New Exhibition Explores Relationship with Plants

Leeds Art Gallery Opens ‘Plant Dreaming’ Exhibition

Leeds Art Gallery has launched a new exhibition titled Plant Dreaming, which showcases contemporary artworks focusing on plants, fungi, and the interconnectedness of the natural world. The exhibition opened on 14 November 2025 and will run until 19 April 2026.

Artistic Perspectives on Nature and Climate

Plant Dreaming features a diverse range of works including large-scale textiles, ceramics, drawings, photography, and film. The exhibition aims to encourage visitors to consider what humans might learn from plants, rather than viewing them solely as resources to be exploited. It highlights nature’s potential as a source of healing and connection, particularly in the context of the ongoing climate crisis.

The exhibition includes contributions from both local and international artists, such as:

• Emma Talbot – large-scale paintings on silk celebrating the medicinal uses of plants
• Noémie Goudal
• Yan Wang Preston – work focusing on Rhododendron Ponticum, a plant considered invasive in the UK but valued in China
• SHARP – photographic works reflecting experiences growing up in Bradford during the era of Section 28
• Jane Lawson – textiles imagining a utopian future beyond the climate crisis
• Aliyah Hussain – installation connecting experiences of flooding in the Calder Valley with the Mangla Dam floodplains in Pakistan
• Charmaine Watkiss – works inspired by Caribbean plants and traditional knowledge

Local and Global Connections

The exhibition brings together perspectives from Yorkshire, the North of England, and beyond. Jane Bhoyroo, Principal Keeper at Leeds Art Gallery, noted the inclusion of artworks connected to the region alongside internationally recognised artists. The show also draws on the gallery’s collections, including natural science plant specimens and recent acquisitions.

Supporting Events and Additional Exhibitions

Plant Dreaming is accompanied by a programme of related events designed to engage visitors further with the themes of the exhibition. It runs concurrently with another exhibition at Leeds Art Gallery titled Don’t Let’s Ask for the Moon…: Nocturnes and Atkinson Grimshaw, which features moonlit works by the Leeds artist Atkinson Grimshaw.

Leeds Art Gallery operates a ‘Give What You Can’ admission policy. For more information about the exhibition and related events, visitors can consult the Leeds Museums and Galleries website.

Contact details for media enquiries are available through Leeds City Council’s Communications team.