New Exhibition Explores Protest and Photography in Leeds

Steve McQueen’s ‘Resistance’ Exhibition Opens at Leeds Art Gallery

A major exhibition examining the relationship between protest movements and photography will open at Leeds Art Gallery this November. The show, titled Steve McQueen: Resistance – How Protest Shaped Britain and Photography Shaped Protest, presents a century of activism in the UK through powerful photographic works.

Exhibition Overview

Conceived by artist and filmmaker Steve McQueen and curated alongside Clarrie Wallis and Emma Lewis of Turner Contemporary, the exhibition explores how acts of resistance have influenced British society. It also highlights the significant role photography has played in documenting and inspiring social change.

Resistance traces key moments from the radical suffragette movement beginning in 1903 to the 2003 anti-Iraq War march, the largest protest in British history. The exhibition focuses on the stories of individuals and communities whose activism has contributed to shaping modern Britain, with an emphasis on previously overlooked histories.

Featured Photographers and Works

The exhibition includes works by renowned photographers such as:

• Vanley Burke
• Henry Grant
• Fay Godwin
• Edith Tudor-Hart
• Tish Murtha
• Humphrey Spender
• Christine Spengler
• Andrew Testa
• Paul Trevor
• Janine Wiedel

Alongside these, less well-known photographers whose work documents grassroots activism are also featured. The photographs are drawn from various archives and image libraries, focusing on images captured before the widespread use of digital cameras.

Tour and Local Presentation

Leeds Art Gallery is the northern venue for this touring exhibition, following successful displays at Turner Contemporary in Margate and the National Galleries of Scotland: Modern Two in Edinburgh. The exhibition will be on display in Leeds from 6 November 2026 until 25 April 2027.

Supporting Programme and Publication

The exhibition will be accompanied by a programme of related events at Leeds Art Gallery. Additionally, a major publication compiled by Steve McQueen and edited by Clarrie Wallis with Sarah Harrison will be released. The book features a collection of photographs from the exhibition, including covert surveillance images and iconic press photos, alongside first-hand accounts and expert analysis. Contributors include Gary Younge, Paul Gilroy, and Baroness Chakrabarti.

Statements from Organisers

Steve McQueen said the exhibition “will hopefully remind people that no matter the odds, as a collective, things can change.”

Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for economy, described it as “a real privilege” for the gallery to host the exhibition, which offers visitors a chance to reflect on significant moments in British history.

Jane Bhoyroo, Principal Keeper at Leeds Art Gallery, highlighted the exhibition’s focus on “grassroots struggle for social justice” and the opportunity for visitors to engage with “poignant images by over 40 photographers.”

Additional Information

• Curators: Steve McQueen, Clarrie Wallis, Emma Lewis
• Political research by Sarah Harrison
• Produced by Tessa Pierce, with assistance from Brittany Crombie
• Organised by Turner Contemporary, adapted for National Galleries Scotland and Leeds Art Gallery
• Supported by the Ampersand Foundation Award 2023

For further details about the exhibition and related events, visit the Leeds Art Gallery website or contact the Leeds City Council Communications team.