘The Spanish Gesture’, photographs by René Matic and Zanele Muholi, and Harriet Hosmer’s ‘Puck’.

The work is being loaned as part of the National Treasures programme celebrating the 200th birthday of the National Gallery in London. The programme will see twelve institutions across the UK loaned a different work from the National Gallery. For the duration of the displays, 35 million people – more than half the UK population – will be within an hour’s journey of a National Gallery masterpiece.

 

Collections in Focus: Pre-Raphaelites Tour

Join them at the Walker Art Gallery for a guided tour of their Pre-Raphaelite collection. The Pre-Raphaelites were a group of reactionary young men who came together in London in 1848 seeking a return to the principles of the early Renaissance.

Tour guides will reveal the captivating stories behind pieces produced by members of the Brotherhood and their circle, and how Liverpool artists embraced Pre-Raphaelitism.

Highlighted art includes work by John Everett Millais, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, William Holman Hunt, Ford Madox Brown and work produced by Morris & Co.

Tours are on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 1:30pm | Sundays at 10:30am

Turner: Always Contemporary

This exhibition will mark 250 years since the birth of JMW Turner, exploring both the artist’s own work and his enduring impact on later generations of artists. Turner: Always Contemporary will include National Museums Liverpool’s collection of Turner’s oil paintings, works on paper and prints, alongside modern and contemporary artworks that delve into themes of travel, landscape, and artistic experimentation. A number of important and influential loaned works will also feature.

It will offer fresh perspectives on Turner and his legacy, highlighting how he grappled with issues that remain relevant today: climate change, immigration, tourism, and the role of the artist. Alongside Turner’s works, visitors will encounter pieces by Claude Monet, Ethel Walker, Bridget Riley and many more, bringing together 250 years of art to examine Turner’s timeless appeal. 

Generously supported by Lead Partner Quilter Cheviot and Lorraine and Steve Groves.

Gender, Identity and Art: Breaking the Archetypal Mould

 

Join Collective Encounters for the launch of Gender, Identity and Art: Breaking the Archetypal Mould, a brand new exhibition created by Women in Action*. Through powerful visual artworks, the exhibition explores shifting representations of gender, sexuality and womanhood, challenging traditional archetypes and celebrating diverse identities.

Come along to meet the artists, hear about the inspiration behind their work, and be part of a conversation about health, wellbeing, working conditions, LGBT+ identity and class struggle.

This exhibition is part of Radical Retrospectives: Looking back to look forward, Collective Encounters’ programme, celebrating and archiving 21 years of the organisations’ work across the Liverpool City Region.

*Trans women are and will always be welcome in our women’s groups. The same goes for non-binary, gender fluid and gender queer people who feel included by the term women.