Top 5 Art Galleries in Southampton
Southampton is a vibrant city located on the south coast of England that is steeped in history and culture. From the Tudor House and Garden, the iconic Bargate Monument, and the stunning SeaCity Museum, there are plenty of reasons to visit this charming destination. But for art enthusiasts, the city is also home to some great art galleries.
In this article I have listed the best art galleries in Southampton. From God's House Tower, which has been reimagined as a cultural hub for the city, to the John Hansard Gallery, which presents the work of world-renowned artists, you will discover the very best of Southampton's art scene.
I have included opening times for each gallery that are correct at the time of writing this blog post, but please check the latest information before your visit.
1. Southampton City Art Gallery
Admission: Free
Opening Hours: Monday – Friday 10am – 3pm, Saturday 10am – 5pm. Closed Sundays
Address: Southampton City Art Gallery, Commercial Road, Southampton, SO14 7LP
Located in the city’s Cultural Quarter, the Southampton City Art Gallery is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in art.
The gallery is housed in a beautiful Victorian building that was once the town hall. The high ceilings and grand staircase are impressive, and the natural light that floods the galleries creates a welcoming and inviting atmosphere and is popular with families.
Southampton City Art Gallery boasts an impressive collection of over 5,300 works of art, including paintings, sculptures, drawings, and prints from the Renaissance to the present day.
The collection itself is equally impressive. One of the highlights could be considered the collection of 20th-century British art, which includes works by famous artists such as LS Lowry, Henry Moore, and Francis Bacon. I was also fascinated by the collection of contemporary art, which includes:
Renaissance Paintings – The collection includes Italian and European masterpieces from artists such as Sofonisba Anguissola, Cesare da Sesto and Goswijn van der Weyden.
18th Century British Painting – The collection includes a number of portrait paintings from renowned 18th century artists such as Sir Joshua Reynolds, Thomas Gainsborough, Thomas Lawrence and George Romney.
French 19th Century Painting - The collection of French paintings includes works from the naturalism and Impressionism movements.
19th Century British Painting – The collection has a strong collection of 19th century British painting ranging from a dramatic seascapes made by J.M.W Turner to the portrait painted by John Singer Sargent.
Camden Town Group - Southampton holds the best collection of Camden Town paintings outside London.
20th Century British Painting – The collection follows the art movement in Britain through the 20th Century
British Surrealism - Southampton’s collection charts the development of British Surrealism into the 1940s.
St Ives - Southampton Art Gallery has a significant collection of work by artists connected to St Ives including Ben Nicholson, Peter Lanyon and Terry Frost.
Contemporary Art - Southampton City Art Gallery’s contemporary art collection includes works by celebrated British artists and Turner Prize winners. Some of the artistsis represented here include Gilbert & George, Antony Gormley, Mark Wallinger and Jeremy Deller.
2. The John Hansard Gallery
Admission: Free
Opening Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 11am to 5pm
Address: John Hansard Gallery, 142 – 144 Above Bar Street, Southampton SO14 7DU
CC Image courtesy of Murgatroyd49 via Wikimedia Commons
The John Hansard Gallery in Southampton is a leading contemporary art gallery in Southampton.
Established in 1979, the John Hansard Gallery is named after an honorary graduate and benefactor of the University of Southampton, which is where it's based. In 2018, the John Hansard Gallery relocated to a brand new arts complex, Studio 144, based on the old Tyrrell & Green site on Southampton’s Guildhall Square.
The gallery is home to an impressive collection of contemporary and visual works, featuring both up-and-coming talents and major international artists. The diversity of art is showcased in beautiful exhibitions, ranging from solo pieces to historical surveys, paintings, sculptures and photography. Its innovative and critically acclaimed exhibitions, events and research projects excite, challenge, represent and reach the widest possible public audience.
John Hansard Gallery plays a pivotal role in the cultural life of Southampton and the surrounding region.
3. God's House Tower Arts and Heritage Venue
Admission: Free
Opening Hours: Friday to Saturday 10am to 5pm and Sunday 10am to 4pm
Address: God's House Tower, Town Quay Road, Southampton, SO14 2NY
The God's House Tower Arts and Heritage Venue is nestled in the charming Old Town of Southampton, just a short stroll from the city centre. God's House Tower, is a former medieval jail, and most recently the city’s archaeology museum. In 2019, God's House Tower was transformed into its current use, as a local community arts and heritage venue. This venue regularly holds a variety of exhibitions and events that cover a wide range of themes and perspectives.
God's House Tower is managed by 'a space' arts, a leading visual arts organisation within the city, that hosts a range of artist resources, opportunities, and studio spaces including the Arches and Tower House Studios. They have developed several of Southampton buildings into artist spaces.
4. The Hidden Wardrobe
Admission: Free
Opening Hours: All day
The Hidden Wardrobe is a flexible studio space with high ceilings, perfect for working on large paintings or sculptures.
It also has two beautiful bay windows which have been converted into exhibition spaces. Exhibitions change every few months and are open to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
5. Bargate Monument Gallery
Admission: Free
Opening Hours: Intermittent
Address: Bargate Monument Gallery, High Street, Southampton, SO14 2DJ
Within Southampton’s bustling city centre, the Bargate stands as an imposing historic landmark. This structure was originally built as the main gateway to the medieval city, and has had various uses through the years. It is now used as a gallery.
Between 2006 to 2012, the upstairs of this structure was transformed and used as a contemporary gallery, the Bargate Monument Gallery. This gallery featured the works of artists from the Arches Studios.
Since 2012, the gallery has been used intermittently by Southampton Solent University and was one of the venues for the British Art Show 8, when it visited Southampton in 2016.
I hope you have found this blog post helpful. If you know of any other art galleries you think I should include, please email me at sarahransomeart@gmail.com.
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