Beyond the Visual is the UK’s first major sculpture exhibition in which blind and partially sighted practitioners are central to the curatorial process and make up the majority of participating artists. Rather than treating accessibility as an add-on, the exhibition places it at the heart of how the work is experienced.
Dark grey carpeted areas mark when a sculpture is within reach, encouraging visitors to step forward, feel surfaces, listen closely and even engage with scent. It is a surprisingly intimate way of encountering work that many of us are used to seeing only from a distance.
One of the highlights is the opportunity to engage directly with a bronze sculpture by Yorkshire icon Henry Moore. Feeling the cool, worn surface by hand brings a new understanding of Moore’s work, and long after leaving the gallery the faint smell of bronze lingers, a reminder that sculpture can leave impressions beyond the visual.
Sound plays an important role throughout the exhibition. Audio guides accompany every artwork, offering thoughtful descriptions and insights from the artists themselves. Some pieces respond audibly when touched, producing subtle sounds that heighten awareness of space, movement and presence.
The exhibition brings together 16 international artists, spanning historical and contemporary works, and includes sound and video installations alongside audio-described films. Gallery assistants are on hand to help visitors explore the work at their own pace.
Beyond the Visual quietly challenges the idea that sight is the primary way we experience art, offering instead a richer, more inclusive approach that rewards curiosity and close attention.
Beyond the Visual runs at the Henry Moore Institute in Leeds until April 19, 2026. Entry is free. More information can be found at https://henry-moore.org/