Jane Hearst, Research and Policy Manager at the National Centre for Creative Health (NCCH) and Regan McDonald, Ikon Gallery’s Public Health Research Officer, reflect on Ikon’s recent exhibition, What are the Odds? Ikon Creative Health and explore how creative spaces can make health information more accessible and meaningful.

Ikon’s Art in Prisons programme operates the only curated gallery inside a prison in the UK: the Marie-Louise von Motesiczky Studio at HMP Grendon, an all-male psychotherapeutic prison in Buckinghamshire. Hosting a varied exhibition programme of exhibitions, the space provides a unique opportunity for long-term prisoners to access contemporary art.

We began our mooring in Stourbridge with a visit from Glasshouse College students. Here, we worked with Dale Hipkiss to ask: ‘Does the current architecture of the Black Country reference natural forms and the limestone landscape?’ This workshop was influenced by the ancient Silurian landscape, exploring the region’s prehistoric marine life and the patterns formed by its limestone.

Ikon and Outdoor Places Unusual Spaces (OPUS) have co-commissioned Birmingham-based illustrator and printmaker Megan Reddi to create the visual identity and design for Champions Square, the official fan zone of the Birmingham 2026 European Athletics Championships.

In early 2026, Ikon’s Education Team launched a new partnership with Ark Birmingham schools, bringing together gallery visits, artist residencies, creative workshops and teacher CPD. The programme has connected young people with practising artists and cultural professionals, opening up new opportunities to learn through creativity, experimentation and making.

From artist residencies and hands-on workshops to live performance and family activities, discover what’s happening at Ikon this summer.

IYP continued our Slow Boat journey in Tipton. Ikon Youth Programme and Rowley Regis Youth Club got together for a Slow Boat Social, where we got to know each other over snacks, covered the windows with our words and drawings, shared stories and music and made new connections!   

Having located nine of Kevin Atherton’s Iron Horses (1987) – a series of sculptures along the railway track between Wolverhampton and Birmingham Ikon issued a public call for the missing parts. We received some wonderful messages – including from a welder, academic, commuter, train driver, artist and transport correspondent – offering information on horses no. 2, 5 and 12.

Between March–September 2026, we will be sharing Slow Notes, a reflective series of posts following our journeys on Slow Boat.  This year we started our Slow Boat journey in Wolverhampton. We met up with More Art Inc at Wolverhampton Art Gallery and Museum (programmed by Dinosaur Kilby and Simon Suphandagli) for their “Legacy Gathering”.  

We caught up with Mark Essen, exhibiting artist in Break the Mould (25 March – 6 September 2026) to find out more about his work Deritend Revival (2026).

Ikon is pleased to share a new film marking the residency of Dr Simon J. Harris, Ikon’s Artist in Residence at HMP Grendon, Europe’s only wholly therapeutic prison. The film offers a reflective insight into a two‑year residency that places contemporary art at the centre of prison life, exploring creativity as a means of dialogue, learning and change.

Join artist Alice Theobald to create a brand‑new magazine‑style community TV show! Are you aged 16-21, curious and creative? Come and help shape RETIRED YOUTH, a fresh online artist-led TV programme made with young people, for young people. 

What are the odds? Ikon Creative Health is an off-site exhibition, at the Library of Birmingham. The exhibition is co-curated by Regan McDonald, Ikon’s Public Health Research Officer, and Linzi Stauvers, Ikon’s Artistic Director (Education). We caught up with Regan to find out more about his role and the exhibition.

As we reflect on the past year, we are filled with gratitude for the incredible support from our visitors, donors, Patrons and Benefactors, Exhibition, Project and Corporate Supporters, sponsors, hirers and funders. We also extend a heartfelt thanks to our voluntary Board of Trustees and our dedicated staff team – including casual and freelance colleagues – whose commitment makes everything possible. Your generosity enables Ikon to connect more people with art and makes you an essential part of our story. Together, we’ve achieved milestones that truly make a difference.  

Choose Ikon Gallery for your Christmas shopping this year!

Ikon announces its exhibition and education programmes for 2026. Established as an artists-led alternative space in the Bullring in 1964, Ikon remains free for everyone and committed to showcasing the very best of British and international art.

In 2025 a trio of works by James Lomax, previous HMP Grendon resident artist – were acquired by the Government Art Collection. Taking a form somewhere between sculpture and painting, the work is cast in concrete in low relief and depicts unopened envelopes scattered across anonymous surfaces.

Kevin Atherton’s Iron Horses (1987) is a sculpture of twelve parts – life-size horses cut out of steel and coated black – positioned at irregular intervals and in various unassuming spots along the 12 miles of track between Wolverhampton and Birmingham. We’re now looking to present our findings to Transport for West Midlands, creating a case for the restoration of the horses in time for their 40th anniversary in 2027.

What are the odds? Ikon Creative Health is an off-site exhibition, at the Library of Birmingham, which explores the role of art in supporting health and care systems (21 January – 27 June 2026).

Ikon is pleased to announce that BCU Tuesdays has been extended until September 2026. The partnership with Birmingham City University (BCU) enables the gallery to open on Tuesdays when visitors can enjoy an additional day of free entry to Ikon’s exhibitions.

Niki Gandy is Ikon’s Artist in Residence at HMP Birmingham. James Latunji-Cockbill, Ikon’s Producer, Art in Prisons, interviews the artist about their residency at HMP Birmingham.

In May, Myanmar artist Htein Lin exhibited new work at HMP Grendon, Europe’s only wholly therapeutic prison, where Ikon has produced artist residencies since 2014.

Melanie Pocock, Artistic Director of Exhibitions at Ikon will be on the Curatorial Team for The Bangkok Art Biennale (BAB).