Exhibitions
In The Levinsky Gallery
The Levinsky Gallery unfortunately remains temporarily closed until further notice in line with government guidelines regarding COVID-19.
Featuring exhibitions from world-renowned artists alongside new arts stars of tomorrow; based in the University's Roland Levinsky Building, The Levinsky Gallery offers a sometimes provocative, sometimes beautiful and always thought-provoking experience.
All exhibitions are free and include associated events for you to learn more about the artists and exhibits through gallery tours and artist and curator talks, as well as fun events for all the family.
Previously featured artists include Turner prize winning
artists
Lubaina
Himid and Douglas Gordon, award winning artists Tacita Dean
and Vija Celmins, leading graphic designer Ivan Chermayeff and internationally
acclaimed artist and sculptor Peter Randall-Page.
The Arts Institute is committed to supporting artist development and the creation of new work, regularly commissioning artists working across all art forms.
Tuesday–Friday 10:00–17:00
Saturdays 11:00–16:00
(Closed Sundays and bank holidays)
Our commitment to the safe enjoyment of the arts during the Covid-19 pandemic means that this season's events are free for you to enjoy at home.
The Arts Institute relies on income to develop and deliver a public programme, which not only promotes audience engagement and access to the arts, but also directly supports emerging and established artists' careers and the creation of new content.
In place of the price of a ticket, please consider a donation to The Arts Institute.
Donate here
Thank you for your support.
Kehinde Wiley: Ship of Fools
The Levinsky Gallery unfortunately remains temporarily closed until further notice in line with Tier 3 government guidelines.
29 September 2020–24 January 2021
When confronted with large bodies of water, a duality is often experienced: we are in fact at once attracted to but also frightened by the unknown.
New York-based artist Kehinde Wiley's mode of enquiry, and his interest in the portrayal and modulation of power will be explored through the works on show, which also include paintings and sculpture. The exhibition aims to investigate the ways in which the artist masterfully uses traditional representation to challenge power relations and art historical norms. Curated by The Box
in partnership with
The Arts Institute and Royal Museums Greenwich.
Kehinde Wiley, Narrenschiff, 2017, Three-channel digital film. Duration: 16.40 minutes. Copyright Kehinde Wiley. Courtesy of Stephen Friedman Gallery
Everywhere: Life in a littered world
22 November 2020 – 31 January 2021
What might the future look like in our littered world? Are there ways that humans, animals and plants can co-exist with or even prosper amongst the rubbish? And what will it take to clean up our act?
This online exhibition presents works by international artists who explore everyday practices of littering and consider its effects.
Everywhere is launched alongside the international conference MICRO2020 which explores the fate and impacts of microplastics in the environment.
red heart - green heart, D. Taylor
Upcoming exhibitions
Plymouth Contemporary 2021
An open submission exhibition providing a platform for both emerging creative talent and more established artists working nationally and internationally. The exhibition will run across The Levinsky Gallery from 19 March–23 May 2021, and KARST from 13 May–3 July 2021.
Theme: Making It. Plymouth Contemporary invites artists to open up, interrogate, unpick and shake out what 'Making It' might mean in terms of contemporary art practice in 2021.
Learn more about the exhibitionWhat Would You Do?' Bo Lanyon, Plymouth Contemporary 2017
British Art Show 9
Held every five years to showcase the work of British artists who have made a significant contribution to international contemporary art, British Art Show will be in Plymouth – for the second time in its history – from 6 November 2021 until 13 March 2022.
"In framing the exhibition, we have grouped practices into three expansive categories: healing, care and reparative history; tactics for togetherness; and imagining new futures. While these themes were shaped at the end of 2019, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the protests against racial injustice, make them even more urgent. We want the exhibition to present a multitude of voices and viewpoints and evolve from city to city. ‘British Art Show 9’ will be responsive to each city’s local collections, communities, urgencies and histories, enabling meaningful engagement for its local audiences." Irene Aristizábal, BAS9 curator.
Hetain Patel - Don’t Look at the Finger, 2017 © the artist
Previous exhibitions
Hayward Gallery Touring exhibition curated by writer and critic, Martin Herbert, featuring the work of 19 talented artists.
An exhibition of paintings that take their time, and invite us to do the same. Find out more about the exhibition.
Investigating issues around ecology, the environment, immigration and displacement, Mariner: a painted shop upon a painted ocean was The Arts Institute's first national touring exhibition in partnership with The Box, Plymouth.
Featuring 15 artists, this exhibition showcased a series of new commissions and selected international artworks retelling this epic tale for a 21st century audience. Find out more about the exhibition.
More from The Arts Institute
Word is...
- f "A fantastic opportunity to see established and upcoming artists. An amazing space!"
- . "Beautiful and inspiring work by Jem Southam!"
- t "One of my favourites! Beautiful, subtle and atmospheric." (on Birds, Rocks, Rivers, Islands: Jem Southam)
- i "An incredibly uplifting yoga session in the gallery this evening, amongst some of Trevor Bell's finest works!"
- . "Absolutely stunning exhibition. Thank you so much for bringing it to Plymouth." (on Thinking Tantra)
Contact The Arts Institute
The Arts Institute, Roland Levinsky Building, University of Plymouth, PL4 8AA
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