A free drop-in exhibition blending art and science, curated with the natural world in mind.

Sea, Sky, Earth: A Creative Exhibition Inspired by Science and Place

Step into a free dynamic exhibition where art, science, and imagination meet, from Monday 17 August until Sunday 1 November 2026.

Shifting, ebbing, and flowing in constant movement, the sea, sky, and earth surround us and so do the works in this exhibition. Sea, Sky, Earth brings together a rich selection of artworks drawn from across the University of Southampton, sourced from display spaces, storage, and campuses.

Curated by MA Contemporary Curating students, the exhibition combines highlights from the University Art Collection with bold new creative responses by Fine Art students from Winchester School of Art. Alongside these works, visitors can explore a curated display of Artists’ Books from the Winchester School of Art Library, offering unique and tactile perspectives on storytelling and artistic practice.

The artworks reflect both the general and the specific: from pastoral landscapes to politically contested territories, from environmental rarities to everyday yet magical occurrences like sunsets. Together, they offer fresh ways of seeing and thinking about the natural world.

Set in the Level 4 Gallery in Hartley Library, this free, drop-in exhibition welcomes everyone, from curious visitors and families to school groups and art enthusiasts. Whether you stay for a few minutes or linger longer, there’s something to spark your curiosity and creativity.

Part of the British Science Festival, the exhibition invites you to explore science through an artistic lens and discover new connections between creativity and the world around us. Free art workshops will also take place during the festival period.

Make a day of it: Pair your visit with our hands-on workshop, Draw Like a Scientist, Write Like a Poet, Make a Zine

Find out more about the SEA SKY EARTH exhibition.

Description supplied by the event organiser.