Cheltenham’s Wilson Art Gallery and Museum is set to host an exciting new exhibition, Material Worlds: Contemporary Artists and Textiles, opening Friday 19 September 2025.

Presented in partnership with Hayward Gallery Touring, the exhibition showcases the bold, playful and thought-provoking ways that contemporary artists are transforming textiles. Far from the traditional associations of fabric and thread, the featured works explore themes of identity, community, gender, race and mythology through ambitious and often unexpected forms.

From a life-size sculpture inspired by 18th-century anatomical figures to original pieces by acclaimed artists such as Yinka Shonibare and 2025 Turner Prize nominee Zadie Xa, Material Worlds pushes the boundaries of what textile art can be. Works by 12 UK-based artists, created largely over the past decade, demonstrate the diversity and power of the medium in contemporary art.

The exhibition has been curated by artist Caroline Achaintre, who highlights the transition of the domestic and familiar into the extraordinary. The Wilson’s Senior Curator, Layla Gatens, describes the show as a chance to “foster new conversations” by connecting historic collections with current artistic voices.

Material Worlds is part of The Wilson’s wider exhibitions programme, aimed at bringing new audiences and ideas into the gallery. Alongside the exhibition, a public programme of workshops and tours will offer further ways to engage with the themes and artworks on display.

Admission is free, and the exhibition runs until Sunday 11 January 2026.

For more information, visit: www.cheltenhammuseum.org.uk