Top Picks
Guides
What’s on
Where to go
See all

Holly Graham: The Warp / The Weft / The Wake at Manchester Art Gallery

Maja Lorkowska, Exhibitions Editor

Visit now

Holly Graham: The Warp / The Weft / The Wake

Manchester Art Gallery, City Centre
Until 15 February 2026

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

Free
This image features a close-up of fabric with intricate, marbled patterns in various colors. The patterns resemble the swirling designs found in traditional marbling art. The fabrics display a range of tones, including dark greys, blues, teals, yellows, and red accents, creating a vibrant and textured appearance. The folds in the fabric highlight the material's flow and emphasize the rich detail of the designs.
Holly Graham
Book now

Manchester Art Gallery presents: Holly Graham: The Warp / The Weft / The Wake, an exhibition resulting from the artist’s long-term residency and related research focused on exploring the ways in which memory and narrative shape collective histories. Graham accessed the city archives and looked into the gallery’s history to highlight legacies of expansionism, colonialism and exploitative labour inherent to the history of cotton.

The new work on display is realised in the form of a Victorian style cotton printed costume, modelled on the silhouette of a dress worn by African American abolitionist Sarah Parker Remond, and co-created with her mother Jennifer Graham, who used to work as a costumier. The display will remain in dialogue with the gallery site and its archives, taking a closer look at the textile collections the legacy of the cotton industry.

 

Accessibility

  • Captioned
  • Dementia-friendly
  • Parent and Baby
  • Relaxed

What's on at Manchester Art Gallery

St Peter's Square
TourManchester
The Peterloo Massacre Tour

Visit key locations associated with a moment that helped shape the future of the nation, tracing the footsteps of those who stood for change.

From £20.00

Where to go near Holly Graham: The Warp / The Weft / The Wake at Manchester Art Gallery

Manchester
Restaurant
Ban Di Bul

Ban Di Bul is a longstanding Korean restaurant in the very centre of Manchester.

Salut Wines
Chinatown
Bar or Pub
Salut Wines

Salut wines pride themselves in offering “wider horizons beyond the safe choices.” With 42 wines by the glass and a regularly changing selection of bottles in their Enomatic wine preservation machines (or  “wine jukebox,” as they’re colloquially known), this is one of be best bars in Manchester for exploring new vintages.

Manchester Central Library
Manchester
Library
Manchester Central Library

The stunning Manchester Central Library is now back open for all visitors who wish to browse the enormous collection or simply relax in this magnificent building.

St Peters Square Manchester
City Centre
St Peter’s Square

St Peter’s Square is a public space in Manchester – home to the city’s iconic library, town hall, Pankhurst statue, art gallery and famous Midland Hotel.

Chinatown
Restaurant
Manchester Art Gallery Cafe

Summery bakes, seasonal salads and fresh light meals at Manchester Art Gallery’s in-house café, courtesy of highly-regarded Head Chef Matthew Taylor.

Chinatown
Hotel
The Alan

This high-end city-centre restaurant has an excellent afternoon tea option that more than matches up to the superb main menu.

Contemporary Six, art gallery in Manchester
City Centre
Gallery
Contemporary Six

Contemporary Six is an independent commercial art gallery in Manchester city centre, set up by Alex Reuben in 2010.

Manchester
Shop
Siam Smiles

Now based at the Great Northern, Siam Smiles is a food stop that’s hot on everyone’s lips.

City Centre
Restaurant
Blinker

Elegant cocktail bar in the centre of Manchester, with a relaxed atmosphere and wonderfully friendly staff.

See all places

What's on: Exhibitions

In a large industrial space filled with dobby looms hangs a blood red textile piece infront of a sheer white backdrop.
Until
ExhibitionsLeeds
Loops at Sunny Bank Mills

‘Loops’ is a new collaborative exhibition of textiles at Sunny Bank Mills, connecting artists from across the Netherlands and Yorkshire.

Free entry

Culture Guides

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.

Cloudwater Production One
Tours and Activities in the North

Go forth with wild abandon to dance the pavements, dabble with the paint and down the pints in this month's tours and activities guide.

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.

Harry Baker
Literature Events in the North

From environmental to experimental, our poetry and prose picks from around the North are focused on the unusual and the fun.

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.

Helena Hauff
Music in the North

Shape-shifting bands, scorched-earth techno, and off-grid festivals. Our latest music picks catch the live scene at its most urgent, inventive and alive.

See all guides