Laing Art Gallery
Kicking off the list with my personal favourite, located in heart of the city, the Laing Art Gallery is a local classic; think the Tate Britain… but with a much more intimate and undeniably Geordie atmosphere. The gallery holds regularly changing exhibitions of historic, modern and contemporary art, boasting work from locally, nationally, and even internationally acclaimed artists. Alongside their permanent exhibitions, the Laing feature works from 19th/20th century artists William and Evelyn De Morgan: 'Two of the Rarest Spirits of the Age’ until 26 September. Then, between 17 October 2020 - 27 February 2021, ‘Art Deco by the Sea’ will explore how the Art Deco style transformed the British seaside during the 1920s and 30s.
BALTIC
If you like modern art, you’re in for a treat with this one! Located on the south bank of the River Tyne, alongside the Gateshead Millennium Bridge, stands the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art. The centre hosts a wide variety of changing exhibitions, celebrating the talent of many contemporary artists, in its sleek and spacious viewing rooms. BALTIC is currently featuring Imran Perretta’s film ‘The Destructors’, and work from Columbian artist, Abel Rodríguez. Priding itself on the diversity and creative freedom of all its featured artists, BALTIC’s exhibitions never fail to recount a story, whether it is personal or political.
The Biscuit Factory
The Biscuit Factory is an independent art gallery located in a former (you guessed it) biscuit factory in Ouseburn, and sees work from both emerging and mid-career local and national artists. The gallery itself is full of character with many of the original facets of the building such as the beams and brickwork still intact, and mixed with the contemporary art displayed, this gives the gallery the perfect juxtaposition between new and old. Currently, the gallery features the work of over 250 independent artists as well as the annual Contemporary Young Artist Award, featuring the work of 45 emerging artists.
Hatton Gallery
Last but definitely not least is Newcastle University's own, Hatton Gallery, whose collection includes over 3,000 works from the 14th – 20th centuries, which range in medium from paintings and drawings to sculptures and textiles. The gallery is not currently open to visitors until further notice but from 26 September 2020 - 23 January 2021 the gallery is set to exhibit work by Linder Sterling. The gallery also works closely with Newcastle University’s own art students to exhibit their work on an annual basis and situated in the Fine Art Building on campus, there is absolutely no excuse not to give the Hatton Gallery a visit.
Featured image: Jatinder Dhillon via Wikimedia Commons