From high-profile national retrospectives and boundary-pushing multimedia installations to independent community showcases, the visual arts scene across Leeds is delivering a packed calendar this November.
Whether you are stepping into major cultural institutions like Leeds Art Gallery and the Henry Moore Institute or exploring independent creative hubs across Armley, Farsley, Mabgate, and the Corn Exchange, there is a rich variety of painting, sculpture, ceramics, and photography on display throughout the month.
Here are 15 outstanding art exhibitions, displays, and showcases to check out across Leeds in November.
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1. Steve McQueen: Resistance (until April 25 2027)
A major new exhibition exploring how acts of resistance have shaped life in the UK and examining the powerful role photography has played in both documenting and driving social change. 🎨 Leeds Art Gallery | Steve McQueen
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2. Learning To Fall (November 21 - 29)
A multimedia exhibition by interdisciplinary, intergenerational artist duo Buckley and Lycett exploring their relationship to chronic illness, health, and creativity. Spanning the Central Court and Henry Moore Lecture Theatre, their first public collaborative display features visual and audio installations, large-scale artworks, and an ancestor altar designed for reflection and connection. 🎨 Leeds Art Gallery | Leeds Art Gallery
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3. Dinner Party: With Matthew Smith, Jacob Epstein, Olivia Bax (until August 29 2027)
Revisit one of the pioneering exhibitions organized by former Leeds curator Phillip Hendy for Temple Newsam House during the Second World War when the city art gallery was closed. 🎨 Leeds Art Gallery | Leeds Art Gallery
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4. Lines of Enquiry: Drawings from the Collection (until April 11 2027)
A display bringing together a wide range of drawings selected from Leeds Museums and Galleries' renowned works on paper collection. 🎨 Leeds Art Gallery | Leeds Art Gallery
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5. ‘Some Steel’: Sculpture and Steel in Britain, 1960–90 (until January 10 2027)
Tracing thirty years of British sculpture, this exhibition explores how artists transformed industrial steel into groundbreaking sculptural forms. 🎨 Leeds Art Gallery | Henry Moore Foundation
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6. Mike Nelson: M62 (East, West) (until January 3 2027)
A striking site-specific installation created as part of artist Mike Nelson’s ongoing series utilizing blown-out vehicle tyre treads. 🎨 Leeds Art Gallery | Rob Battersby