Friday 20 March 2026 - Sunday 28 June 2026
10:00 am - 4:30 pm
Glynn Vivian at Night, Thursday 19 March 2026, 5:30pm – 8:00pm
Lives in Motion: Stories of Migration from the 11th Century to the Present Day features stories of migration from the collections of the National Portrait Gallery and Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, ranging from the 11th century through to the present day.
It is a vibrant show with objects in a variety of media, including painting, sculpture, photography, print, and digital art. The exhibition will open at the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery from 20 March 2026 until 28 June 2026 and will include many works previously unseen in Wales.
Lives in Motion explores the experiences and contributions of people who have moved to Britain from across the world to make the UK their permanent or temporary home. The exhibition explores the varied reasons that people move and how leaving home and finding a new one in a different place presents opportunities and sometimes challenges effecting a person’s sense of personal identity and belonging.
Spanning nearly a thousand years of history, from William the Conqueror to Malala Yousafzai, the exhibition is arranged chronologically with sections exploring royalty, fame and contemporary commissions by the National Portrait Gallery. While the stories are as individual as the people in the portraits, they also highlight the shared lived experiences across time.
Exhibition highlights include a recently acquired bust of Mary Seacole, displayed for the first time as part of this exhibition since its acquisition by the National Portrait Gallery in 2023, as well as a portrait of local opera singer Adelina Patti and émigré artist Josef Herman from the Glynn Vivian Permanent Collection.
This exhibition has been curated by Octavia Tam, an Art Fund Vivmar curatorial trainee, hosted by the National Portrait Gallery and Nottingham City Museums and Galleries. The Art Fund Vivmar Curatorial Traineeships are generously supported by The Vivmar Foundation.
The exhibition has been organised by the National Portrait Gallery as part of the National Touring Programme.
Elliott King, Cabinet Member for Culture, Human Rights and Equalities, commented, “We’re delighted that Swansea Council’s Glynn Vivian Art Gallery is continuing its ongoing relationship with National Portrait Gallery, and is now bringing this outstanding collection of works to Swansea for the very first time. This exhibition invites visitors to pause, engage, and celebrate the individuals whose lives and achievements have helped shape a rich and inclusive society.”
Founded in 1856, the National Portrait Gallery tells the story of Britain through portraits, using art to bring history to life and explore living today. From global icons, to unsung heroes, our Collection is filled with the stories that have shaped, and continue to shape a nation. We celebrate the power of portraiture and offer encounters with some of the world’s greatest and most exciting new artists, promoting engagement with portraiture in all media to a wide-ranging public by conserving, growing and sharing the world’s largest collection of portraits. www.npg.org.uk
Art Fund is the UK’s independent charity for art, helping museums and people to share in great art and culture for 120 years. Art Fund raises millions of pounds every year to help the UK’s museums, galleries and historic houses. The charity funds art, enabling the UK’s museums to buy and share exciting works, connect with their communities, and inspire the next generation. It builds audiences with its National Art Pass opening doors to great culture; and it amplifies the museum sector through the world’s largest museum prize, Art Fund Museum of the Year, and creative events that bring the UK’s museums together. Art Fund is people-powered by 135,000 members who buy a National Art Pass, and the donors, trusts and foundations who support the charity. The National Art Pass provides free or discounted entry to over 400 museums, galleries and historic places, 50% off major exhibitions, and Art Quarterly magazine. www.artfund.org
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