Leeds Art Gallery

Leeds Art Gallery is the municipal art gallery in the centre of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. Part of the Leeds Museums & Galleries group, it holds a collection of 20th-century British art that the British government designated in 1997 as being "of national importance". The building is Grade II listed and is owned and run by Leeds City Council.

What can I see at Leeds Art Gallery?

The core of the collection is 20th-century British art, but it also includes 19th-century works and earlier pieces. The lower galleries show work from the early years of the collection, along with sculpture and temporary exhibitions. In front of the entrance stands Henry Moore's sculpture Reclining Woman: Elbow (1981), and inside the entrance hall you will find the oldest civic sculpture in Leeds, a marble statue of Queen Anne from 1712.

How does the gallery connect to its neighbours?

On the west side the gallery is linked to Leeds Central Library, and on the east a bridge leads to the Henry Moore Institute. The Institute occupies three converted Victorian houses on Cookridge Street, shares some sculptures with the gallery and holds the main sculpture collections. That makes it easy to pair a morning of paintings with a look at sculpture in the same neighbourhood. A 1982 extension changed the entrance and added room for sculpture; Queen Elizabeth II opened the new building on 26 November 1982.

What is the Tiled Hall?

One of the most striking spaces in the complex is the Tiled Hall. It began as the main reading room of the neighbouring library, and from 1888 to 1941 served as a sculpture court. When the library moved into the hall in 1955, its richly decorated ceiling and walls were hidden for almost fifty years behind a false ceiling, bookcases and panelling. A restoration costing about £1.5 million, finished in 2007 with English Heritage support, brought the original fabric back to light.

Today the Tiled Hall houses a café serving hot and cold drinks, sandwiches, daily specials, toasties, paninis and cakes. Entrances and toilets are accessible, so it makes a comfortable break during a day in the city.

Supporting the collection

In 1912 the Leeds Art Collections Fund was formed, and it is now known as the Leeds Art Fund. It supports acquisitions for the gallery, which is one reason the collection continues to grow.

Frequently asked questions

What kind of art is the gallery best for? Its strongest area is 20th-century British art, recognised by the government in 1997, complemented by earlier works and sculpture.

Can I get food or a drink in the gallery? Yes. The café in the Tiled Hall serves sandwiches, toasties, daily specials and cakes.

Can I see more sculpture nearby? Yes. Cross the bridge on the east side to the Henry Moore Institute, which holds the main sculpture collections.

Is the gallery accessible? The café has accessible entrances and toilets.

What should I look for at the entrance? Henry Moore's sculpture outside the building and the 1712 statue of Queen Anne in the hall.