Ten striking, large-scale artworks have been unveiled on Leeds’ Neville Street to form an outdoor exhibition celebrating the city’s rich history, vibrant life and multiculturalism. The artworks on display on the east wall of Neville Street are all by local artists and cover themes of culture, industrial heritage, music, nature and the past, present and future of Leeds people, with a particular focus on communities in the south of the city.
To develop the artworks, each artist worked closely with the local community and this engagement is reflected in the final design. The aim was to celebrate the cultural and historical links between the south Leeds community and the city center. Each piece of artwork has a companion webpage with information about the artist and a video explaining the inspiration behind the work and how it was created.
Commenting on the exhibition, Councillor Helen Hayden, Executive Member for Sustainability and Infrastructure, said:
“These unique artworks on Neville Street will provide a positive and thought-provoking entry point for Leeds, further cementing our identity as a culturally vibrant and creative city.
“The artists have done a fantastic job of representing many aspects of Leeds’ heritage, history and wider culture in their artwork and I think people will enjoy their work for many years to come.”
The artwork links the heritage and culture of south Leeds to the city center and complements the wider environmental improvements to Neville Street and the surrounding area that are part of the first phase of the Leeds Integrated Station Masterplan. These include improvements to pedestrian, cycle and wheel infrastructure between the north and south of the city.
The exhibition is a partnership between Leeds City Council, Leeds Civic Trust, Network Rail, West Yorkshire Combined Authority and local councillors. The exhibition is part of the improvements being implemented as part of the Leeds Station Sustainable Travel Gateway Plan and as part of the Leeds 2023 Year of City Culture campaign.
Tracy Brabin, Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, said:
“This vibrant exhibition is a great way to celebrate our region’s diverse communities and rich cultural heritage.
“It will help us to make wider improvements around the station and work towards a stronger, brighter West Yorkshire.”
Anna Weeks, Network Rail’s lead project sponsor, said:
“Leeds station will be undergoing a major transformation over the next few years and this unique display of artwork is part of that transformation.
“We are delighted to be supporting this project, which will not only improve the station environment but also promote the heritage and culture of the city.