Blockbuster exhibitions in the North

What can archaeological artefacts reveal or conceal about a nation? How can museum collections bear witness to political violence? Ali Cherri creates works across film, sculpture, installation and performance to examine the connections between archaeology, history and heritage and the impact of preserving cultural objects in museum collections.

Małgorzata Mirga-Tas is a contemporary Polish Romani artist, teacher and activist. She stitches together fabrics to build textile collages that tell vibrant stories of Roma history and culture, and her family's experiences. Grounded in research and family stories, she finds inspiration in museum collections and her personal archives to challenge stereotypes of Roma people, while demonstrating the community's rich heritage and resilience.

Marvel at these monumental porcelain sculptures by Felicity Aylieff. Towering up to five metres tall, these vast blue and white works are made in collaboration with master ceramicists in Jingdezhen AKA the 'Porcelain Capital'. Aylieff blends traditional Chinese pottery techniques with abstract painting to reimagine them as supersized, contemporary sculptures.

Uncover a lesser-known aspect of 20th-century painter Winifred Nicholson's career: her Cumbrian rag rugs. Did you know? Rag rugs are hardy textiles made out of second-hand clothing that were particularly popular in mining villages and rural cottages in northern England during the 20th century. Learn about Nicholson's connection to this craft tradition and her relationship with Cumberland in this fascinating exhibition.

Discover over 100 radical and rebellious women artists who were working in the UK between 1970 and 1990, and who made invaluable contributions to British culture and the women's liberation movement. During this period of significant socio-economic change, a new wave of feminism exploded and women used their lived experiences to create politically engaged art to fight injustice.

Lovers of ceramics – meet the pioneering pottery artist who pushed against tradition and created a new era of ceramics in the 80s and 90s. Elizabeth Fritsch was associated with the 'New Ceramics' group, who challenged traditional techniques with a radical and decorative approach.

Get a fresh perspective on the iconic and influential landscape painter Turner, in this celebratory exhibition making 250 years since he was born. Get up close to his staggering works that expertly crafted to depict light in its most glorious form. Watercolours from the Whitworth's own collection will be displayed alongside a lesser-known series of prints.

Did you know that bees date back to the dinosaurs? This immersive exhibition blends art and science to follow their story from its origins 120 million years ago, to the environmental challenges they face today. Featuring interactive displays, a soundscape of a live beehive, sculptures and projections, rediscover these vital creatures and their current struggle for survival.

Marvel at monumental bronze sculptures that explore the female body and experience by contemporary artist Bharti Kher. Addressing issues of gender and identity, this major exhibition explores Kher's works from 2000 to today, tracing different approaches from key periods in her career.

Travel back in time to 1980s Britain, where punks and new wave bands were revolutionising the culture, in this exhibition celebrating Frankie Goes to Hollywood frontman and Liverpool local Holly Johnson. Charting his personal life and career, from budding musician to international star, discover how Johnson dealt with fame, an HIV+ diagnosis, and in turn becoming an LGBTQ+ icon.

Through portraiture, self-taught artist Lela Harris reimagines six Black people connected to the transatlantic slave trade who lived in Lancaster during the 18th century. Harris has combed through archival material to produce visual records of these people who have been historically erased, crucially reminding us of their existence and humanity.