News - Ikon

Exhibitions 04.09.2025

with Birmingham City University (BCU)

Thread the Loom is a group exhibition celebrating the art of weaving. An AVL Studio Dobby loom, on loan from Birmingham City University (BCU), was activated through a series of micro-residencies with West Midlands weavers. We caught up with Zoë Hillyard, Senior Lecturer, BA (Hons) Textile Design at BCU and Lara Gembarska, Student Weaving Support to ask them to reflect on their highlights.

Art in Prisons 06.08.2025

Interview with HMP Spring Hill Artist In Residence

Jessica Ostrowicz is Ikon’s Artist in Residence at HMP Spring Hill. James Latunji-Cockbill, Ikon’s Producer, Art in Prisons, interviews the artist about their creative practice.

Offsite 24.07.2025

Tom Hicks, You Are Here

Ikon and Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) present a new public sculpture for Halesowen by Black Country artist Tom Hicks.

Exhibitions 17.07.2025

Clare Langford

We caught up with Clare Langford, one of the West Midlands weavers activating an AVL Studio Dobby loom, on loan from Birmingham City University (BCU) as part of Ikon’s exhibition Thread the Loom.

Exhibitions 10.07.2025

Chantelle Folarin

We caught up with Chantelle Folarin, one of the West Midlands weavers activating an AVL Studio Dobby loom, on loan from Birmingham City University (BCU) as part of Ikon’s exhibition Thread the Loom.

News 03.07.2025

Remember Nature 2025: Harun Morrison

Ikon is pleased to announce Harun Morrison as the gallery’s participating artist for Remember Nature 2025.

Artist Residency 12.06.2025

Film: Robert Zhao Renhui

Watch Ikon’s film with artist Robert Zhao Renhui about his artist residency at Wigwell Lodge.

Ikon Shop 12.06.2025

Independent Bookshop Week

Visit Ikon Shop during Independent Bookshop Week! (Saturday 14 – Saturday 21 June). Ikon Shop stocks a range of books, cards, prints, posters and gifts including jewellery and homeware. We are offering 25% off all Ikon catalogues for the month of June. Shop in-store or online.

Art in Prisons 11.06.2025

Building a Legacy

For over 10 years, Ikon has been working in partnership with Marie-Louise von Motesiczky Charitable Trust to deliver its work with artists and communities. A new publication, Building a Legacy (2025) gives an overview of the Marie-Louise von Motesiczky Charitable Trust between 1997–2025.

News 04.06.2025

Announcement: Ikon Board of Trustees

Ikon is pleased to announce the appointment of Martin Green CBE as Chair of the gallery’s Board of Trustees.

News 29.05.2025

Slow Boat concludes its journey to Stoke-on-Trent

As Ikon’s Slow Boat concluded its journey to Stoke-on-Trent, we caught up with Nicola Shipley, Director, GRAIN Projects and Rosie Abbey, Ikon Youth Programme Coordinator.

Artist Residency 21.05.2025

Robert Zhao Renhui, Artist Residency

The residency at Wigwell Lodge has offered me a rare kind of quiet – one that sharpens my attention to both visible and invisible movements in the landscape. It’s been a time of listening, walking and noticing subtle shifts in weather, wildlife and time.

Slow Boat 14.05.2025

Slow Boat continues its journey

Over the last few weeks, we have continued journeying north on the canal, through Stoke-on-Trent, delivering artist-led workshops with groups from across Stoke-on-Trent.

Exhibitions 08.05.2025

Ikon Announces Summer Exhibitions

Ikon announces new summer exhibitions.

Slow Boat 28.04.2025

Ikon Slow Boat journeys along the Trent & Mersey Canal, Stoke-on-Trent

This Spring, Ikon’s Slow Boat is programmed and produced in collaboration with GRAIN Projects, an arts organisation that specialises in contemporary photography and the delivery of socially engaged photography projects, exhibitions and publications regionally and nationally.

Exhibitions 22.04.2025

Sunsets, Food and Friendship

Ikon presents Sunsets, Food and Friendship, an exhibition of young people’s photography focused on the importance of culture, heritage and identity in shaping a sense of self and belonging.

Artist Residency 14.04.2025

New artist residencies

Ikon announces two new off-site artist residencies with Robert Zhao Renhu and Jessica Ostrowicz.

Events 27.03.2025

Events at Ikon Gallery

Ikon recently launched new exhibitions by artists Mahtab Hussain and Htein Lin and celebrated the arrival of the Cherry Blossoms in Oozells Square.

Schools 07.03.2025

School Visits To Friends in Love and War exhibition

Ikon’s winter exhibition, Friends in Love and War – L’Éloge des meilleur·es ennemi·es, was visited by 15 Primary schools, 23 Secondary schools, 7 SEND schools and 19 University groups.

Slow Boat 06.03.2025

Ikon Slow Boat: Stoke-on-Trent, April - May 2025

Ikon is pleased to announce Slow Boat’s visit to Stoke-on-Trent in partnership with GRAIN Projects. Taking place throughout April and May 2025, Slow Boat’s programme of activity involves artists and photographers, education partners and arts organisations, with a focus on engaging young people in North Staffordshire.

Exhibitions 05.03.2025

Clipping the Ikon - Round Up

To celebrate the final weekend of Ikon’s exhibition Friends in Love and War – L’Éloge des meilleur·es ennemi·es, Birmingham-based Czech artist Tereza Bušková led the event Clipping the Ikon.

Exhibitions 22.01.2025

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

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

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.