Famed Leeds artist’s moon-lit works set to shine at gallery

The exhibition shows Grimshaw to be an artist of striking and unexpected modernity. His nocturnes, or works inspired by the night, such as ‘Nightfall down the Thames’ (1880) and ‘Reflections on the Aire: On Strike’ (1879) – acquired by the Gallery 125 years apart - are among the 17 paintings, watercolours and drawings from the Leeds Art Gallery collection to be on display.

They reveal Grimshaw’s deep understanding of urban and city settings that, through the depiction of new types of artificial lighting together with moonlight, impacted on a poetic imagination. His work led American avant-garde painter James McNeill Whistler to declare: “I thought I had invented the Nocturne until I saw Grimmy’s moonlights”.

These celebrated 19th century nocturne works will be displayed alongside those of four contemporary painters - Elizabeth Magill, Selma Makela, Judith Tucker and Joanna Whittle – as well as neon and photographic works by Roger Palmer – to help re-position Grimshaw as a painter of modernity against the hold of Victorian nostalgia.

Born in a back-to-back on Park Street in 1836, Grimshaw was, remarkably, a largely self-taught artist, inspired initially by the Pre-Raphaelites, but who used an interest in photography to realise his own worldview of the effects of light and shadow.

Turning his back on a steady job at Great Northern Railway to pursue painting, commercial success saw Grimshaw move to Headingley. He went on to become one of the most renowned artists of the Victorian era and within a few short years moved to a rambling, baronial old hall at Knostrop.

A small, jewel-like painting, ‘Knostrop Cut, Leeds, Sunday Night’ from 1893, the final year of the artist’s life, brings an elegiac note to this show that celebrates the achievements of one of the city’s greatest artists.

Don’t Let’s Ask For the Moon has also inspired two community-focussed projects - We Bathe in Starlight: The Arts and Minds Poetry Project, and Pyramid View On…John Atkinson Grimshaw - which will both be on display for the duration of the main exhibition.

Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for adult social care, active lifestyles and culture said: “John Atkinson Grimshaw’s works are recognised around the world for both their beauty and the unique style and ingenuity of their creator and it’s wonderful to see a Leeds-born artist celebrated in this exciting exhibition.

“The collection at Leeds Art Gallery is truly world class and having street scenes of Leeds on display alongside work by so many prestigious artists past and present also brings home what an important cultural destination Leeds is.”

Jane Bhoyroo, Principal Keeper at Leeds Art Gallery, added: “The exhibition also serves to honour our former colleague Alex Roberston, who was largely responsible for revitalising the reputation of Atkinson Grimshaw from the late 1970s. He sadly passed away just less than a year ago, and we hope the exhibition will be a fitting tribute to his long endeavour.”

Don’t Let’s Ask For the Moon: Nocturnes and Atkinson Grimshaw opens at Leeds Art Gallery on Friday, November 14 and runs until April 19, 2026. Leeds Art Gallery is a Give What You Can gallery.

ENDS