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Galleries and exhibitions
It’s hard to miss the rich variety of artistic and creative talent at play throughout Bristol. With art galleries and museums ready to explore, the city also boasts an ever-changing programme of exhibitions focusing on fashion, animation, design, aviation, photography and dance to name a few.
Our top art spaces are shown below, and further down the page you'll find a list of the current exhibitions and art events taking place in the city.
Galleries and art spaces
M Shed
M Shed is an exciting and innovative new flagship museum for Bristol with gallery space and a packed events schedule.
See No Evil
Street artists from around the world have transformed this Bristol street in the most ambitious permanent street art project ever to take place...
Bristol Museum and Art Gallery
Museum and art gallery exhibiting some outstanding collections of art, archaeology, Egyptology and natural history in a magnificent building
Arnolfini
One of Europe's leading centres for the contemporary arts, with free entrance to the galleries and an exquisite arts bookstore on site
Spike Island
A unique centre devoted to the production and exhibition of the contemporary visual arts, as well as a great café space
Royal West of England Academy of Arts (RWA)
Bristol's first art gallery, housing over 1200 works of art from 19th century to the present day, a coffee shop and a small gift shop.
Paintworks Event Space
Superb gallery space on Bath Road in the Brislington area of Bristol, which is ideal for presentations, conferences and workshops
Art and the Public Realm Bristol
Find out more about Bristol's many public art works around the city.
The Architecture Centre
Independent organisation running a gallery, shop and design exhibitions showing off the best in the world of architecture
Exhibitions and art events
Exhibition: No Borders at the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery
Openings
Exhibition Date
15th Dec 2012-2nd Jun 2013No Borders is a major exhibition examining international contemporary art covering the Middle East, Asia and Africa.
Gromit Unleashed: a trail of 80 Gromit works of art
Openings
open
1st Jan 2013-31st Dec 2013A trail of 80 individually designed Gromits will be unleashed in Bristol in 2013.
Banksy walking tour
Openings
Always available to see (unless suddenly painted over!)
1st Jan 2013-31st Dec 2013Some of Banksy's most famous Bristol works combined to make for a great self-guided walking tour of the city.
Missorts: Smart Phone trail of the Brunel Mile
Openings
Year round
1st Jan 2013-31st Dec 2013Use this location-triggered smartphone app to explore the Brunel Mile in Bristol.
Exhibition: Chocolate! at M Shed
Openings
Open
2nd Feb 2013-23rd Jun 2013Bristol's tastiest exhibiton of the year!
Exhibition: The Still-Life of a Strongroom at Bristol Record Office
Openings
Exhibition
12th Feb 2013-31st May 2013Photographer Neil McCoubrey has had unique behind the scenes access at Bristol Record Office to produce his evocative images...
Exhibition: Pharaoh King of Egypt at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery
Openings
Open
16th Mar 2013-21st Jul 2013Pharaoh: King of Egypt presents the splendour and power of the ancient kings and queens in this major touring exhibition...
Exhibition: Drawn at the RWA
Openings
Date
23rd Mar 2013-2nd Jun 2013The latest exhibition at the Royal West of England Academy is a celebration of drawing.
Trail Launch - Opening Doors at the Architecture Centre
Openings
Launch Exhibition
3rd Apr 2013-26th May 2013An exhibition to mark the launch of a new website, smartphone app and trail map, which allows visitors behind the scenes...
Exhibition: Jessica Warboys - Ab Ovo at Spike Island
Openings
Exhibition Dates
13th Apr 2013-16th Jun 2013Ab Ovo is the largest exhibition to date by British artist Jessica Warboys, drawing together new and existing films,...
Exhibition: Cara Tolmie - Pley at Spike Island
Openings
Exhibition
13th Apr 2013-16th Jun 2013Exhibition focusing on Cara Tolmie's latest film, Prey - which was shot inside a structure specifically designed by the...
Exhibition: Bristol Ambitious City at the Architecture Centre
Openings
Date
24th Apr 2013-28th Jul 2013The Spring Green exhibition, looking at Bristol as an ambitious city and presents and promotes ambitious ideas for the...
Seeds of Change: A Floating Ballast Seed Garden
Openings
Seeds of Change: A Floating Ballast Seed Garden
30th Apr 2013-31st Oct 2013Seeds of Change is utilising a disused grain barge to create a Ballast Seed Garden on Bristol’s Floating Harbour
Exhibition: Jutta Koether - Seasons and Sacraments at the Arnolfini
Openings
Date
4th May 2013-7th Jul 2013Featuring a selection of new and recent works by Jutta Koether, one of the most important artists working with painting...
Exhibition: Susanne Kriemann - Modelling (Construction School) at the Arnolfini
Openings
Date
4th May 2013-7th Jul 2013An exhibition of work by Susanna Kriemann, which focuses on the power of archives.
The Festival of Stone 2013
Openings
Festival Dates
30th May 2013-9th Jun 2013Bristol’s first ever Festival of Stone, celebrates the creation of art in stone. With live sculpting, music, performance,...
Exhibition: Sophie Ryder: Monumental at the RWA
Openings
Date
12th Jun 2013-8th Sep 2013The latest exhibition at the Royal West of England Academy is Sophie Ryder's Monumnetal, one of the leading sculptors...
Gromit Unleashed: a trail of 80 Gromit works of art
Openings
Runs
1st Jul 2013-7th Sep 2013A trail of 80 individually designed Gromits will be unleashed in Bristol in 2013.
Exhibition: Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize 2012 at M Shed
Openings
Exhibition
20th Jul 2013-3rd Nov 2013The very best contemporary portrait photographs from around the world, capturing famous faces and intimate moments. Direct...
Exhibition: Yorgos Sapountzis: The Protagonists at the Arnolfini
Openings
Date
20th Jul 2013-8th Sep 2013Featuring a selection of new and recent works by Yorgos Sapountzis, in a project that creates an imaginary park of Bristol's...
