Graves Gallery — Attraction in Sheffield

One of the worse provincial galleries of the 2020s, and that's with stiff competition from Leeds and Manchester. After entering the foyer where people where sleeping and climbing the stairs where paint was peeling off, you enter one of the most scattered, least thought about hangings I've had the displeasure to experience. It's simply a disorganised flea market in which the classic play of placing woke contemporary artists aside treasures of the collection will somehow rub off on them, or that we'll be tricked into thinking these are in the same league. It doesn't work. The labelling is frustrating, artists' work is spread about in thematic collages I didn't care about and the lighting is awful. It was as to see a Bonnard I loved as a boy demoted to a mood board. Many of the religious paintings in the collection have been put in storage and the great James Barry has been whisked away. Don't wasted a Saturday...

Graves Gallery is the smallish municipal art museum in Sheffield, housed on the 3rd floor of the imposing building that is the city's Central Library. About 5 minutes from Sheffield Station. Entry is free, and photography is allowed. Unfortunately, some of the galleries are closed at the moment for refurbishing, so we're temporarily left with some contemporary art (permanent) and an interesting temporary exhibit on the works of Sheffield sculptor George Fullard. His works and the fact that the nearby Millennium Gallery is also an interesting art venue make Graves Gallery worth a visit despite the momentary...

The gallery is a unique collection of art; some of them can't be photographed because they're on loan from private collectors or are copyrighted, and they're some of the most intriguing ones in my opinion! In some of the rooms, there's visual art displayed on screens, which is quite interesting.

It's a really nice circuit layout atop the public library. It's worth a visit and the gift shop is full of lovely things if you're looking for any souvenirs :)

Staff were really lovely. It was a lovely way to fill around 40-50 minutes. Would definitely recommend if you don't mind...