Steve McQueen’s Major Protest Exhibition Opens in Leeds

A landmark exhibition exploring the visual history of British social change is set to arrive in Leeds this autumn. Steve McQueen: Resistance – How Protest Shaped Britain and Photography Shaped Protest will open at Leeds Art Gallery on 6 November 2026, offering a deep dive into a century of grassroots struggle. The exhibition will remain on display until 25 April 2027.

Conceived by the renowned artist and filmmaker Steve McQueen, the project traces a timeline of activism from the radical suffragette movement of 1903 through to the historic 2003 march against the Iraq War. By gathering archives and image libraries, the exhibition aims to highlight the stories of individuals and communities whose acts of resistance have helped define modern Britain.

A Century of Visual History

The exhibition focuses specifically on pre-digital photography, bringing together a vast collection of images. Visitors will have the opportunity to view works from over 40 photographers, including notable figures such as Vanley Burke, Tish Murtha, Fay Godwin, Humphrey Spender, Henry Grant, Edith Tudor-Hart, Christine Spengler, Andrew Testa, Paul Trevor, and Janine Wiedel.

McQueen’s curation serves as a panorama of social justice, capturing moments of celebratory defiance and collective strength. The display is designed to remind viewers that, regardless of the odds, collective action has historically served as a catalyst for national change. This presentation at Leeds Art Gallery marks the North of England stop on the exhibition’s national tour, following successful runs at Turner Contemporary in Margate and the National Galleries of Scotland: Modern Two in Edinburgh. The project is the culmination of a four-year initiative supported by the Ampersand Foundation Award 2023.

The Practical Picture

For those planning a visit to Leeds Art Gallery, the following details are currently confirmed regarding the exhibition:

As the exhibition approaches its opening date, the gallery intends to host an accompanying programme of related events to further explore the themes of photography and protest. Visitors interested in the historical context behind the images may also look for the major publication accompanying the exhibition. Edited by Clarrie Wallis and Sarah Harrison, the book includes first-hand accounts from witnesses of pivotal historical events and expert analysis from contributors including Gary Younge, Paul Gilroy, and Baroness Chakrabarti.

Source: Leeds City Council