Event 04.10.2024–21.02.2025
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Friday Spotlight Tour
Ikon is an internationally acclaimed contemporary art venue located in Birmingham, UK. Free entry.
IKON SHOP
Browse books, prints, stationery, jewellery, homeware and gifts.
All profits support Ikon’s charitable artistic and educational programme.
HIRE IKON FOR YOUR EVENT
Housed in a beautiful Victorian building, Ikon Gallery has versatile spaces, accommodating 10 to 500 guests.
Get in touch today to discuss your event with a member of our team.
ART AT HMP GRENDON
With a focus on the development of the prisoners’ artistic practice, Ikon has opened the Marie-Louise von Motesiczky Studio at HMP Grendon – a dedicated space for workshops, in printing and painting, and a changing programme of exhibitions, art historical and contemporary.
Funded by the Marie-Louise von Motesiczky Charitable Trust.
IKON YOUTH PROGRAMME
Over three years (2021-24) Ikon Youth Programme (IYP) navigates the waterways on board Slow Boat, a converted narrow boat. IYP are collaborating with creative thinkers and makers to reimagine Slow Boat as a local art school.
Funded by Freelands Foundation.
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
Ikon is dedicated to minimising its impact on the environment and we strive to make our operations and exhibitions as sustainable as possible.
FREE DIGITAL GUIDE
Explore Ikon with our free digital guide on Bloomberg Connects, the arts and culture App.
Listen to audio guides, watch films and discover more.
Events
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Event 08.10.2024–25.02.2025
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BCU Tuesdays
Event 22.12.2024–23.02.2025
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Sunday Spotlight Tour
Event 18.02.2025 / 11.00am–4.00pm
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Everywhere is an Art School
With BCU MA Arts & Education students
Workshop 19.02.2025 / 11.00am–3.00pm
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Half Term Art Explorer
Current Exhibitions
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Exhibition 27.08.2024–30.03.2025
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Jaskirt Dhaliwal-Boora
Green Spaces, at grounded. Hall Green.
Ikon and Living Well Consortium collaborate to raise awareness of, and engagement with, topics centred on mental health and wellbeing. Birmingham-born artist Jaskirt Dhaliwal-Boora has worked with communities in Erdington, taking photographic portraits against the backdrop of the city’s green spaces, and exploring the benefits of nature to our health.
Exhibition 02.10.2024–23.02.2025
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FRIENDS IN LOVE AND WAR - L’ÉLOGE DES MEILLEUR·ES ENNEMI·ES.
Works from the British Council Collection and macLYON
Ikon and macLYON present works by over twenty artists from the British Council Collection and macLYON that explore the theme of friendship.
Upcoming Exhibitions
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Exhibition 24.02.2025–19.03.2025
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GALLERIES CLOSED FOR INSTALLATION
Ikon’s Galleries are closed while we install our new exhibition. Ikon Shop and Yorks Café are open as usual.
Exhibition 20.03.2025–01.06.2025
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Htein Lin
Escape
Ikon presents a major solo exhibition by multidisciplinary artist Htein Lin from Myanmar.
Evoking his lifelong commitment to documenting human experience in difficult times, it shows a comprehensive selection of the artist’s paintings made while he was a political prisoner from 1998 to 2004 on prison uniforms and found textile, alongside drawing, sculpture, video and new work.
Exhibition 20.03.2025–01.06.2025
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Mahtab Hussain
What Did You Want To See?
British artist Mahtab Hussain explores the fine line between photographic documentation and surveillance culture, addressing the intelligence sites established by the media and the state to monitor the Muslim community in Britain.
Exhibition 25.06.2025–07.09.2025
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Thread the Loom
Ikon celebrates the medium of weaving by bringing an AVL Studio Dobby loom on-site to the gallery and activating it through a series of micro-residencies with West Midlands weavers and artists.
Exhibition 25.06.2025–07.09.2025
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Seulgi Lee
Born in Seoul and living in Paris since 1992, Seulgi Lee’s artwork is shaped by the use of colour, gesture, simple yet elegant forms and performance.
Latest News
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Exhibitions 22.01.2025
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Htein Lin: Escape
Ikon presents a major solo exhibition by multidisciplinary artist Htein Lin from Myanmar (20 March – 1 June 2025).
News 14.01.2025
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Clipping the Ikon
We are excited to announce Ikon is part of the Birmingham Light Festival!
Join us on Friday 21 February as we light up Ikon – with free creative workshops and performances during the day (2-5pm) and a candle-lit, ceremonial ‘clipping’ of Ikon Gallery as the sun sets (5-7pm).
Slow Boat 17.12.2024
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Ikon Youth Programme / Slow Boat 2024
We caught up with Rosie Abbey, Ikon Youth Programme Coordinator, to hear about this year’s highlights for Ikon Youth Programme and Slow Boat.
News 12.12.2024
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Annual Review: 2024
We would like to thank everyone who has visited Ikon Gallery this year – Ikon’s 60th anniversary – to experience art for free.
Ikon remains committed to its core aims: to offer the very best in contemporary art to the region’s residents and visitors; to support local and international artists, both emerging and established in their careers; to stay relevant in a changing world, addressing important social concerns; and remaining free for all our visitors.
Exhibitions 11.12.2024
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Mahtab Hussain: What Did You Want To See?
Ikon presents a solo exhibition, What Did You Want To See? by British artist Mahtab Hussain (20 March – 1 June 2025).