University of York Art Collection

26/02/2026

Exciting news, we’re working on a new exhibition at the Fairhurst Gallery at the university Library! This solo exhibition of the York based artist Matthew Herring will reflect on the portrayal of war and conflict in the media and offer a painterly response to photographs from areas of conflict. The way Matthew’s works are installed is part of his artistic vision so although some of the works have been shown in exhibitions around the UK, the particular installation of the works in our gallery is unique and designed by Matthew himself!

Keep an eye out for further details, we will be announcing the launch date soon!! 🍾🍷🎉💕

Fairhurst Gallery is located at the ground floor of the university library and is accessible to everyone! If you don’t have a library pass, our lovely colleagues at the reception desk will let you through with a free day pass 🤗💖

10/12/2025

The next episode of “Curator & Keeper - the UoY Art Collection Podcast” drops this Thursday 11 Dec at 4pm!

We were so delighted to welcome our first ever guest from outside of the University of York , The Revd Canon Maggie McLean from York Minster ❤️ interviewed as ever by hosts Keeper Gary Brannan and Curator Helena Cox.

Maggie is the author of a visual pilgrimage tour around the Minster, and one of the first women to be ordained in The Church of England. Tune in from Thursday to hear about the connections between The Minster and the UoY Art Collection, the life-changing power of pilgrimage and how art and culture inspired the first women to be ordained over 30 years ago - and much more!
Find us on Spotify and all major podcasting platforms!

17/11/2025

New story from the series of Curator’s Diaries is out now on Medium! Have you always wondered about the sculpture on the ramp leading to the Library? Have a read of why the piece is where it is and how it can uplift your day if you have a proper look at it! 🥰

This essay is part of a series where university art curator Helena Cox explores different aspects of curating and living with over 900 artworks on campus University of York.

The sculpture by Austin Wright from 1967 is part of the university sculpture trail which is free and open to all! You can download the trail map from the art collection web www.york.ac.uk/about/campus/art/

Find the Curator’s Diaries series on Medium - free for all to read!
Follow the link https://medium.com/.cox/the-avocado-or-how-the-longer-route-often-leads-to-better-things-8949c912ab4f

Department of History of Art, University of York York for LifeBorthwick Institute for Archives

One of the perks of being an art curator at a large university is that you’re never stuck in one place. Here at York, artworks are to be…

02/10/2025

Join us for an evening of slow looking and meditation based on artwork from our Art Collection! In celebration of World Mental Health Day, Uni Art Curator Helena will take you through a session of slow observation and meditative appreciation of an artwork- we won’t tell you which one though, that’s a surprise!

In the session, you’ll get to hear a bit about our fabulous art collection, you’ll be guided through the meditation and finally you’ll hear a bit more of the intriguing history behind the chosen artwork. Slow looking and diving into the bliss of art is just a perfect way to end a busy week! ❤️

It’s free and open to all - book via this link:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mindfulness-and-art-exploring-the-uoy-art-collection-through-mindfulness-tickets-1639328177709?aff=oddtdtcreator

05/07/2025

Introducing your Honorary Graduates for our summer 2025 ceremonies 🎓
This summer, we're proud to be conferring honorary degrees on:
∙ Margaret Atwood, author, poet, cartoonist and playwright
∙ Steve Foots CBE, York alum and Group CEO of Croda, a FTSE 100 speciality chemicals company
∙ Dr Amitav Ghosh, an acclaimed author of nine novels, four non-fiction books and two essay collections
∙ Professor Nicolas Gisin, a physicist renowned for his work in quantum communication and the foundations of quantum mechanics
∙ Namita Gokhale, literary curator and author of more than 25 books
∙ Greg James, broadcaster, writer and podcast host
∙ Greg Jenner, Historian, public historian, author, broadcaster and York graduate
∙ Professor Peter Gorm Larsen, professor of Software Engineering and Computer Systems at Aarhus Universitet and leader the AU Centres for Digitalisation (DIGIT) and Digital Twins
∙ Dr Charisse Oyediwura, a music industry leader, and CEO of Black Lives in Music
∙ Dr Hayaatun Sillem CBE, CEO of the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering Foundation

Each year, we celebrate some of the world's most remarkable people through the conferment of honorary degrees. These awards, based on nominations by members of the University community, recognise the individuals' significant contributions to society.

Find out more about each of our honorary graduates at: https://tinyurl.com/2u968r4d

28/06/2025

NEW EPISODE is available NOW on Spotify and wherever you get your podcasts!

13/05/2025

It’s been a great joy to launch our latest exhibition “Waterfowl People” on loan from Fenno-Ugria and to welcome a delegation from Tallinn who festively opened the exhibition for us. The exhibition is located on the 1st floor of the Spring Lane Building on Campus West and open for all to visit!

