Reading Museum has hosted an array of exciting exhibitions based on topical themes, ranging from the stunning installation of Lillies for Oscar Wilde to a rare peek in our eclectic collection of art in our Patrons and Donors exhibition.
You can find out more about current and upcoming exhibitions.
Some of our exhibitions focus on a particular artist or group of artists, others take a broad theme as a base for a multidisciplinary show highlighting parts of our collections that would otherwise be rarely seen. We experiment with displays, hosting exhibitions in our Sir John Madjeski Gallery, the Turbine House in our unique Riverside Museum at Blake's Lock or in any of our permanent galleries.
Find out more about our remarkable past exhibitions at The Turbine House below:
Heritage Open Days 2021
10-26 September 2021: The Last Gasometer and Reading’s Changing Skyline Exhibition. Curated by Jenny Halstead and Linda Saul. An exciting exhibition celebrating the ever-changing skyline of Reading and bidding a fond and final farewell to the last of our so familiar gasometers. About 25 invited artists responded in their own styles and media to this themed show, appropriately exhibited in the Turbine House with its view down the Kennet to that last gasometer!
Summer Season 2019
Qui, Ora - Images of Reading by Gabriele Gelsi
Saturday 13 April - Sunday 21 April: 'Dual Aspect' - Landscapes seen through the eyes of two distinctive artists by Michael Elstow & Lorna Webber
Thursday 14 June - Monday 24 June: The Arborealists and Guests: the Art of the Tree
Friday 28 June – Sunday 7 July: Paper: Work: Space: (Air) - Three artists working on paper, with paper and in paper present an original encounter with images, illustrations, books and bookish things.
Monday 15 July – Friday 19 July: 4 Art Teachers - Interdisciplinary work by 4 Art teachers who live and work in the region.
Wednesday 24 July – Thursday 15 August 2019: Qui, Ora – Images of Reading by Gabriele Gelsi. Qui, ora ("here, now") is an attempt to capture life, and how its constant motion can be translated into still images.
Wednesday 21 August - Wednesday 28 August: We are Funghis - an installation by the Double Okay arts trio. A mixture of past film, print and performance work, alongside a work-in-progress residency, allowing us the space to reflect, share and make.
Saturday 31 August – Sunday 15 September: In Reading Gaol by Reading Town - An exhibition of visual artwork inspired by Oscar Wilde’s The Ballad of Reading Gaol by artists from the Reading area.
Thursday 19 September – Monday 30 September: It’s the Journey that Matters - Thérèse Lawlor and Karen Spencer.
Summer Season 2018
Lorna Webber - Turbine House
Mon 23 April – Mon 30 April: Intermedial - Helen Cripps
Wed 9 May – Sun 13 May: You just couldn’t remember and I just couldn’t forget – Laura de Moxom & Lisa-Marie Gibbs
Sat 26 May – Sat 8 June: Colour, Light and Transparency – Print in the Park
Wed 13 June – Mon 18 June: Hung drawn and quartered: Photographs of the Abbey restoration - Chris Forsey
Fri 22 June - Tues 3 July: WATER: rivers and seas - Percy Allum
Fri 6 July - Sun 15 July: To the Power of 3 - Fong Scott, Heather McAteer, Sarah Read
Sat 28 July - Sun 5 August: Connections - Creative Exchange artists
Thur 9 August - Sat 18 August: Plant and Plot - Kate Corder
Tues 20 August - Sun 2 September: Reading's First World War - Reading Museum
Wed 5 September - Sun 16 September: Landscape, Energy, Structure, Art - Michael Garaway, Lynda South
Wed 19 September- Sun 30 September: A Sense of Place - Therese Lawlor & Karen Spencer
Summer Season 2017
In 2017 we collaborated with RG Spaces and Bel and the Dragon to produce a TURBOCHARGED programme of exhibitions and events at the Riverside Museum.
