Exhibitions

Gallery Oldham has two large temporary exhibition spaces plus a community gallery, Gallery 1.

We take an innovative and unique approach to exhibition programming, bringing together what were once separate museum and gallery services.

Our programming incorporates Oldham’s extensive art, social and natural history collections alongside touring work, newly commissioned and contemporary art, international art and work produced with local communities.

In addition we have permanent displays around the building.

The Oldham Open

19 September – 14 November 2026

It’s that time again, the Oldham Open is here. This exhibition showcases the extraordinary range of talented artists living, working or studying in the borough of Oldham.

With over 200 artworks displayed across Gallery 2 and Gallery 3 this year’s open is bigger than ever.

There is always a wide variety of artists and styles, across drawing, painting, photography, ceramics and sculpture. Work is for sale, so it’s a great opportunity to pick up some Christmas presents while supporting artists in our area.

Coming Soon

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Restless Objects: Migration, Memory and Survival in the Afterlives of Empire

5 December 2026 – 27 February 2027

This exhibition explores the enduring impact of colonialism through the work of Hassan Aliyu and Ade Ogundimu. It draws on more than 30 years of artistic collaboration between the artists with collaged paintings, multimedia works and sculptural installations. 

Restless Objects is informed by extensive doctoral research of both artists and by personal experiences of migration back and forth between the UK and Nigeria powerfully reclaiming histories deliberately obscured by empire. Their inventive use of collage, print and reclaimed objects grew out of the 1980s embargo on imported art materials when they were studying in Nigeria, transforming economic hardship into artistic method.

The exhibition invites audiences to imagine the possibilities of survival, resistance and renewal in the afterlives of empire.

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Sampled Stories

28 November 2026 – 26 June 2027

Discover the remarkable stories stitched into more than 50 historic samplers from Gallery Oldham’s collection. Sampled Stories reveals how these beautifully embroidered works are far more than decorative needlework. Created mainly by young girls as part of their education, each sampler records individual lives, skills, family connections and personal experiences.

Spanning from the 1720s to 1900s, the exhibition explores themes of education, religion, employment, creativity, remembrance and social history. Through extensive research carried out with Oldham Archives, many of the makers have been identified, bringing their stories back into view. From intricate patterns to deeply personal details, these extraordinary textiles provide a unique window into the lives of girls and women whose voices might otherwise have been lost to history.

Co-curated with textile artist Lynn Setterington.

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Breadheads by Chad McCail

13 March 2027 – 28 August 2027

Artist Chad McCail has created a toy city overrun by giants who threaten its residents. Yet the people are not powerless. By drawing together to resist, they discover deep reserves of strength, courage and imagination. A tree of life bursts through the roof of the church, as millworkers from the past rise up alongside bird- and animal-headed figures in a powerful reflection on environmental change.

McCail’s work is a poetic vision which asks us to question the distribution of power at a time of growing social and environmental challenges.

The exhibition’s title, Breadheads, refers to people whose main focus is the pursuit of money and wealth. Through this striking installation, the artist suggests that collective action can bring change and create a fairer future.

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