Protest in the picture as compelling exhibition comes to Leeds
A thought-provoking new exhibition bringing the worlds of protest and photography into focus will open in Leeds this November.
Leeds Art Gallery will present Steve McQueen: Resistance – How Protest Shaped Britain and Photography Shaped Protest, an exhibition conceived by renowned artist and filmmaker Steve McQueen and curated in collaboration with Clarrie Wallis and Emma Lewis of Turner Contemporary. The exhibition will open later this year, it was announced today.
The exhibition will explore how acts of resistance have shaped life in the UK and the powerful role photography has played in both documenting and driving change.
McQueen offers a powerful exploration of overlooked histories, bringing to light the stories of individuals and communities whose acts of resistance have helped shape modern Britain.
Spanning a century of activism, Resistance traces movements from the radical suffragettes of 1903 to the largest protest in British history, the 2003 march against the Iraq War.
Renowned for amplifying underrepresented voices, McQueen contributes a compelling exploration of overlooked histories, shedding light on the forgotten stories of individuals whose actions have helped define Britain's history.
The exhibition will bring together 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 and Janine Wiedel, alongside less-known photographers who documented these powerful stories.
Drawing photographs from various archives collections and image libraries, Resistance deliberately focuses on moments captured before digital cameras became commonplace.
As the North of England venue on the tour, Leeds Art Gallery will present this critically acclaimed exhibition following its highly successful presentations at Turner Contemporary in Margate and National Galleries of Scotland: Modern Two in Edinburgh.
Steve McQueen said:
“Resistance is an exhibition that 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, said:
“It’s a real privilege for the gallery to be hosting such a prestigious and compelling exhibition that will give visitors the chance to reflect on some groundbreaking moments that have helped shape British history.
“Leeds Art Gallery continues to explore fascinating subjects through a programme that helps to enhance the city’s reputation as a bold and dynamic cultural destination.”
Jane Bhoyroo, Principal Keeper at Leeds Art Gallery, said:
“We are thrilled to present this landmark historical exhibition which captures a century of grassroots struggle for social justice. Conceived by Steve McQueen, the exhibition creates a panorama of histories of resistance which highlights individual stories, communities gathering strength and moments of celebratory defiance from across the UK. It is a compelling exploration of people whose actions have helped define Britain’s identity and visitors will have the opportunity to encounter poignant images by over 40 photographers.”
Resistance is curated by Steve McQueen and Clarrie Wallis, with Emma Lewis. Political research is by Sarah Harrison. The exhibition is produced by Tessa Pierce, with assistance from Brittany Crombie. Organised by and originated at Turner Contemporary, Margate, and adapted for presentation at National Galleries Scotland: Modern Two and Leeds Art Gallery with Curator Liza Butakova.
Resistance is the culmination of a four-year project, made possible by the Ampersand Foundation Award 2023. The exhibition is on display at Leeds Art Gallery from 6 November 2026 – 25 April 2027 and will be accompanied by a programme of related events.
Resistance is also a major publication, compiled by Steve McQueen and edited by Clarrie Wallis with Sarah Harrison, published by 4th Estate. The book presents a rich collection of photographs from the exhibition, ranging from covert surveillance shots to iconic press images, along with firsthand accounts from witnesses of these pivotal historical moments. Expert analysis further examines the relevance of these stories today, featuring contributions from influential voices such as Gary Younge, Paul Gilroy, and Baroness Chakrabarti.
Image credit: Paul Trevor, Anti-rascists gather to block route of National Front demonstration, New Cross Road, London, August 1977. Copyright Paul Trevor.
NOTES TO EDITORS
About Steve McQueen
Steve McQueen was born in London in 1969. Surveys of his work have been held at the Art Institute of Chicago and Laurenz Foundation, Schaulager Basel (2012–13); Tate Modern, London (2020); and Pirelli HangarBicocca, Milan (2022). Recent solo presentations include those at Dia Beacon, New York (2024-25); the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York (2016); the Art Institute of Chicago (2017); Museum of Modern Art, New York (2017); Pérez Art Museum, Miami (2017); Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester (2017); Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston (2017–18); Tate Britain, London (2019–21); and Serpentine Gallery, London (2023). McQueen has participated in Documenta X (1997) and XI (2002), as well as the Venice Biennale (2003, 2007, 2013, and 2015), representing the United Kingdom in 2009. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Turner Prize (1999); W. E. B. Du Bois Medal, Harvard University (2014); Johannes Vermeer Award (2016); the Rolf Schock Prize in Visual Arts (2024) and the Erasamus Award (2026).
He was declared Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 2002, Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 2011, and Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 2020. McQueen directed the feature films Hunger (2008), Shame (2011), 12 Years a Slave (2014), Widows (2018), and Blitz (2024); as well as the series Small Axe (2020), an anthology of five films shown on the BBC and Amazon; and Uprising (2021), a three-part documentary series for the BBC. His documentary Occupied City (2023) is based on the book Atlas van een bezette stad: Amsterdam 1940-1945 (Atlas of an Occupied City: Amsterdam 1940–1945, 2019) by Bianca Stigter. McQueen won the Caméra d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival for Hunger in 2008 and an Oscar for Best Motion Picture for 12 Years a Slave in 2014.
About Turner Contemporary
Turner Contemporary is one of the UK’s most visited contemporary art galleries and part of Margate’s vibrant creative community. Opened in 2011 and designed by David Chipperfield, the gallery presents an ambitious programme of exhibitions, events and learning opportunities inspired by JMW Turner’s legacy and his enduring connection to the town. In 2026, Turner Contemporary marks its 15th anniversary. Since opening, the gallery has played a pivotal role in the region’s cultural and economic regeneration, welcoming over 5 million visitors and contributing more than £100 million to the local economy.
About Leeds Art Gallery
Founded in 1888 as a civic art gallery, Leeds Art Gallery has strong collections of 19th and 20th century British painting and sculpture, widely considered to be one of the best outside the UK's national collections. Alongside an extensive painting and sculpture collection, the gallery holds a significant collection of moving-image work. To accompany the collection, Leeds Art Gallery presents a dynamic and diverse programme comprising exhibitions, commissions, acquisitions and projects by artists whose work is globally significant and locally relevant. In recent years, Leeds Art Gallery has launched British Art Show 8, established Yorkshire Sculpture International, presented Sonia Boyce’s award-winning Feeling Her Way from the Venice Biennale and has co-commissioned major moving-image works.