The gallery's Tiled Hall was originally designed as the library's reading room and was rediscovered behind false walls during renovations.
The building features a dedicated room to Henry Moore, who studied at the Leeds School of Art nearby.
The gallery holds a significant collection of works by Victorian narrative painters, including Atkinson Grimshaw.
The collection includes over 400 oil paintings and 800 works on paper.
The gallery was opened to the public in 1888 by the Mayor of Leeds.
Leeds Art Gallery houses a significant collection of 20th-century British art, frequently cited as one of the best outside London. The collection spans from the 19th century to the present day, featuring extensive holdings of oil paintings, watercolors, and sculpture. It famously holds the Tiled Hall, a Victorian-era cafe and bookshop space decorated with ornate tiles and marble columns. The gallery underwent a major refurbishment in 2017 to restore historic features and improve environmental controls for its permanent collection. The building is connected to the Leeds Central Library, creating a unified cultural hub on The Headrow. The gallery regularly hosts temporary contemporary exhibitions in its rotating gallery spaces. It holds a designated collection of national importance, including works by Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth.
The Tiled Hall, specifically near the central arches looking toward the ornate ceiling.
Check the website for current temporary exhibition schedules before visiting, as these change frequently.
Spend time in the Tiled Hall; it is the most architecturally significant interior space in the building.
Combine your visit with the Leeds Central Library next door, as they share an internal entrance.
Do not overlook the smaller side galleries on the upper floor, which often contain the most interesting temporary displays.
Closed on Mondays.
