Williamson Art Gallery and Museum announces Spring exhibitions

The Williamson Art Gallery and Museum in Birkenhead is set to kick off its 2025 season on Wednesday, 12 February.

The Williamson Art Gallery and Museum will open with six new exhibitions celebrating local heritage and contemporary art.

These exhibitions include rarely-seen treasures from the gallery’s collections, thought-provoking installations, and a spotlight on the artistic talent of the Liverpool City Region.

Following a period of detailed research and cataloguing, two exhibitions will focus on artists from their collection. The 80th anniversary of the death of Wallasey-trained war artist Albert Richards will be commemorated in an exhibition of some of the 200+ works of his we have in our collection.

Philip Wilson Steer: In Conversation will celebrate the work of this pioneering Birkenhead-born British impressionist. His works have long been considered highlights of the Williamson’s collection, and this exhibition will bring his work into conversation with both his contemporaries and local artists who followed in his footsteps.

Visitors who enjoy interactive experiences will have the opportunity to take an immersive journey into the inner worlds of soil and the subconscious mind inSubterranean Elevator by Di Mainstone. The artwork, commissioned through the Wirral Borough of Culture programme, is an experience which aims to deepen our understanding of biodiversity loss and engage with the emotional landscape of the climate emergency.

Two further exhibitions will celebrate the creativity of contemporary North West artists. Un/Earthed – A Retrospective by Landlines Studio will immerse visitors in the creative process of Angela Stringer and Nicky Perrin, and their alchemical process of turning raw earth into vibrant expressions of story and place. And following on from 2024’s exhibition of ‘Going to the Match’ by L S Lowry and funded by Arts Council England, they have commissioned award-winning photographer Marge Bradshaw to work with Liverpool Trans and Enby FC, visually documenting participants’ stories and experiences of participating in football at the grassroots club. 

An extraordinary life will be celebrated in Elizabeth Smolen: Trailblazer. Smolen was a Polish refugee who settled in Birkenhead and became a champion scooter racer and successful businesswoman. Produced in collaboration with Big Heritage, this exhibition tells her incredible story.

All exhibitions will be open from Wednesday 12 February, except Elizabeth Smolen: Trailblazer which opens on Friday 21 February. Un-Earthed – A Retrospective by Landlines Studio and Marge Bradshaw’s commission will close on Saturday 28 June, with all other exhibitions continuing until 20 December.

Deputy chair of Wirral Council’s Tourism, Communities, Culture & Leisure Committee, Cllr Ann Ainsworth, said:

“This is an incredible programme of exhibitions for 2025 and shows how the Williamson is a vital and exciting part of our local arts scene.

“There will be something here for everyone, and I have no doubt that everyone will enjoy what is coming up with so much to look forward to. And such a range of arts, showcasing so many different skills and styles, illustrates perfectly how vibrant the arts are here and how this amazing gallery has so much to offer the people of Wirral and the wider city region and beyond.”

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