Words and photos by Rachel Jones (HMP).
There was a palpable sense of anticipation outside Southampton City Art Gallery on Saturday morning as the doors reopened following an extensive £2.23 million refurbishment (7/3/2026).
Visitors queued eagerly along the steps of the Civic Centre, keen to see how the much-loved gallery had been transformed. The atmosphere felt celebratory – a reminder of the important role the gallery plays in the cultural life of the city.
Inside, the effect of the refurbishment is immediately striking. The gallery feels brighter and more open, with a renewed sense of clarity that allows the works to breathe. Carefully refreshed spaces create a more welcoming and accessible environment, while newly developed areas for children and families encourage younger visitors to engage creatively with the collection. The result is a gallery that feels both contemporary and reassuringly familiar, a space that invites visitors to slow down, look closely and spend time with art.
Alongside these architectural improvements, the reopening introduces several new works that expand the gallery’s curatorial narrative. A standout addition in the new acquisitions display is ‘Centrifugal Forces’ (2024) by internationally acclaimed sculptor Laura Ford. Ford’s practice often navigates the boundary between the real and the imagined, drawing on folklore, memory and social history. The sculpture exemplifies her distinctive approach: richly crafted, psychologically resonant and quietly unsettling. The work was acquired with support from Arts Council England, the Victoria and Albert Museum Purchase Grant Fund, and the Friends of Southampton’s Museums, Archives and Galleries.
A compelling moving image installation by Ian Giles also forms part of the reopening displays. Originally commissioned by a space arts, and first presented at God’s House Tower in 2024, the work has now entered the gallery’s collection with support from the Art Fund. Everyone Involved centres on a four-channel film featuring ‘A Gay Song’, widely recognised as the first LGBTQIA+ protest song recorded onto vinyl in 1972. In 2024 Giles reunited the original band to re-record and film the song 52 years later, creating a work that speaks powerfully to questions of memory, activism and cultural continuity.
The reopening programme is further anchored by a major exhibition from British artist and musician Emma Richardson. Levitate Me: Desire, Ecstasy and The Sublime explores states of emotional intensity and transcendence, offering an immersive encounter with sound, image and atmosphere.
Importantly, the gallery’s celebrated permanent collection remains at the heart of the experience. Much-loved works, including The Story of Perseus, the Renaissance paintings and key pieces from the modern British collection, continue to be displayed with careful curatorial attention. The refreshed hang allows these works to be encountered anew, balancing historical depth with contemporary dialogue.
The reopening also includes a thoughtful photographic display documenting the refurbishment itself. Captured by award-winning Southampton architectural photographer Joe Low, the images offer a rare glimpse into the process of restoring and revitalising this historic space.
At a time when civic cultural spaces are increasingly valued as places of reflection, dialogue and community, the reopening of Southampton City Art Gallery feels particularly significant. With refreshed galleries, new commissions and the enduring strength of its collection, the gallery once again offers Southampton a place to encounter art in all its forms, from the historical to the contemporary; and to rediscover the pleasure of looking, thinking and experiencing art together.
For more information about Southampton City Art Gallery, visit: southamptoncityartgallery.com
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