The Grundy Art Gallery in Blackpool shows a year round programme of contemporary and visual art exhibitions and events. Including solo and group displays together with talks, events and educational activities. Take a look at what’s coming up in Spring 2026.

Opening Times

• Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 4.45pm.
• Please note: last entry to the gallery is 4.20pm.
• Closed Sunday, Monday and Bank Holidays
• Admission is Free
• More about facilities here

GRUNDY REOPENS WITH A NEW EXHIBITION – 18 July 2026

Linder Sterling, commonly known as Linder, is a British artist known for her photography, radical feminist photomontage and confrontational performance art. She was also the former frontwoman of Manchester-based post-punk group Ludus. In 2017, Sterling was honoured with the Paul Hamlyn Foundation Award.

From 18 July to 3 October 2026, Grundy Art Gallery hosts ‘Linder: the Return of Linderland’. It’s a reconceived version of Linder’s landmark exhibition, Danger Came Smiling, that has toured across the UK since premiering at the Hayward Gallery, London in 2025.

The Return of Linderland offers an illuminating and very personal reflection of this iconic artist’s 50 year-long career. A selection of Linder’s trailblazing photomontages explores the range of her artistic practice, underscoring the experimental and feminist impulses of her thought-provoking work. Early drawings and ephemera explore Linder’s nascent development as an artist, tracing her artistic production to her now renowned visual style.

Co Exhibiting…

In collaboration with Grundy Art Gallery, the exhibition has been adapted, cut and pasted to reflect Linder’s heritage and influences. Rarely seen, atypical drawings by L.S. Lowry, of mannequins and dancers on loan from Lowry, Salford rewrite our understanding of this Northwest painter while a 1952 seascape from L.S. Lowry returns us to familiar ground speaking to Linder’s home on the Lancashire Coast. Brendel plant models on loan from Gallery Oldham trace Linder’s early interest and fascination with the botanical world, flowers remain a central motif in her work. A series of Linder’s films showcase Blackpool’s cowboys, Manchester jack the lads, and Linder’s own bodybuilding. In punk paste-up style, a collaboration with BuildHollywood converts gallery walls into billboard size works, bespoke for Blackpool.

Linder first achieved prominence in the 1970s, within the dynamic landscape of punk and post-punk music, gaining widespread recognition with her band, Ludus, and for her ground-breaking album covers. Her photomontage for the cover of Buzzcocks’ 1977 single ‘Orgasm Addict’ endures as one of the emblematic images of the British punk scene. Five decades later, Linder is an internationally recognised artist renowned for her multifaceted practice.

An Exploration of Popular Culture

Linder’s journey has been one of relentless exploration, venturing into realms as varied as fashion, music, performance, perfume, textiles, and film. Beyond the raw and abrasive energy of the DIY punk aesthetic, her artistic vision is informed by a rich tapestry of influences spanning religious art, surrealism, mysticism, pornography and the shifting landscape of social media.

Paintings from the Grundy Art Gallery’s own Collection are interspersed throughout the exhibition. Selecting works dating from the late 19th to mid 20th Century, Linder’s choices reflect her northwest roots, her eclectic interests and influences, and the role women played within art and society.

This exhibition marks Linder’s first solo exhibition in the Northwest since her 2000 exhibition The Return of Linderland, at Cornerhouse, Manchester.

Linder: The Return of Linderland is curated by Hayward Gallery Touring.

When a Monet masterpiece came to Blackpool

Blackpool’s Grundy Art Gallery celebrated a landmark cultural moment on Friday 27 March 2026. It welcomed local dignitaries, cultural leaders and invited guests to an exclusive preview event to mark the arrival of a rare Monet masterpiece.

The exclusive Claude Monet exhibition showcases the artist’s The Petit Bras of the Seine at Argenteuil (1872). It’s thanks to an extraordinary loan from the National Gallery as part of its exciting Masterpiece Tour 2025–2027.

The National Gallery selected the Grundy from over 30 UK venues as one of just four hosts to take part in the exhibition tour. Further artworks will follow this prestigious piece during the three-year project. It’s part of The National Gallery’s ongoing commitment to sharing its collection across the UK. Previous exhibitions have featured major artists such as L. S. Lowry, J. M. W. Turner and Roy Lichtenstein. Louise Bourgeois, Tracey Emin and Grayson Perry.

More about the Monet

Guests at the launch were given a first look at the celebrated painting, part of a group of Monet works. Made in Argenteuil in 1872, which was a defining moment in the development of Impressionism. The arrival also marks a major cultural milestone for Blackpool. The iconic piece is now on public display in the North West for the very first time.

Paulette Brien is Curator at Grundy Art Gallery. She said at the event “The presentation of the Monet on loan from National Gallery shows Grundy’s determination to celebrate the very best of art and culture, and to make that accessible to residents and visitors alike. It’s also testament to our collaborative working with local, regional and national partners and evidence of Grundy’s ambition.”

