Turner, Wedgwood & Beyond: John Flaxman Exhibition Coming to York Art Gallery
York Art Gallery is preparing to launch a major new autumn exhibition dedicated to the life and legacy of the influential local-born designer, draughtsman, and sculptor John Flaxman. Titled Turner, Wedgwood & Beyond: Inspired by Flaxman, the exhibition opens on 18 September 2026 and runs until 17 January 2027, marking the bicentenary of the artist's death.
Discovering a Defining Figure of British Art in York
Born in the city in 1755, John Flaxman shaped visual culture across Britain and Europe through his sculptures, monuments, and iconic ceramic designs for Josiah Wedgwood. While his contributions left a lasting mark on contemporaries such as William Blake, J.M.W. Turner, Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, and fellow York native William Etty, modern audiences often encounter his creations without realizing the vision behind them. Staged in his home city—where his likeness is commemorated on the building's facade—this upcoming showcase offers a fitting homecoming and a fresh look at his historical impact.
What Visitors Can Expect from the Exhibition
Bringing together more than 70 loans from major national institutions alongside pieces from the gallery's own holdings, the exhibition explores the full range of Flaxman's artistic output. Highlights featured in the display include J.M.W. Turner’s Ulysses deriding Polyphemus – Homer’s Odyssey from the National Gallery, Turner’s The Fall of Anarchy and William Blake’s Beatrice Addressing Dante from the Car from Tate, and Ingres’s Paolo and Francesca from the Barber Institute of Fine Art.
Visitors will also encounter sculptural works, rare Wedgwood chess pieces, portraiture, and one of only five surviving examples of his monumental silver-gilt Shield of Achilles. Produced and curated in collaboration with the University of York’s Department of History of Art, the display is also set to be accompanied by a series of talks, workshops, and events throughout the autumn and winter months.
The exhibition is included in general admission to York Art Gallery. To plan your visit, see what else is currently on display, or find more cultural spots across the area, check out the latest updates on Musemap. You can also browse the museums list, explore the map view, or look through the what's on exhibitions.
