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University of York

Art on campus

The University of York's Art collection

The art collection holds over 900 artworks across various media, including works by acknowledged masters, such as Barbara Hepworth, Sidney Nolan, Paul Nash, Joan Eardley, Keith Vaughan, Jacob Epstein, Mary Fedden, John Hoyland, Patrick Caulfield and Elizabeth Blackadder.

It also holds pieces by prominent local artists, including Austin Wright, John Langton, Russell Platt, David Lloyd-Jones and Sally Arnup. Modern British art from the 1960s to the 1980s is a particular strength of the art collection, although the breadth of the collection also encompasses ancient and modern ceramics, textile-art, sculpture, painting, printmaking, book-art and photography.

As part of the collection, there are 15 sculptures located mostly outdoors across the campus.

Follow our social media to hear about upcoming tours and exhibitions.

Image: 'Dryad' by Austin Wright (1984), between Heslington Hall and the Quiet Place

Galleries

The University has two permanent art galleries on campus that host temporary exhibitions:

  • Norman Rea Art Gallery
    The Norman Rea Art Gallery is situated on the first floor of Derwent College and hosts exhibitions from Yorkshire artists.
  • Roslyn Lyons Art Gallery
    The Roslyn Lyons Art Gallery is located in the Music Research Centre.
Image: In 2021, the team at Norman Rea Gallery partnered with the York Anti Racist Society and Racial Justice Network to commission a series of artworks created by artists of colour reflecting on the experience of living in our city. These artworks have now found their permanent home in the University’s art collection.

Research-Related Art

At the University of York, academics collaborate with various artists throughout the research process. We also work together with them to communicate our findings to different audiences, using mediums such as photography, painting, poetry, textile-art, film and sculpture.

The works resulting from these artist-academic collaborations have been displayed in galleries and community spaces. You can also view some of our art-academic collaborative projects on the University of York campus.

The 'Art of Politics' trail on campus showcases art works concerned with issues of social change, development, human rights, injustice and inequality, emerging from our academic-artistic collaborations. Developed in partnership with the Interdisciplinary Global Development Centre and the Centre for Applied Human Rights, it presents a range of (inter)disciplinary perspectives and art forms.

Image: 'A Blanket for Human Rights Defenders' was made from the shirts worn by protesters on marches in Mexico. The embroidered quotes are the words of Mexican human rights defenders taken from the poem 'Greater than Love' by Juliana Mensah (English and Related Literature).
Image: This portrait and accompanying quote is taken from the series 'We are here, because you were there: Afghan Interpreters in the UK' by University of York researcher Sara de Jong and Photographer Andy Barnham. © Photography and Design Andy Barnham

Other Art Projects on Campus

Art displays and pop-ups are central to the campus.

There are always several projects on the go, from outdoor displays to new artwork being made and exhibited in various locations. Many of these are student-led in collaboration with YUSU and involve both artwork by professional artists and by our talented students.

Image: Each tile was painted by students who represented their experience as part of the Estranged Students' Solidarity Week.