Claude Monet’s The Petit Bras of the Seine at Argenteuil (1872) captures a serene winter scene along the Seine at Argenteuil. There, the famous French artist focuses on nature’s stillness, despite the encroaching signs of industrial life. His delicate handling of light and reflection offers visitors an intimate glimpse into a transformative period in his career.

We were there at the launch event, watch our video here:

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The Grundy welcomed thousands of art lovers to see the painting. More than 4,000 people visited the gallery, more than doubling the average visitor numbers for the same period the previous year.

Paulette Brien, Curator at Grundy Art Gallery, said: “It’s been a privilege to host the Monet painting as part of the Masterpiece Tour. We’ve chatted to many visitors who’ve told us they feel privileged to see a Monet not only outside of a big city, but in their hometown. We’ve also had people visiting from as far afield as Versailles and Oregon, USA. And to hear local people say things like ‘the Grundy is doing amazing work’, just reinforces how important art galleries and museums like ours are in people’s lives.”

Look Inside the Grundy Art Gallery

The Spring 2025 exhibition featured exhibitions that celebrate our hobbies, from making and modifying to collecting. We went to take a look around inside…

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Monet painting to be exhibited at Blackpool’s Grundy Art Gallery

Blackpool Council is delighted to announce that The National Gallery, London has selected Grundy Art Gallery to be one of four museums and galleries from across the country to take part in the prestigious The National Gallery Masterpiece Tour 2025-27.

The National Gallery’s The Petit Bras of the Seine at Argenteuil by Monet will be displayed at Blackpool’s Grundy Art Gallery in spring 2026 (28 March -13 June).  Blackpool was chosen as one of four locations from over 30 museum and galleries that submitted an application to be part of The National Gallery Masterpiece Tour 2025-27.

This project will also see Grundy Art Gallery host other artworks in the future of art historical and art world significance from The National Gallery Collection.

The work selected for the first year is Monet’s The Petit Bras of the Seine at Argenteuil (1872), a work which has left the Gallery only once in the last 20 years. Monet depicts a tranquil scene of a winter day on the outskirts of the small suburban town of Argenteuil, not far from Paris. Although the town was already partly industrialised and a popular location for sailing and leisure boating, Monet only hints at this developing bustle with a few scattered buildings behind a screen of trees. Instead, he focuses on an intimate moment by the river. The orderly composition, variety of brushstrokes and reflection in the water are all regular features of Monet’s work.

Hosting Monet in Blackpool continues Grundy’s ambition to bring world-class art to the town, and follows recent displays of work by art world greats such as LS Lowry, JMW Turner, Roy Lichtenstein, Louise Bourgeois, Tracey Emin and Grayson Perry.

To accompany Monet…

Grundy Art Gallery will use its expertise in hosting contemporary art exhibitions to combine the display of Monet with a solo exhibition by the contemporary Northwest based painter Louise Giovanelli. Recognised as one of the most compelling artists of her generation, Giovanelli’s luminous paintings display her own mastery of materials and her expert skill at capturing light, reflection and shadow. Spring 2026 marks ten years since Giovanelli had her first solo exhibition at the Grundy, an occasion that was also the first solo exhibition of her career.

There will also be a schools’ exhibition at Blackpool’s Grundy Art Gallery following workshops responding to Monet’s work, and Monet’s painting will inspire Grundy’s programme of work with the pARTnership, a creative and professional development project for adults with a learning disability.

Sir Gabriele Finaldi is National Gallery Director. He said: “The National Gallery’s collection belongs to all of us. It is part of our duty and our honour to look after these paintings and to bring them to where people are, not just expect them to come to us. Partnering on touring exhibitions does so much more than bring beloved paintings from the collection to other places in the UK. It supports the whole country’s cultural ecosystem, connecting people with paintings that belong to us all. It allows us to learn and expand our own practices and interpretations through the creativity of our partner organisations and their communities. That over one million people have visited these exhibitions in the last decade proves the desire to engage with our collection is growing. We look forward to welcoming the next million visitors across the UK.”

Grundy Art Gallery’s work recognised by increased funding

In November 2022, Grundy Art Gallery announced that it’s to remain part of Arts Council England’s National Portfolio programme 2023-2026 – to the value of £249,000 over the three years.

This funding will support the development and delivery of an exciting year-round programme of relevant, meaningful and high quality contemporary art exhibitions and events, taking place on and off-site.

Image credits, left to right:

• Chila Kumari Singh Burman, Blackpool Light of My Life (2021), Grundy Art Gallery Co-commission with Blackpool Illuminations and Lightpool Festival Photo: Jonathan Lynch, © the artist, Courtesy Grundy Art Gallery
• The pARTnership exhibition banner at Grundy Art Gallery, 2022. Photo Matt Wilkinson. Courtesy Grundy Art Gallery, Blackpool Council
• Chloe MacFarlane, copyright the artist, Private Collection, Photo Matt Wilkson. Courtesy Grundy Art Gallery, Blackpool Council

Grundy will continue its founding mission to show the best art of the day to the people of Blackpool and beyond. The programme will enable the gallery to enact its vision to be a beacon for contemporary art in the North West.