As part of the launch, Keeper of Archives Gary Brannan gave an opening speech highlighting the importance of the research that underpins the exhibition. Curator Helena Cox spoke about the value of international collaborations and how fantastic it is to welcome this touring exhibition which has been shown at several prominent venues across Europe.

Patrick O’Rourke from Fenno-Ugria outlined the historical setting of the exhibition, and fondly remembered his time as a student at University of York a few years ago. Madis Arukask gave a spoke about the amazing films that were produced as part of the research for the exhibition which form an important outcome of the project. Finally, prof Dunstan Brown, Patrick’s former supervisor, highlighted the importance of the exhibition and the underlying research in the international context of language studies.

We are also delighted that the exhibition launch will be followed by a workshop in next semester and including the screening of the films based on the exhibition - watch this space !

The exhibition is located on the 1st floor of the Spring Lane Building on Campus West. The display presents the making of Lennart Meri‘s legendary documentaries about the Finno-Ugric peoples (The Waterfowl People, The Winds of the Milky Way, The Voices of Kaleva and others) and introduces the cultures of our kindred peoples. The exhibition is based on photographic material taken during the expeditions, with texts by Enn Säde, the sound director who took part in the expedition.
In order to record the material for the films, repeated expeditions were made to the settlements of Finno-Ugric peoples in 1969-1988.

As ever, our huge thanks to Mark Thorpe and Ian Herrington for the installation, and to Paul Shields for all his huge help and photographs!

Department of History of Art, University of York Borthwick Institute for Archives Helena Cox - Curator

12/05/2025

We’re SO excited to announce that our latest guest on “Curator and Keeper - the UoY Art Collection Podcast” was the one and only VC of University of York Charlie Jeffery!

Podcast hosts Gary Brannanand Helena Coxtalked to Charlie about the transformation of the Art Collection, the importance of art on campus, the role art can play in research, teaching and the day-to-day life on campus, and much MUCH more!

Do you want to know what is Charlie’s favourite artwork form our collection? And what other art does he like? And why do we need art in our lives anyway? Tune in and find out!!

The episode is available now on Spotify or anywhere you get your podcasts.

As ever, many thanks to our Digital Creativity Lab whose amazing podcast studios we use - the state-of-the-arts studio is available to all students and staff!

DDepartment of History of Art, University of YorkBBorthwick Institute for Archives
https://open.spotify.com/episode/6bEcs69vlXefpr1yZGXbXC?si=YNlQkX-gSNKwo4Pg8EG_FQ

Curator and Keeper: the University of York Art Collection Podcast · Episode

06/05/2025

Join us this Thursday 8th May from 3pm for the launch of our latest touring exhibition on loan from the Fenno-Ugria Society. The exhibition takes place on the first floor of the Spring Lane Building on University of York campus West, just a few minutes from the bus station and car parks. We are delighted to welcome a delegation from Tallinn who will open the exhibition for us.

ALL WELCOME!!!

This informative exhibition presents the making of Lennart Meri‘s legendary documentaries about the Finno-Ugric peoples (The Waterfowl People, The Winds of the Milky Way, The Voices of Kaleva and others) and introduces the cultures of our kindred peoples. The exhibition is based on photographic material taken during the expeditions, with texts by Enn Säde, the sound director who took part in the expedition.

In order to record the material for the films, repeated expeditions were made to the settlements of Finno-Ugric peoples in 1969-1988, and ethnographers, folklorists, artists and writers participated in the work of the film crew.

Borthwick Institute for Archives

14/04/2025

New episode of Curator and Keeper is out now!
This episode's guest is Laura Yeoman, Access and Digital Engagement Archivist at the BoBorthwick Institute for ArchivesnUniversity of Yorkaura talks to co-hosts HeHelena Coxnd GaGary Brannaniscussing archives, access to collections, and her joyful love of the art of Scottish Artist Joan Eardley. We also discuss potential death by PhD, and an insight into the sort of bickering that 26 miles of walking can give you.

Find us on Spotify and all major podcasting platforms!

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2H7WppzFSdOBAg3wAgWWJM?si=gIXsqr-NRL6tnqDp-g_lxQ

Curator and Keeper: the University of York Art Collection Podcast · Episode

29/03/2025

So wonderful to see that our sculpture trail at University of York plays such a huge role in students' lives! 🥰

“Why I chose York to boost my art history career” ✨
👀 Read why current MA student Hahyun chose York and what the programme has offered her so far. You can find the link in today’s stories, or read Hahyun’s and other student blogs here: https://blogs.york.ac.uk/student-voices/category/study/history-of-art/