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Visual Arts

Liverpool is a city rich in the arts and is undoubtedly one of the best places in England to view and explore all things creative, visionary and historic.

visual art

One of the first things any visitor to Liverpool sees as they step from Lime Street train station is the majestic frontage of its Walker Art Gallery, which houses a collection of art that its civic fathers believed would demonstrate not only their wealth, but their advanced artistic taste. Similarly, the Lady Lever Gallery in Port Sunlight retains the artistic legacy of Liverpool's affluent past. Move across the city to the waterfront and there's the Tate Liverpool, not just a northern satellite of its feted sisters in London, but an important gallery in its own right, featuring exhibitions that are significant to the art world at large.

Win tickets for the Gustav Klimt Exhibition at Tate Liverpool

TURNING THE PLACE OVER
Throughout 08
2007 saw the installation of the most daring piece of public art ever commissioned in the UK. Turning the Place Over is artist Richard Wilson's most radical intervention into architecture to date literally turning a building inside out. Make sure that you visit Moorfields Station to experience this dramatic public art piece.

More information about Turning The Place Over

THE TWENTIETH CENTURY: HOW IT LOOKED & HOW IT FELT
October 07 - Spring 09
A major new display of some of the best pieces from the Tate collection including Rodin's Kiss and almost 200 key works, the largest number of works from the collection ever seen at one time at Tate Liverpool.

More information about 'How It Looked & How It Felt'

PUBLIC ART
November 07 - January 09
A year long programme of public art will surprise and inspire throughout the city centre and surrounding neighbourhoods. Elements include; Winter Lights, Pavillions and 'visible viruses' utilising the city's transport systems, parks and urban spaces.

BEN JOHNSON
24 May - 2 November 08
Internationally renowned artist Ben Johnson has been specially commissioned to produce a huge portrait of Liverpool to commemorate the city becoming European Capital of Culture in 2008. The Liverpool Cityscape 2008 painting will be shown for the first time alongside other examples of his work and historical views of Liverpool at the Walker Art Gallery.

More information about Ben Johnson

ART IN THE AGE OF STEAM
18 April - 10 August 08
This major exhibition for 2008 includes some of the great names of European and North American art such as Manet, Monet, Van Gogh and Hopper. It will show how artists and photographers of the 19th and 20th centuries responded to the railway.

More information about 'Art In The Age Of Steam'

Gustav Klimt portrait of Hermine Gallia KLIMT EXHIBITION
30 May - 31 August 08
To celebrate 2008 as European Capital of Culture Tate Liverpool present the first comprehensive exhibition of Gustav Klimt's work ever staged in the UK. The exhibition has been described as 'bringing the bling to Liverpool's big year' and will include over 100 decorative, ornamental works.

More information about the Klimt Exhibition

PHIL COLLINS
September 08
Phil Collins' art investigates our ambivalent relationship with the camera as both an instrument of attraction and manipulation, of revelation and shame. One of the Liverpool Commissions this new work by Collins will see the artist making a new film piece made in collaboration with the people of Liverpool.

More information about Phil Collins

LIVERPOOL BIENNIAL INTERNATIONAL
September - November 08
Liverpool Biennial is the UK's only International Festival of Contemporary Art using unique existing structures to showcase large scale artworks. Many of the world's most exciting artists are invited to create new pieces in dozens of locations throughout Liverpool throwing an international spotlight on the city and attracting an estimated half a million visitors.

More information about the Liverpool Biennial