Art

The return of the surreal 

Mythical, dreamlike, phantasmagorical, and absurd: Surrealism, which took the art world by storm in the early 20th century, has enjoyed a huge resurgence in the past decade.  The original pioneers...
Art Sylvie Quick -

Between beer gardens and picnics: Climate Culture Care at the Ashmolean

When I returned to Oxford this term, just as England teased us with the sixth heat-wave of the year, I found myself at a loose end. With the deadline for two vacation essays still far in the distance, the sun lit up the sign for Soma Surovi Jannat’s Ashmolean Now exhibition, Climate Culture Care.
Art Leo Maudsley-Barton -

Art as protest on university campuses

CW: rape. This week, Cornell University has made headlines as prosecutors reopened an investigation into...
Art Lara Solie-Tuluie -

Hag, Nag, Harpy, Hen: Olivia Plender’s ‘Little Fennel’s Complaint’

It is the examination of archaic methods and attitudes surrounding women’s bodies, and the idea of the ‘nagging’ woman, which runs through Olivia Plender’s exhibition.
Art Amy Lawson -
Latest

Hidden Gems: ‘The Storytellers’ at Worcester College

From the first moments, The Storytellers feels unusually thoughtful, generous, and alive.

What I learned from Tracey Emin about regeneration

CW: Abortion I left the Tate Modern’s latest headline show, Tracey Emin: A Second Life, feeling unmoved by the artworks. I found the paintings somewhat...

Confronting the future of art: ‘Responding to AI’ at Christ Church

‘Responding to AI’ an exhibition curated by Aniq Shamshi and Alice King, confronted the question of how artists perceive artificial intelligence directly.

“Everything is political!”: How The Hot Mess Project is reviving Oxford’s creative communities

If you’ve been online recently, browsing in search of something to fill an empty evening, you will probably have run across The Hot Mess...

Art is an argument, so argue back

Often, how much we like artwork comes down to ‘vibes’, initial gut-reactions we make, and then quickly negate by stating that surely it's all about taste.

How not to decolonise a museum: ‘Suturing Wounds’ at the Pitt Rivers

Emma Heagney reviews Sara Sallam's exhibition at the Pitt Rivers and how the museum interacts with decolonisation.

Family resemblance: Oxford’s twin cities

From prestigious university towns to ancient settlements, Oxford is twinned with seven cities around the world, spread across three continents.

The Oxford art calendar: Hilary 2026

Oxford’s frosty Hilary term is best spent looking at new exhibitions. This art calendar will guide you through some of the upcoming highlights.

Falling out of Louvre

In spite of recent events, the expected heightened security was nowhere evident.

How a visual impairment changed the way I see art

How do you study art if you can’t see? In 2025, I was faced with this question, not out of curiosity, but because half my vision significantly deteriorated.

Oxford Art Society: Discovering local talent on St Giles’

On a grey, rain-soaked afternoon in September, St John’s Kendrew Barn Gallery offers a quiet beacon away from busy St Giles’. The mix of...

An architectural tour of the Schwarzman

The product of a controversial £150 million donation, the new Schwarzman building is a dominating new presence for the city and university, built within...

Ceilings, wives, and love letters to the city: The Pre Raphaelites in Oxford

It was in 1857, not long after the construction of the Oxford Union, that its architect, Benjamin Woodward, was visited by his close friend...

What does a Ruskin artist actually learn? A graduate’s perspective

Polina Kim interviewed recent MFA graduate Laura Limbourg about the inner workings of the Ruskin School of Art, which still remain relatively unknown to...

Down the rabbit hole: illustrating ‘Alice in Wonderland’

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland has long proved an endless source of inspiration to illustrators. Hundreds of artists have illuminated Lewis Carroll’s vision, with many...

Look up! Statues and gargoyles in Oxford

Walking around Oxford you often feel like you’re part of the city’s tourist attraction. The long walk up to the Radcliffe Camera entrance, pushing...

One book, 500 years of art: The History of Art in One Sentence

★★★★☆ Former Wadhamite Verity Babbs has created a practical guide to the history of art – breaking away from the traditionally dense Oxford academic style....

The Oxford Art Calendar: Michaelmas 2025

Autumn in Oxford is not only golden leaves, dark academia, and beautiful architecture – Michaelmas is also a season of creativity. The start of...

The Museum of Oxford celebrates city life in ‘Our Oxford: 50 Years, 50 Stories’

The Museum of Oxford, situated in the Town Hall, is celebrating its 50th birthday. As part of the occasion, they opened late on the...

‘This Is What You Get’: Thirty years of mad ravings from two great artistic minds

★★★★★ This Is What You Get, the new exhibit at the Ashmolean Museum on Beaumont Street, showcases 30 years of artwork, music and early lyrics:...
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