As Ikon’s Slow Boat concluded its journey to Stoke-on-Trent, we caught up with Nicola Shipley, Director, GRAIN Projects and Rosie Abbey, Ikon Youth Programme Coordinator.

The residency at Wigwell Lodge has offered me a rare kind of quiet – one that sharpens my attention to both visible and invisible movements in the landscape. It’s been a time of listening, walking and noticing subtle shifts in weather, wildlife and time.

Over the last few weeks, we have continued journeying north on the canal, through Stoke-on-Trent, delivering artist-led workshops with groups from across Stoke-on-Trent.

Ikon announces new summer exhibitions.

This Spring, Ikon’s Slow Boat is programmed and produced in collaboration with GRAIN Projects, an arts organisation that specialises in contemporary photography and the delivery of socially engaged photography projects, exhibitions and publications regionally and nationally.

Ikon presents Sunsets, Food and Friendship, an exhibition of young people’s photography focused on the importance of culture, heritage and identity in shaping a sense of self and belonging.

Ikon announces two new off-site artist residencies with Robert Zhao Renhu and Jessica Ostrowicz.

Ikon recently launched new exhibitions by artists Mahtab Hussain and Htein Lin and celebrated the arrival of the Cherry Blossoms in Oozells Square.

Ikon’s winter exhibition, Friends in Love and War – L’Éloge des meilleur·es ennemi·es, was visited by 15 Primary schools, 23 Secondary schools, 7 SEND schools and 19 University groups.

Ikon is pleased to announce Slow Boat’s visit to Stoke-on-Trent in partnership with GRAIN Projects. Taking place throughout April and May 2025, Slow Boat’s programme of activity involves artists and photographers, education partners and arts organisations, with a focus on engaging young people in North Staffordshire.

To celebrate the final weekend of Ikon’s exhibition Friends in Love and War – L’Éloge des meilleur·es ennemi·es, Birmingham-based Czech artist Tereza Bušková led the event Clipping the Ikon.

Ikon presents a major solo exhibition by multidisciplinary artist Htein Lin from Myanmar (20 March – 1 June 2025).

We are excited to announce Ikon is part of the Birmingham Light Festival! Join us on Friday 21 February as we light up Ikon – with free creative workshops and performances during the day (2-5pm) and a candle-lit, ceremonial ‘clipping’ of Ikon Gallery as the sun sets (5-7pm).

We caught up with Rosie Abbey, Ikon Youth Programme Coordinator, to hear about this year’s highlights for Ikon Youth Programme and Slow Boat.

We would like to thank everyone who has visited Ikon Gallery this year – Ikon’s 60th anniversary – to experience art for free. Ikon remains committed to its core aims: to offer the very best in contemporary art to the region’s residents and visitors; to support local and international artists, both emerging and established in their careers; to stay relevant in a changing world, addressing important social concerns; and remaining free for all our visitors.

Ikon presents a solo exhibition, What Did You Want To See? by British artist Mahtab Hussain (20 March – 1 June 2025).

Ikon is pleased to announce an innovative new partnership with Birmingham City University (BCU) which enables the gallery to open on Tuesdays for a year (October 2024 – September 2025).

We caught up with the new members of Ikon’s Exhibitions team: Daphne Chu, Curator and Amrit Sanghera, Curatorial Fellow (supported by the Frieze x Deutsche Bank Emerging Curators Fellowship).

Choose Ikon Gallery for your Christmas shopping this year!

Ikon is pleased to announce its upcoming exhibition and education programmes for 2025. Established as an artists-led alternative space in the Bullring in 1964, Ikon remains free to all and committed to showcasing the very best of British and international art.

Simon J. Harris is Ikon’s Artist in Residence at HMP Grendon. James Latunji-Cockbill, Ikon’s Producer, Art in Prisons, interviews the artist after his first three months of working at the prison.

We caught up with Claire Buckerfield, an artist whose prints are stocked at Ikon Shop.