Marking fifty years since the death of Laurence Stephen Lowry in 1976, this exhibition is the first major showcase of his work in more than ten years. Alongside his famous depictions of industrial life, visitors can explore the full range of Lowry’s creativity — from portraits and atmospheric seascapes to early pencil, charcoal and pastel studies, as well as later, more surreal pieces.
Lowry painted through a period of huge change in Britain, capturing industrial scenes that were often transformed or demolished within his own lifetime. His distinctive style used just five oil colours — ivory black, vermillion, Prussian blue, yellow ochre and flake white — with that crisp white background becoming a hallmark of his iconic landscapes.
Main image - Laurence Stephen Lowry, Our Town,(1887–1976) Touchstones Rochdale© The Estate of L.S. Lowry. All Rights Reserved, DACS 2025. Image credit: Rochdale Arts & Heritage Service
