The Sculpture Gallery in Leeds is one of a kind.
Born out of local artists’ frustration at the lack of commercial exhibition space designed exclusively for three-dimensional works, it’s owned and run by sculptors for sculptors, irrespective of medium and form.
Marble, wood, clay, metal; experimental or traditional, it’s an exciting and eclectic, ever-changing collection in a gallery that gives everyone a huge welcome, making sculpture of all kinds accessible to the many, not just the few.
Huge windows flood The Sculpture Gallery with light
A member of Own Art, an Arts Council England-backed, no-interest payment scheme, it also allows people who might never have dreamed they could afford an original to invest in unique works. And they don’t have to go out of their way to find the gallery, either; it’s right where people shop and chill – in the magnificent, iconic Grade 1-listed, Victorian Leeds Corn Exchange, now an indie retail destination.
In its original incarnation, the building’s enormous windows and fantastic glass-domed roof allowed merchants to better inspect and price the grain being traded through the hall. Now, they flood the gallery with a natural northern light, even on the dullest of Leeds’ days, illuminating the work and bringing the pieces to life.
The iconic Leeds Corn Exchange, now an indie retail destination, houses the Gallery
We love this space – not least because when our Sardinian friend Lilo Pisano moved to the UK to pursue his career as a 3D artist we saw first-hand how hard he struggled to find suitable venues to show his work.
It’s not just about the artists, though. We need more of these creative oases in public places where anyone can enjoy – for free – a moment to pause, observe, question and connect. In fact, at The Sculpture Gallery, people can even get involved – they run regular stone sculpture courses for beginners. You never know where the next Henry Moore or Barbara Hepworth might be!
The Sculpture Gallery was founded as a response to the chronic lack of spaces for 3D art
It’s a real thrill for us to be able to partner The Sculpture Gallery by sponsoring the opening events for its regular guest exhibitions.
On the first Sunday of every month, you’ll be able to visit the gallery between 12.30pm and 4.30pm and enjoy a complimentary glass of Sardinian wine as you wander among the pieces and chat to the artists about their work. That feels very special to us.
The first show is a joint exhibition by members of Leeds Fine Artists on March 1.
We’re also working on plans to hold a series of Wine & Art Storytelling events at The Sculpture Gallery over the course of 2026. So keep an eye on our Instagram and events page for details!
Wine and sculpture share a common heritage in Sardinia. There is evidence of both dating back to the Early Bronze Age, and we'll be exploring that connection at our Gallery events. Candido is particularly excited because his grandfather worked among the scalpellini who extracted high-grade granite from Cava Usai in south east Sardinia. The once-busy bay, humming with the sound of men chipping away at the rock face, now attracts visitors in search of peace, who leave stone art on the beaches!
Scalpellini on a break from mining granite at Cava Usai in south east Sardinia
Stone art left on the beach at Cava Usai - a lovely tribute to the men who worked here