York Art Gallery
A stone’s throw from York Minster is York Art Gallery, home to a remarkable collection of some 1,000 paintings spanning over 600 years of European art including Dutch masters, Victorian narratives and landscapes on paper by JMW Turner.
However the gallery’s ceramics collection is one of the country’s most impressive thanks to donations and loans from the likes of Henry Rothschild. The Yorkshire Tea Ceremony is one of the current exhibitions – and it is as charming as it is impressive. The pieces are all from the collection of the late WA Ismay MBE, who was considered the most prolific collector of post-war British pottery. He had over 3,600 pieces by the time of his death in 2001. yorkartgallery.org.uk
The 500 acres of gently undulating hills on the Bretton Hall estate, which is home to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, is naturally impressive even if it didn’t include works from some of the world’s most celebrated artists.
Both parkland and landscaped gardens provide exciting backdrops for site-specific sculptures and temporary exhibitions. Currently Damien Hirst has four sculptures on site until summer 2023, while this month sees the opening of Robert Indiana’s first major UK exhibition of works from his 60-year career.
One of the most exciting permanent fixtures is Barbara Hepworth’s The Family Of Man which has been at YSP since 1980, while Henry Moore is almost synonymous with the park thanks to how many of his figures are there.
Look out for Andy Goldsworthy’s work – always thoughtful responses to the natural landscape and historic practises of local farmers and makers.
There is also a fabulous indoor space which has temporary exhibitions from both local and internationally renowned artists. ysp.org.uk