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Exhibitions

Gallery Oldham has three large exhibition spaces plus a community gallery.

We take an innovative and unique approach to exhibition programming, bringing together what were once separate museum and gallery services.

Our programming incorporates Oldham’s extensive art, social and natural history collections alongside touring work, newly commissioned and contemporary art, international art and work produced with local communities.

In addition we have permanent displays around the building.

Current Exhibitions

Gallery 1 – Oldham Stories

Oldham Stories exhibition, features selected objects from our extensive collections to tell and show the stories of Oldham and its local communities. From birds and animals to banners and artwork, every object has a fascinating tale to tell. Our Collector’s Case features an array of caps, shirts and memorabilia from Oldham Rugby Football League. The display also highlights local figures such as suffragette Annie Kenney, daredevil speedway rider Clem Beckett and the popular artist Helen Bradley.

 

 

 

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Gallery 2 – Landscape Inside Out

March 5 – June 4

Liz Ackerley and Hugh Winterbottom present their first joint large-scale exhibition, exploring the local landscapes from their home in Mossley. Moorland, woodland and the valleys are the focus of their explorations.

Both artists spend a lot of time working outside as well as in the studio. They bring into the gallery the atmospheric feeling of the landscape that they both know so well. The collaboration enables two very different, complementary ways of experiencing and interpreting the same landscapes. Hugh’s oil paintings create depth and atmosphere by observing colour and light. Liz’s dynamic mixed media paintings explore the rich visual language of vistas and details.

Follow their journey preparing the artwork for this exhibition via their YouTube Channels: Liz Ackerley and Hugh Winterbottom

Watch this short film by Liz Ackerley as she looks at sketching:

Countryside magazines recently featured both artists on their podcast. Hear how the ever-changing seasons and atmospheres influence their very different styles of work.⁠

Podcast: how the countryside can inspire art – Countryfile.com

Image Credit: Fleeting Moment, Lasting Memories by Liz Ackerley

 

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Gallery 3 – British Wildlife Photography Awards | 10 years retrospective

28 May – 3 September

This exhibition celebrates the tenth anniversary of the British Wildlife Photography Awards at its very best and inspired millions with some of the most outstanding wildlife photography in the world.

 This retrospective looks at the past 10 years and for the first time will include all the overall winners along with a selection of images including category winners and highly commended images, that have made this the exciting and wonderful event it is today.

The competition has captured the imagination of photographers from all over the UK, who collectively have created a unique legacy showcasing British wildlife.

The awards were created to celebrate the talents of both amateur and professional photographers, while simultaneously highlighting the great wealth and diversity of British natural history, raising awareness about British biodiversity, species and habitats, encouraging all ages to discover, explore and help conserve our natural heritage.

 

 

 

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Coming soon….

The Nature Table: Work by Sheila Tilmouth | 11 June – 10 September

Sheila Tilmouth is captivated and curious about the complexity of life forms and their fragile dependence on natural habitats within our landscape. She uses photography and microscopes to discover and magnify the extraordinary lives that are hidden all around us and in the miniature worlds beneath our feet.  Her work shows a wide range of fascinating detailed, close ups exploring all aspects of nature be it animal, vegetable or mineral.

Recently Shelia has spent many hours exploring and studying the natural history collection at Gallery Oldham and observing Oldham’s wildlife. She has made new works inspired by her visits and added these to her existing body of work. From fungus to flies and bumblebees to birds her work interprets these hugely varied lifeforms using a wide mixture of artists’ materials including painting, drawing, printmaking and digital manipulation.