A new outdoor exhibition has opened in Bethesda Gardens, giving residents and visitors the chance to experience life-sized artworks in the heart of the city centre.
Past Times explores everyday life across the generations through large-scale reproductions of paintings from Potteries Museum & Art Gallery’s collection.
The exhibition captures moments from everyday life across the generations, from scenes of work to family life and leisure, with a life-size portrait of Josiah Spode II among the highlights.
Other highlights include works by acclaimed British and Irish artists John Currie, Roderic O’Conor and Ethel Gabain, alongside paintings by June Burnett, who lived and worked in Stoke-on-Trent.
Following the success of becoming the first venue in the UK to host the National Gallery’s Art on Your Doorstep exhibition, the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery is reusing the specially designed outdoor display structures to showcase highlights from its own collection.
The exhibition also provides access to artworks from the museum’s collection while the art gallery is temporarily closed for essential building works as part of its multi-million-pound transformation.
Some of the art on display
Councillor Sarah Hill, cabinet member for finance, anti-poverty and corporate services at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said:
“The National Gallery exhibition showed how well art can work in public spaces, so it’s fantastic to see these display structures being used again to showcase highlights from our own collection.
“Whether you're passing through the city centre, taking a break in Bethesda Gardens or making a special trip, Past Times offers the chance to discover some fantastic artworks in a different setting.
“The life-size prints bring people closer to the paintings and tell stories of everyday life that still resonate today.
“It’s another great way of bringing art into everyday spaces and encouraging more people to discover the museum’s collection.”
Past Times is free to visit in Bethesda Gardens until 31 January 2027.
Join The Staffordshire Signal on WhatsApp
Never miss a single breaking update, local news story, community event, or deep dive. See everything happening in Staffordshire first, straight to your phone!
Get Instant UpdatesExplore the heart of our county Use the interactive map above to discover local landmarks, heritage sites, and community-vetted spots. Every interaction helps support The Staffordshire Signal’s mission to keep local news free and independent.
Enjoyed this story?
The Staffordshire Signal is a not-for-profit, community-funded publication. Every tip helps keep local journalism free, independent, and focused on the stories that matter across Staffordshire.
Every contribution supports reporting, photography, and storytelling across the county.
Councillor loses seat on Kidsgrove Town Council after failing to formally accept position
Vegan Festival Returns to Newcastle-under-Lyme This July
Young performers invited to take over The Big Feast stage
A day to go down in history! Tamworth care home residents visit RAF Museum
Capital&Centric’s Spode transformation takes another huge step forward
