Leeds Art Gallery, Leeds

Leeds Art Gallery, nestled in the vibrant city of Leeds, stands as a significant cultural institution within the Leeds Museums & Galleries group. Recognized for its nationally important collection of 20th-century British Art—a designation made by the British government in 1997—this gallery also boasts an impressive array of 19th-century and earlier artworks. The gallery itself is a Grade II listed building, showcasing its historical and architectural significance, and is managed by Leeds City Council.

Leeds Art Gallery, nestled between Leeds Central Library to the west and connected via bridge to the Henry Moore Institute on the east, shares its sculpture collection with the Institute. It features a Henry Moore sculpture, "Reclining Woman: Elbow" (1981), at its entrance and houses Leeds' oldest civic sculpture, a marble statue of Queen Anne from 1712, in the entrance hall. Victoria Square, located in front of the gallery, hosts the city’s war memorial and serves as a prime spot for rallies and demonstrations, aided by the gallery's raised entrance that also functions as a speakers' platform.

The origins of Leeds Art Gallery date back to 1876 when the Leeds Fine Art Society’s executive committee, including notable figures such as the Marquis of Ripon and artist John Atkinson Grimshaw, proposed its establishment. The gallery was constructed between 1886 and 1888 by architect William Henry Thorp and opened its doors on October 3, 1888, as Leeds City Art Gallery. This project was funded through a public subscription commemorating Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee.

Throughout its history, the gallery has seen several enhancements, including a significant 1982 reorientation and extension for its sculpture collection, and a renovation in 2007 that revitalized the Victorian Tiled Hall, now a charming café and bookshop. The gallery’s connection to the city’s art scene was further deepened with the Leeds Art Collections Fund, established in 1912 to support acquisitions, marking its centenary in 2012 with an exhibition of the 430 works it helped procure.