Williamson Art Gallery

Beyond the Brotherhood: The Legacies of the Pre-Raphaelites
2026-01-23 10:00 - 2026-11-07 17:00 UTC | Williamson Art Gallery, Slatey Rd, Oxton, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH43 4UE, United Kingdom
Formed in 1848, the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, shook the foundations of the British art world with their bold colour palettes, truth to nature, and symbolism.
The Williamson collection holds some of the finest examples of works showing this artistic legacy.
The exhibition will also showcase the various ways in which Merseyside has been influenced by, and instrumental in forging new directions for these legacies.
This will include Birkenhead’s Della Robbia Pottery Company, and the ‘Liverpool School’ of landscape painters.

Echoes of the Floating World
2026-02-04 10:00 - 2027-02-06 17:00
The Williamson possesses a small but notable collection of woodblock prints in the Japanese Ukiyo-e style.
These were made by some of the most important names in the period, from Hiroshige to Hokusai.
Their motifs of flat perspectives, high vantage points, and bold colour distinctions, were a radical influence across European art, including by artists from Wirral.
As such, this exhibition will show local artworks alongside Ukiyo-e prints, communicating how Wirral artists have been influenced by, and in dialogue with, artists from across the world.

Ends 6th February 2027

Williamson Open 2026
2026-07-24 10:00 - 2026-10-10 17:00
The exhibition is now open!!!

The Williamson Open returns for 2026! Our much-loved annual exhibition showcases the best in art and photography made by artists across the Liverpool City Region.

Take It Home: Many of the artworks in the Open are available to buy. You can view and purchase artworks online as well as in-person this year.

View the Online Catalogue

On purchases made in the gallery, we offer the Own Art scheme.

Own Art is a national initiative, supported by Arts Council England, to make it easy and affordable for anyone and everyone to buy contemporary art and craft by providing interest-free loans.
Choose the artwork you love, apply for a loan from as little as £250 and pay it back over 10 months, completely interest-free.

Find out more about the scheme and eligibility criteria: www.ownart.org.uk

Please note that Own Art cannot be applied to online artwork purchases.

Coming soon- Leonard McComb: Nature & Humanity
2026-08-14 10:00 - 2026-10-31 17:00
The Williamson Art Gallery & Museum will present the largest ever exhibition of work by one of the most important British artists of the 20th century, Leonard McComb.
Leonard McComb: Nature and Humanity will include the best works from the artist’s estate, as well as choice loans from major public and private collections, over 60 of the artist’s best pieces, including painting, watercolour, drawings, and sculpture, will be brought together. These will include ‘Rock and Sea Anglesey’, from Oriel Môn, which, measuring over 10 metres long, is the largest drawing on paper held by any UK public collection. There will also be a selection of choice loans from Manchester Art Gallery and the Royal Academy.
The loans are supported by the Weston Loan Programme with Art Fund. Created by the Garfield Weston Foundation and Art Fund, the Weston Loan Programme is the first ever UK-wide funding scheme to enable smaller and local authority museums to borrow works of art and artefacts from national collections. The exhibition is a collaboration with Art Space Gallery| Michael Richardson Contemporary Art and the Estate of Leonard McComb RA.
Leonard McComb RA (1930-2018) received acclaim and accolades throughout his career for his work in different mediums including painting, drawing and sculpture. This exhibition at the Williamson will have a particular focus on McComb’s ecological outlook, which can be found throughout his work. Whether portrait, still life, landscape, or sculpture, McComb’s work demonstrates his beliefs on the beauty, energy, and interconnectedness of all life.
Curator Josh Mackarell says that “we are delighted to be able to bring this major exhibition of an important and celebrated artist to Merseyside. McComb’s work is not just relevant to our modern times for its beauty and technical brilliance, but also because its environmental outlook speaks to the fundamental debates of our time.”
The exhibition will open on Friday 14th August 2026 and run until Saturday 31st October.
