Wolverhampton Art Gallery - A Wolverhampton and West Midlands Gem!

Wolverhampton Art Gallery was opened on Lichfield Street in Wolverhampton in 1884. It was by the architect J. A. Chatwin of Birmingham. It was extended on Wulfruna Street in 2007.


Where is Wolverhampton Art Gallery?

Wolverhampton Art Gallery at Lichfield Street, Wolverhampton WV1 1DU

 

In brief

Art Gallery built from 1883-85 by J. A. Chatwin of Birmingham. Grade II* listed building. It opened in 1884. There is a modern extension on Wulfruna Street to the back. Also includes the former Municipal School of Art, built in the 1870s.

Wolverhampton Art GalleryWolverhampton Art Gallery on Lichfield Street (March 2015). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

 

Wolverhampton Art Gallery - history

The art gallery was designed by Birmingham architect Julius Chatwin (1829-1907) and built by local contractor Philip Horsman (1825-1890).

Built of Bath stone with Oolitic Limestone from Bath in Somerset from 1883 to 1885 (while it opened to the public in 1884), it is a Grade II* listed building.

The gallery faces St Peters Gardens, and there is path called St Peters Walk that takes you from Lichfield Street to Wulfruna Street.

Wolverhampton Art GalleryWolverhampton Art Gallery on Lichfield Street (March 2015). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Former Municipal School of Art and Crafts

Built as the Municipal School of Art during the 1870s on Wulfruna Street (corner with St Peters Walk), it is now part of Wolverhampton Art Gallery.

A Grade II listed building, built of brick with ashlar dressings.

A blue plaque for Sir Charles Wheeler (1892-1974), who was a sculptor, became a Freeman of Wolverhampton in 1958, studied here.

It had been built around 1887 and was used as offices for the Wolverhampton Board of Guardians, but became an Annexe to the Art Gallery by 1908 or 1909. Sir Charles Wheeler was a student here from 1907 to 1912.

The School of Art and Crafts became Wolverhampton College of Art in May 1950, it later moved to a new building in June 1969 at Ring Road St Peters, when they merged with Wolverhampton College of Technology to form Wolverhampton Polytechnic (now part of the University of Wolverhampton).

Wolverhampton Art GalleryFormer Municipal School of Art, now part of Wolverhampton Art Gallery on Wulfruna Street (March 2015). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Wolverhampton Art Gallery - modern extension

From 2006 to 2007 the original art gallery was refurbished by Purcell, who partly modernised and extended the building to create additional exhibition spaces.

The building also has a café inside.

It can be accessed from Wulfruna Street.

Niall Phillips Architects designed it, and it was built from 2004 to 2007 with unglazed terracotta tiles.

Wolverhampton Art GalleryModern extension of Wolverhampton Art Gallery on Wulfruna Street (July 2021). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Art to see inside

Fibreglass maquette of King Kong, 1971 by Nicholas Monro (1936 - 2022). It was used for the full sized King Kong in Birmingham in 1972, then the replica in 2022, 50 years later.

King KongKing Kong at Wolverhampton Art Gallery (August 2023). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

See-saw art by Yinka Shonibare CBE, called End of Empire, 2016. Commemorates one hundred years since the First World War. Two figurative sculptures dressed in clothing of 19th century aristocrats sit on a 'see-saw'.

See-sawSee-saw in Wolverhampton Art Gallery (August 2023). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Old masters. 18th century portraits and paintings. Piano at the far end of the room.

Wolverhampton Art GalleryWolverhampton Art Gallery (August 2023). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

19th century paintings and objects, including one depicting Dante.

Wolverhampton Art GalleryWolverhampton Art Gallery (August 2023). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

What used to be the main entrance hall near the staircase. The doors here are emergency exit only now. The Glaze cafe is to the left of here.

Wolverhampton Art GalleryWolverhampton Art Gallery (August 2023). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Contact details

Wolverhampton Art Gallery

Lichfield Street

Wolverhampton

WV1 1DU

01902 552055

Project dates

27 Feb 2023 - On-going

Passions

History & heritage, Art; Culture & creativity, Classic Architecture

Contact

Your Place Your Space

Jonathan Bostock

0121 410 5520
jonathan.bostock@ yourplaceyourspace.com