Stunning depictions of the natural world by leading contemporary artists invite visitors to see our relationship with plants in a new light in a major new exhibition at Leeds Art Gallery.
Plant Dreaming delves into imaginative, alternative perspectives on plants, fungi and the deep connections that bind our planet together. Bringing together work by artists including Emma Talbot, Noémie Goudal, Yan Wang Preston, SHARP, Jane Lawson, Aliyah Hussain and Charmaine Watkiss, the show spans large-scale textiles, ceramics, drawing, photography and film. Inviting visitors to consider what humans might learn from plants, rather than simply how we use or exploit them, Plant Dreaming celebrates nature’s power to heal and to forge global connections in the midst of the climate crisis.
The exhibition weaves together local, national and international viewpoints, including Aliyah Hussain’s installation, which links her experience of flooding in the Calder Valley with the floodplains formed by the construction of the Mangla Dam in Pakistan. Yan Wang Preston’s work centres on the plant Rhododendron ponticum, cast as an invasive species in the UK but cherished in its native China.
The exhibition also features Emma Talbot’s striking large-scale silk paintings, which celebrate the medicinal properties of plants, and work by Charmaine Watkiss, who draws on traditional knowledge and cross-generational exchange, inspired by plants of the Caribbean.
Jane Bhoyroo, Principal Keeper at Leeds Art Gallery said:
“We are thrilled to feature enthralling artworks by artists connected with Yorkshire and the North of England, together with internationally renowned artists in this new exhibition. This cross-disciplinary show reimagines our relationship with the living world and draws on the breadth of our outstanding collections including plant specimens from natural sciences to the recent acquisition of a major drawing by Charmaine Watkiss.”
Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for adult social care, active lifestyles and culture said:
“These beautiful depictions of the natural world encapsulate the unique power which nature has to inspire creativity as well as the importance of acknowledging our connection to the world around us.
“Exhibitions like this one have a hugely important role to play in both inspiring visitors and encouraging us to think more about our role in protecting and preserving the planet for future generations.”
Running in parallel with ‘Don’t Let’s Ask for the Moon…’: Nocturnes and Atkinson Grimshaw, which celebrates the moonlit paintings of the much-loved Leeds artist, Plant Dreaming offers a striking contemporary counterpoint.
Plant Dreaming opens at Leeds Art Gallery and continues until 19 April 2026, accompanied by an extensive programme of related events. Leeds Art Gallery operates on a Give What You Can basis www.museumsandgalleries.leeds.gov.uk
