In 2023, Little Greene became official paint sponsor of York Art Gallery, a public art gallery in York which opened in 1892 and is part of York Museums Trust. The gallery displays an impressive collection of art and ceramics, ranging from the 14th century to the present day, highlights being portraiture by Parmigianino (1503 - 1540) and ceramic sculpture by Grayson Perry (born 1960).

We provide paint for York Art Gallery’s diverse and exciting exhibition programme, which partners with local and national art organisations including the British Museum, Aesthetica Art Prize and the National Gallery.

Discover the latest exhibitions that use Little Greene paint colours…

A British Museum Touring Exhibition Drawing attention: emerging artists in dialogue, 27 October 2023 – 28 January 2024

In partnership with the British Museum, ‘Drawing attention’ is the first exhibition from York Art Gallery using Little Greene paint colours.

The exhibition showcases works from up-and-coming names in the field of contemporary drawing, alongside works by celebrated artists within the British Museum collection, such as Mary Delany, Edouard Manet, Barbara Hepworth and Andy Warhol. Through these works, the exhibition explores how the ‘quiet and private’ medium of drawing can in fact be used to challenge social norms and protest injustice.

York Art Gallery chose three shades from Little Greene to create this thought-provoking exhibition space: Pompeian Ash, Urbane Grey and Phthalo Green.

Becky Gee, Curator of Fine Art at York Art Gallery, writes:

“Ugonna Hosten, the artist we commissioned for the exhibition, wanted to create the feeling of being in a cavernous space for her room, reflecting some of the landscapes in her drawings. Pompeian Ash worked well for this, and was complementary to the other works in the exhibition. A deeper colour often helps to bring out the details in works on paper, so we decided to use Pompeian Ash throughout the show.

In the Drawing Studio, we wanted to create a brighter space suitable for visitors to spend time experimenting with the materials and techniques seen in the exhibition. We chose Urbane Grey, which complements the Phthalo Green highlights and Pompeian Ash in previous rooms."

"Phthalo Green acts as the accent in this exhibition. The pop of colour runs throughout all three rooms, connecting each space and creating a sense of flow. The green adds a vibrant, contemporary feel to the show.

It’s been so wonderful to be able to work with Little Greene on this exhibition at York Art Gallery. Their wide range of colours gave us the opportunity to consider so many possibilities. We’re delighted with the paint chosen for the show, it has enabled us to create the perfect space for contemplation and engagement.”

Images courtesy of York Museums Trust