Grundy Art Gallery is also delighted to receive an uplift on previous years’ NPO funding, specifically to support the development and delivery of the pARTnership.

It’s delivered via a collaboration between Grundy Art Gallery, The New Langdale (Blackpool Council’s daytime service for people with a Learning Disability), Venture Arts in Manchester and Fylde-Coast based artist Tina Dempsey. This project provides bespoke professional development to artists with a Learning Disability to enable them to develop their own individual creativity. The project also presents this work in professional contemporary art settings. Recent exhibitions of this work have taken place at Grundy Art Gallery and Abingdon Studios in Blackpool. And at The Horsfall and The Manchester Contemporary in Manchester.

Grundy newsletter

To keep up to date and find out more about the Grundy’s exhibitions and events sign up to the Grundy newsletter via the Grundy website www.thegrundy.org. Also keep an eye on the website and watch out for posts via Grundy’s social media channels.

Grundy Art Gallery celebrates 110 years

Grundy Art Gallery unveiled an exciting calendar of events to commemorate its 110th anniversary in 2021. 

The gallery and its collection established in 1911. It came via a financial gift and donation of over 30 paintings by local brothers John and Cuthbert Grundy. 2021 therefore marks the 110th Anniversary of the gallery opening its doors to the people of Blackpool and beyond.

• Explore the history of Grundy Art Gallery

The Blackpool coat of arms – emblazoned with ‘Progress’ – is embedded in brickwork above the front door. Guided by this motto, the gallery continues to honour its founding ethos. It shows a year-round programme of high quality contemporary art exhibitions and events. Despite the ongoing challenges of COVID-19, 2021 was no exception.  

110th Anniversary Logo 

Grundy Art Gallery’s 110th anniversary logo was inspired by an ink stamp, historically used to identify items brought into Grundy’s permanent collection. It also echoes the design of Blackpool’s world famous sticks of rock.

Curator of Grundy Art Gallery

Paulette Terry Brien became the gallery’s curator in November 2017.

Paulette has more than 25 years of experience working within contemporary visual art. She’s well known for raising the profile of the North West region, on a national and international level.

Paulette is co-founder and co-director of The International 3, a contemporary art gallery based in Salford. There, she delivered a year round programme of exhibitions and events. Plus being instrumental in developing projects such as Manchester’s annual contemporary art fair, The Manchester Contemporary.

Paulette comes to the Grundy with a strong track record of identifying and nurturing emerging talent, commissioning and curating high quality contemporary art exhibitions for both gallery and non-gallery settings. Over the years, her wealth of experience has supported hundreds of emerging artists. Many of whom have gone on to achieve regional, national and international recognition.

As well as providing peer support, Paulette has also been successful on many occasions in brokering the acquisition of work by regional artists into major public and private collections, such as the Arts Council Collection and Whitworth Art Gallery’s collection.

Paulette is thrilled to be the new curator of the Grundy. She’s keen to continue to champion regional artists from the North West.

More about Grundy Art Gallery

Grundy Art Gallery is Blackpool’s art gallery. It offers a year round programme of contemporary and visual art exhibitions and events. There are solo and group exhibitions together with talks, workshops and educational activities.

Brothers John and Cuthbert Grundy founded The Grundy Art Gallery in 1908. Now displayed in a Grade II listed Carnegie building. It’s been at the centre of cultural and artistic life in the town for over 100 years. It began with the ambition to show the best art of the day to the people of Blackpool. This sentiment remains at the heart of today, as a leading contemporary art gallery in the North West.

• Explore the history of Grundy Art Gallery

Today it includes works by established artists such as Martin Creed, Tracey Emin and Laura Ford. Gilbert and George, Brian Griffiths, Augustus John, Haroon Mirza and Eric Ravilious. It also has works by regionally based emerging talent such as Joe Fletcher Orr and Louise Giovanelli.

The Grundy aims to inspire audiences through an ambitious and varied year-round exhibitions programme. It draws on the unique and invigorating context and heritage of Blackpool. For instance exploring the space between contemporary art, entertainment and popular culture.

The Grundy Collection

Exhibitions and displays frequently incorporate pieces from our collection. It began with a bequest by the founding brothers and contains an eclectic range of art and other items. From furniture to ceramics, to netsuke ornaments to Victorian oil paintings. Artists include Craigie Aitchison, Ruth Claxton and Martin Creed. Laura Ford, Augustus John, Eric Ravilious and Gilbert and George amongst others.

Grundy is part of Blackpool Council’s Arts Service. It develops and delivers arts projects which engage Blackpool’s residents, communities and visitors in the arts. The service supports the town’s arts community, placing the arts the core of Blackpool’s unique and important cultural environment.

The gallery is an Accredited Museum. It also receives funding from Arts Council England as a National Portfolio Organisation and from the John Ellerman Foundation.

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