Southampton City Art Gallery Art Galleries

Southampton City Art Gallery can offer something for everyone, whether you're young or old, a lifelong fan or going to a gallery for the first time. Exhibitions and displays range from ancient culture to the cutting-edge and the Gallery is internationally renowned for its impressive art collection, spanning six centuries of European art history. The Gallery is housed within a beautiful example of 1930's municipal architecture.

The Gallery's collection numbers over 3,500 works, spanning six centuries of European art history and has been officially recognised as of national significance through its 'Designated' status. In the gallery, displays of both historic and contemporary art change throughout the year, showing the breadth and quality of the City's greatest art treasures. The collection's earliest work is an Italian Renaissance altarpiece by Allegretto Nuzi from the 14th century; other significant historic works include Sir Edward Burne-Jones' Perseus Series (shown in an exquisite wood-paneled room), seventeenth century Dutch landscapes and French Impressionist paintings. Overall the quality and variety of works is remarkably high.

The collection's greatest strength is 20th century British Art. The Gallery is now internationally renowned for its impressive collection of modern and contemporary works by British artists. The early to mid-20th century is represented by a fine selection of works by the Camden Town Group and paintings by highly reputed artists such as Sir Stanley Spencer, Matthew Smith and Philip Wilson Steer. Recent British sculpture is represented by such major figures as Tony Cragg, Richard Long, Shirazeh Houshiary and Anthony Gormley. .