Framed in Friendship: A Legacy of Art in Sheffield at Graves Gallery

Maja Lorkowska, Exhibitions Editor

Visit now

Framed in Friendship: A Legacy of Art in Sheffield

Graves Gallery, City Centre
31 March-23 July 2022

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

John Craxton, Cat and Snail, 1966 © Estate of John Craxton. All Rights Reserved, DACS 2022
Book now

The sweetly titled new exhibition at Sheffield‘s Graves Gallery celebrates friendship – particularly one special connection that brought a fantastic piece of art by Stanley Spencer to the city. The husband-and-wife artist duo Stephen Bone and Mary Adshead, were great friends of George and Babbie Blomfield, who lived in Sheffield. This friendship led to Stanley Spencer’s remarkable Zacharias and Elizabeth being co-owned by the city.  Adshead sold the painting on the condition that it could be enjoyed by the people of Sheffield, home of her very dear friends and this is how it came to stay there.

Some of the highlights of the exhibition include work from Mary Adshead herself as well as Stanley Royle and Henry Tonks. Framed in Friendship: A Legacy of Art in Sheffield makes its debut alongside two major new collection redisplays as part of an ongoing programme of change and improvement, which includes work from Grayson Perry, Naum Gabo, Bridget Riley and Donald Rodney.

Where to go near Framed in Friendship: A Legacy of Art in Sheffield at Graves Gallery

Crucible Theatre Sheffield
Sheffield
Theatre
The Crucible Theatre, Sheffield

The world-famous Crucible offers a huge variety of home-grown and touring productions, as well as a thriving programme of participatory events and activities.

The Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield
City Centre
Theatre
The Lyceum Theatre

Built to a traditional proscenium arch design, Sheffield’s Lyceum is the only surviving theatre outside of London designed by architect W.G.R. Sprague.

Millenium Gallery Sheffield
City Centre
Gallery
Millennium Gallery

Hosting major exhibitions by artists renowned both locally and internationally, Millennium Gallery is the cultural gateway to Sheffield.

Sheffield
Restaurant
Oisoi

A high-quality pan-Asian restaurant in Sheffield’s city centre, Oisoi is worth a visit to the Steel City right now.

Sheffield
Shop
Juno Books

Friendly local queer and intersectional feminist bookshop in Sheffield. Visit for interesting fiction and non fiction books.

Music venue stock image.
Sheffield
Event venue
Hope Works

An old WW1 gun-barrel-factory reimagined and repurposed as a hub of Sheffield’s creativity, with music and art events regularly put on.

Showroom Workstation
City Centre
Cinema
Showroom Workstation

Sheffield’s premier arts centre houses an established independent cinema along with an entrepreneurial hub for creative and digital industries.

The Sheffield Tap
City Centre
Bar or Pub
The Sheffield Tap

With a wide range of craft beers and its very own on-site microbrewery, Sheffield Tap is uniquely housed within a restored railway station.

Site Gallery, Sheffield
City Centre
Gallery
Site Gallery Sheffield

Specialising in moving image, new media and performance, and offering a busy events programme, a visit to Site in Sheffield is not to be missed.

Street Food Chef
City Centre
Restaurant
Street Food Chef

An award-winning Mexican cantina serving speedy and fiercely tasty food – a healthy fast food alternative for the people of Sheffield.

What's on: Exhibitions

Culture Guides

Star Nhà Ease
Cinema in the North

July's cinema highlights include spotlights on international cinema, a new cult classic, plus a visit from one of our favourite directors.

Exhibitions in the North

Captivating, urgent and intimate - we bring you our top exhibition picks, with even more art festivals, artist-led shows and new venues.

Theatre in Manchester
Theatre in the North

Summer signals theatre festivals, world premieres and open-air spectacle - from MIF25 to comedy, outdoor circus and beyond, here’s what we’re looking forward to.

European Poetry Festival European Camarade
Literature Events in the North

From tongue-twisters to twisty page-turners, we have all kinds of spoken word surprises in the latest literature round-up.