For more than a decade, outdoor photography has been part of the cultural fabric of Colmore Life. Since 2010, we’ve delivered ambitious, high‑quality exhibitions featuring some of the biggest names in photography, locally, nationally and internationally.
From street photography to fine art, retrospectives to commissioned projects, our exhibitions have brought powerful imagery into the everyday life of the city, creating cultural pauses in the pace of urban life and offering moments of reflection, curiosity and calm.
We’ve also provided an important platform for emerging artistic talent in the city. Our Open 24 and Open 25 exhibitions showcased the work of up‑and‑coming Birmingham photographers, giving new artists the opportunity to shine in a major public setting. We’re proud to be bringing this programme back in 2026, continuing our commitment to nurturing and celebrating local talent.
Over the years, we’ve showcased work from Magnum Sport, Tom Hunter and many others, alongside the hugely successful #NicklinUnseen exhibition, which reintroduced Birmingham to the remarkable photographs of Phyllis Nicklin — a near‑forgotten street photographer who documented the city throughout the 1950s and 60s.
We also produced a short documentary film about Nicklin’s life and work, premiered at our closing event at Hotel du Vin in January 2016, which can be viewed below.
Our programme has always embraced a wide range of themes designed to spark dialogue and shift perspectives. In 2022, we partnered with GRAIN and artist Anthony Luvera on Construct, a significant body of work co‑produced with those affected by homelessness. The exhibition challenged viewers to consider visibility, identity and lived experience within the urban environment.
Explore our previous and upcoming photography exhibitions and upcoming cultural projects below.
