Date: 21 July 2026

Major exhibition celebrating the artistic legacy of York-born designer and sculptor John Flaxman to open at York Art Gallery this autumn 

York Art Gallery is delighted to announce Turner, Wedgwood & Beyond: Inspired by Flaxman, a major new exhibition opening on 18 September 2026 to mark the 200th anniversary of the death of one of Britain’s most influential artists and designers. 

Born in York on 6 July 1755, John Flaxman was one of the defining figures of British art. Renowned as a draughtsman, designer and sculptor, his work had a profound influence on his contemporary artists including J.M.W. Turner, William Blake, Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, and fellow York-born artist William Etty. His celebrated designs for the potter Josiah Wedgwood helped shape some of the most recognisable works of British ceramic art, while his published outline illustrations to Homer and Dante, amongst other ancient poets, secured him an international reputation and inspired artists across Europe.  

Bringing together over 70 loans from leading museums and galleries across the UK alongside works drawn from York Art Gallery’s own collection, the exhibition will showcase the breadth of Flaxman’s artistic practice and his pivotal role in shaping British and European visual culture. Among the exhibition’s highlights is J.M.W. Turner’s striking ‘Ulysses deriding Polyphemus – Homer’s Odyssey’, from the National Gallery’s collection. Other key works include Turner’s ‘The Fall of Anarchy’, William Blake’s ‘Beatrice Addressing Dante from the Car’, both on loan from Tate, and Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres’s ‘Paolo and Francesca’, generously lent by the Barber Institute of Fine Art, together with iconic Wedgwood jasperware designed and modelled by Flaxman.  

The exhibition also features sculpture by Flaxman from National Museums Liverpool, University College London, and Sir John Soane’s Museum, an exceptional selection of Wedgwood chess pieces from the V&A Wedgwood Collection, and portraits from both the V&A South Kensington and the National Portrait Gallery. His fantastic diploma sculpture ‘Apollo and Marpessa’ is among a selection of drawings, paintings and plasters lent by the Royal Academy, which will be showcased alongside his monumental silver-gilt ‘Shield of Achilles’ from Koopman Rare Art, one of only five in the world. Turner, Wedgwood & Beyond: Inspired by Flaxman has been produced and curated in partnership with the University of York’s Department of History of Art. 

Dr Beatrice Bertram, Senior Curator at York Art Gallery said: “Modern audiences tend to know Flaxman’s legacy better than they know Flaxman himself. Although during his lifetime he was one of Britain’s most celebrated artists, today his sculptures, monuments, illustrations, and Wedgwood designs are often encountered without recognising the remarkable artist behind them. Flaxman’s ideas influenced the work of his contemporaries, such as Turner, Blake and York’s own William Etty, and continued to inspire artists across Britain and Europe long after his death. Our exhibition explores these connections, inviting visitors to discover an artist whose imagination helped shape iconic works of art.” 

“As one of the artists who is commemorated on the facade of York Art Gallery, there’s no more fitting place to tell Flaxman’s story than in his home city. The phenomenal range of loans we have generously received from collections across the UK enables us to explore the breadth of his artistic practice, and we are thrilled to be working with the University of York on this show.” 

Co-curator of the exhibition, Dr Richard Johns from the University of York, commented: “Flaxman inspired, and was inspired by, some of Europe’s greatest artists. As a sculptor, designer and illustrator, he bridged the ancient and modern worlds in ways that continue to resonate. His timeless illustrations of Homer’s epic poetry brought the Greek myths to life, sparking a visual tradition that we can see in Turner’s spectacular painting Ulysses deriding Polyphemus, and which lives on in Christopher Nolan’s latest cinematic blockbuster The Odyssey.” 

“The University is delighted to be working with York Art Gallery on this exciting exhibition. Seeing Flaxman’s work alongside Turner, Wedgwood and a host of other great artists is a revelation!” 

This exhibition has been further supported by a generous bequest from Christine Doyle, as well as invaluable support from the Friends of York Art Gallery. The exhibition will be accompanied a wonderful new publication produced in collaboration with the University of York and Paul Holberton Publishing, with generous support from the Paul Mellon Centre 

Throughout the autumn and winter months, there will be lively programme of talks, workshops and events linked to the show’s themes. Further details of the exhibition programme and activities will be announced in further communications. 

Turner, Wedgwood & Beyond: Inspired by Flaxman runs from 18 September 2026 until 17 January 2027 and is included in general admission to York Art Gallery. More details will be announced over the summer, please visit York Art Gallery’s website for more information.