We caught up with Chantelle Folarin, one of the West Midlands weavers activating an AVL Studio Dobby loom, on loan from Birmingham City University (BCU) as part of Ikon’s exhibition Thread the Loom.

Ikon announces new summer exhibitions.

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

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).

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

Ikon presents a major solo exhibition by British artist Mali Morris. Calling includes nearly 30 abstract paintings and is curated by independent curator and writer Sam Cornish, author of the monograph Mali Morris: Painting. We asked him a few questions about himself and how he met Mali.

Last week we launched our new exhibition with Melati Suryodarmo, Passionate Pilgrim. Melati Suryodarmo is one of Indonesia’s most important living artists, known for her strenuous durational performances that last several hours, testing the limits of the human mind and body

Ikon is proud to be a partner in National Treasures 2024, a key strand of the programme celebrating The National Gallery’s Bicentenary.    

Ikon announces its Winter 2023 exhibition with British artist Mali Morris.

Ikon is delighted to announce plans for 2022-23 including exhibitions, off-site projects and events.

Jonathan Watkins, Director, Ikon and Deborah Kermode, CEO & Artistic Director, Midlands Arts Centre (MAC) discuss A Very Special Place: Ikon in the 1990s.

Watch an interview with Melanie Pocock, Ikon Curator, to learn more about Ikon for Artists.

Ikon is pleased to announce Ikon for Artists, an open call exhibition that takes place from 26 February to 14 March 2021 at Ikon Gallery, Brindleyplace.

Ikon is delighted to announce the reopening of its gallery premises in Brindleyplace, on Thursday 20 August.

In anticipation of Langlands & Bell’s postponed exhibition The Past Is Never Dead…it’s not Even Past at Gallery 1957, Ghana, Gus Casley-Hayford (Director, V&A East) and Jonathan Watkins (Director, Ikon and Curator of this exhibition) join Langlands & Bell, to discuss a range of issues raised by the artists’ new body of works, which explore the architecture of the ‘Slave Forts’ built on the coast of Ghana by European traders following the construction of the Elmina Castle by the Portuguese in 1482.

It’s been a year since Hew Locke’s Ikon exhibition Here’s the thing, his most comprehensive exhibition to date. Since then the show has toured the United States, firstly to Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, Kansas City, Missouri and now currently showing at Colby College Museum of Art, Maine. We are pleased to announce that the exhibition dates at Colby College Museum of Art have been extended until 29 November 2020. Please note that the gallery remains closed temporarily, please check their website for reopening dates.

During lockdown Ikon Youth Programme have been meeting digitally. One of their recent projects involved writing a ‘Dear Nature’ letter, inspired by John Newling’s work, reflecting on their relationship with nature. Find out more @ikonyouthprogramme

Artist John Newling and writer Alys Fowler exchange letters on their daily walks, through residential areas and open spaces in Nottingham and Birmingham. Reflecting on the pattern language of these environs and their own behaviours, some happy accidents and moments of connection occur.

While the gallery is temporarily closed, we continue to share our exhibitions and activities via our digital channels. Please continue to visit Ikon’s website and engage with us via social media.

Ikon is delighted to announce plans for 2020-21 including exhibitions, off-site projects and events.

Claudia Losi’s Being There includes this site-specific performance along Birmingham’s canals.