Visual arts

See the world through artists' eyes

Discover world-class contemporary art

John Hansard Gallery is one of Britain’s leading public galleries of contemporary art. Alongside outstanding exhibitions by international artists is an innovative education programme  with activities for all the family, alongside various community-focused projects. Admission to the gallery is free.

A hub of artistic activity

The Winchester School of Art (WSA) campus hosts a multitude of visual art and design events throughout the year. The Winchester Gallery, at the WSA campus presents a yearlong programme of exhibitions and events from locally and nationally celebrated artists.

Discover treasures in our libraries special collections

The University of Southampton’s libraries hold an abundance of incredible documents in its archives. The WSA library and the Hartley Library’s Special Collections are open to researchers by appointment and both sites present a programme of exhibitions featuring artefacts from their collections.

The Hartley Library is home to two exhibition spaces, which are both free to the public. The Special Collections Gallery presents a historically focused programme drawn from the archives and the Level 4 Gallery’s diverse programme displays contemporary visual art.

Southampton's renowned art collection

Located in the city’s Cultural Quarter, Southampton City Art Gallery has one of the best collections outside London, in the UK. It features around 5,300 works, a selection of which dare featured in its diverse, yearlong exhibition programme.

Winchester Discovery Centre

A recently refurbished public library, the Discovery Centre features an art gallery with an impressive programme, designed to display material from the most important galleries, museums and private collections in the country. 

Unique venues across the city

God’s House Tower is an exciting project art and heritage venue in development by visual arts organisation, a space arts set within a 13th Century Gatehouse. This historical building is located in the heart of Southampton’s Old Town by the quay.

K6 Gallery, as the name might suggest, is a unique gallery located within two repurposed Grade II listed phone boxes near to West Quay. This artist-run gallery showcases work by local and national artists, focusing on contemporary and conceptual art.

Solent Showcase presents work by up-and-coming and established artists across a wide variety of mediums. Located opposite Studio 144, the gallery encourages engagement and participation across the local community.