Wolverhampton Art Gallery is one of the most popular attractions in Wolverhampton. It has permanent exhibitions that showcase significant periods in British history and their cultural influence in addition to some of the most celebrated artists of the time. Wolverhampton Art Gallery opened in 1884 in a stunning late-Victorian style palace designed by Julius Chatwin. Intricately carved friezes decorate the façade and represent the Arts and Crafts movement.
In the Georgian Gallery, immerse yourself in the Age of Enlightenment. Paintings by Edward Bird, Joseph Wright of Derby and Thomas Gainsborough highlight this period of immense social development. The Victorian Gallery takes you on a journey through the rule of Queen Victoria, which witnessed colonial expansion and both increased wealth and extreme hardship. Admire works by David Cox and Edward Landseer alongside Asian ceramics, Indian pottery and period furniture.
In the Pop Art gallery, rotating exhibitions allow visitors to discover the flamboyant ideals of artists such as Andy Warhol and David Hockney. Understand how 21st-century art has been used as a tool for tackling civil rights, race and gender issues. Touring expositions celebrate everything from the puppets of popular television series to still life paintings.
Be sure to spend some time appreciating Abraham Janssens’ Peace and Plenty Blinding Arrows of War. This is the only paining by the acclaimed Flemish Baroque painter on display in a British public gallery. Other highlights include Madonna and Child by Marianne Stokes and The Family of Eldred Lancelot Lee by Joseph Highmore.
The museum stands adjacent to St. Peter’s Gardens in Wolverhampton’s civic center. It’s less than a 10-minute walk from the city’s bus and railway stations. There’s no on-site parking, but drivers can use the metered car parks close by. Nearby attractions include St. Peter’s Collegiate Church and Wolverhampton Grand Theatre.
Wolverhampton Art Gallery is open daily and admission is free. A list of current exhibitions and workshops, such as drawing classes and parent-baby art groups, is available on the gallery’s official website.
