Exhibition Articles
Press Release - Jul 2026
Collections Insight: Art in 'Echoes of Us'
The 'Echoes of Us' exhibition, which is on display throughout the summer, features an amazing selection of works from the Government Art Collection. It also includes five works from The Box's permanent art collection, all of which tie in with the exhibition's themes of 'Belonging', 'Memory' and 'Connection'. Discover more about them here.
Press Release - Jul 2026
New film commission by Jordan Baseman explores the full spectrum of human emotion at The Box this summer
The Box Plymouth is presenting a new film commission by artist and filmmaker Jordan Baseman as part of its ‘Summer of Expression’ – a programme of exhibitions and events that’s exploring the power of thoughts, feelings and emotions through art over the next few months.
Press Release - Jul 2026
Arts University Plymouth marks 170 years of creative education with new display at The Box
From Park Street to Tavistock Place, the free display explores how generations of students, staff and makers have helped shape Plymouth’s creative life since 1856.
Art - Jul 2026
Gillian Ayres: Feasting on beauty
Gillian Ayres (1930-2018) once said: ‘To me, art – colour in art – is wonderfully indulging. I don’t see why you shouldn’t be filling yourself up, making yourself happy. Enjoying yourself. Feasting on beauty. I want an art that’s going to make me feel heady, in a high-flown way.’ Presented across three galleries, 'A Life in Colour' is a timely exploration of her phenomenal legacy through paintings made over the course of seven decades – highlighting the power of painting as a means of nonverbal expression. Here’s an insight into five of the works in the show.
Press Release - Jul 2026
Enjoy a 'Summer of Expression' filled with major exhibitions and celebrations of young creativity
We're inviting audiences from across the Southwest to enjoy a vibrant ‘Summer of Expression’ here at The Box, featuring new exhibitions, family-friendly activities and inspiring displays showcasing the region’s creative talent. At the heart of the season are two major shows: 'Echoes of Us' (20 June-20 September) and 'Gillian Ayres: A Life in Colour' (4 July-4 October). Together, they explore the power of creativity, connection and self-expression while highlighting the South West's rich artistic heritage.
Art - Jun 2026
125 years of art, diplomacy and identity: Why the Government Art Collection matters
For 125 years, the Government Art Collection has quietly played a remarkable role in representing Britain to the world. This summer, visitors to 'Echoes of Us' at The Box have a rare opportunity to see works from this extraordinary national collection outside their usual diplomatic settings.
Press Release - Jun 2026
Beryl Cook exhibition smashes visitor target
We're delighted to announce that the hugely popular 'Beryl Cook: Pride and Joy' attracted nearly 104,000 visits during its run – exceeding its original target of 75,000 by almost 30,000. The exhibition, which celebrated the life and work of artist Beryl Cook and marked the centenary of her birth, proved to be the most successful show staged at The Box Plymouth since it opened in late September 2020.
News - May 2026
Beryl's Influences
Although artist Beryl Cook was self-taught, she didn’t create her paintings in a vacuum. She actively mined newsreels and local papers, was an avid reader who owned many books, captured hundreds of photographs and gained inspiration from a wide variety of materials and artists. There's a section in our ‘Beryl Cook: Pride and Joy’ exhibition which shows her work alongside some of these and demonstrates just how well-informed and considered her practice was. Discover more here!
News - Apr 2026
Beryl's Travels
Beryl Cook painted Plymouth as it had never been seen before and the city influenced the way she saw and represented the wider world too. With the success of her first exhibitions and growing reputation she travelled to other places - for work as well as leisure. Here are some of the paintings in our ‘Beryl Cook: Pride and Joy’ exhibition that were inspired by her visits to other cities.
News - Mar 2026
Inspired by Beryl Cook
The four life-sized Beryl Cook sculptures that are located around Plymouth have been more popular than we could have hoped for since they were installed. They've created some great selfie moments too! As we seek a planning permission extension to keep them in place until at least 2029, here's more about the paintings that inspired them.
Art - Mar 2026
Journeys with Mai: Contemporary Artists Reframing Mai’s Story
Explore how contemporary artists Lisa Reihana, Mohini Chandra, Hinatea Colombani and Moeava Meder reinterpret Mai’s story, challenging colonial imagery and restoring Pacific Islander voices in 'Journeys with Mai'.
Art - Feb 2026
Journeys with Mai: British Visions and Pacific Voices through 18th Century Art
What did the first meetings between South Pacific Islands people and British voyagers really look like? The artists in the North Gallery of 'Journeys with Mai' reveal contrasting viewpoints - from European attempts to document the 'unknown' to a Polynesian artist who recorded these encounters from within their own culture.