Writer Ruth Millington caught up with Start the Press! printmakers Haseebah Ali and Taiba Akhtar, who are making work in response to the Birmingham Qur’an and Mingana Collection at University of Birmingham.

People living in Erdington and the local area are invited to join Birmingham-born artist Jaskirt Dhaliwal-Boora for a series of free photo-walks and workshops in and around Erdington High Street and Rookery Park. Exploring our personal stories and experiences of mental health in green spaces, the sessions include photography, walking and writing to create our own artworks.  

Ikon, in partnership with Transport for West Midlands, has commissioned Black Country artist Tom Hicks to co-create a new public sculpture with members of the local community at the Cross Street Local Travel Point in Halesowen – a public green space providing options for active and environmentally friendly local travel.

Reflections on IYP and Ashokkumar D Mistry showcase by Sonia Boué.

Learn more about Ikon Shop’s refurbishment. Ikon Shop reopens on Thursday 8 February.

We would like to thank everyone who has visited Ikon Gallery this year to experience art for free and all those who have participated in our off-site projects, talks, tours and workshops.  

Racing Thoughts No. 20 – the latest post by Dean Kelland, Ikon’s artist residence at HMP Grendon.

In August, Slow Boat began the final movements of its Year 3 tour of the West Midlands.  

Meet Hoon Yoon, the founder of Tokidokie Cookies who will be a stallholder at this year’s Winter Craft Market.

Meet Bryony Criddle, founder of The Nine of Hearts who will be a stallholder at this year’s Winter Craft Market on Thursday 7 December.

Choose Ikon Gallery for your Christmas shopping this year!

Ikon presents a major solo exhibition by British artist Mali Morris. Calling includes nearly 30 abstract paintings and is curated by independent curator and writer Sam Cornish, author of the monograph Mali Morris: Painting. We asked him a few questions about himself and how he met Mali.

Ikon announces plans for 2024, during which time the gallery celebrates its 60th anniversary. Established as an artists-led alternative space in the Bullring in 1964, Ikon remains free to all and committed to showcasing the very best of British and international art.

Ikon are currently recruiting for an Artist in Residence – Art at HMP Grendon.

Tom Hicks launches his book Black Country Type at Ikon Gallery.

Racing Thoughts No. 19 – the latest post by Dean Kelland, Ikon’s artist residence at HMP Grendon.

In June, Slow Boat was moored up in Stourbridge, a West Midlands town renowned for its integral role in the glass industry during the industrial revolution. 

Redbrick Culture Editor Ilina Jha interviews Maryam Wahid about her upcoming exhibition Dreams of Brum, which will be presented at Ikon Gallery as part of The Migrant Festival 2023. Reproduced with kind permission from Redbrick.

This showcase is a celebration of artworks made by pupils from thirteen Birmingham primary schools during Spring/Summer 2023, as part of Creative Connections, the regional schools’ consortia.

Slow Boat began its Year 2 tour of Birmingham and the West Midlands in Walsall, moored up outside The New Art Gallery Walsall. 

Racing Thoughts No. 18 – the latest post by Dean Kelland, Ikon’s artist in residence at HMP Grendon.

Last week we launched our new exhibition with Melati Suryodarmo, Passionate Pilgrim. Melati Suryodarmo is one of Indonesia’s most important living artists, known for her strenuous durational performances that last several hours, testing the limits of the human mind and body

The Slow Boat Year Two Review took place on 2 March 2023. Ikon Youth Programme collaborated with project evaluator, artist and educator Cathy Wade to produce the event, which reflected on the Slow Boat 2022-23 programme. Eight artist-educators were invited to conduct activities as stimuli for evaluative discussion.  

This April, Ikon, in partnership with the Summit Learning Trust, commissioned visual arts duo Hipkiss & Graney to deliver a series of creative workshops for primary, secondary and college students across the eight academies that make up the Trust. The workshops, produced to coincide with the Coronation of King Charles III, encouraged learners to think critically about art and engage in dialogue about our cultural history and collective futures, and respond to it through meaningful creative and practical activities.