Visitors expecting a traditional display at a major JMW Turner exhibition might be startled to discover the opening piece is by contemporary artist Jeff Koons, accompanied by Damien Hirst's preserved sharks, a vibrant Bridget Riley stripe painting, and even Doc Marten boots personally contributed by the curator herself. This unconventional approach is exactly what organizers hope will captivate audiences at Liverpool's newest art exhibition.

"Surprised? That's what we're hoping," said Melissa Gustin, curator of British art at National Museums Liverpool. "But by the end it will all make perfect sense, she hopes. That is the vibe we are after. We want visitors to see the connections, the histories and the legacies." Gustin has spent two years developing this innovative Turner exhibition at the Walker Art Gallery, which opened to the public on Saturday.

This year marks the 250th anniversary of Turner's birth, sparking numerous exhibitions worldwide. Gustin has counted at least 24 Turner shows globally this year alone. Her challenge was to showcase Liverpool's exceptional Turner collection – one of the finest outside London – while offering something distinctly different from other commemorative exhibitions.

The exhibition argues that Turner grappled with issues that remain relevant today, including climate change, immigration, and questions about the artist's role in society. "Of course, if people only want to engage with the Turners, that's fine," Gustin explained. "There are plenty of them to look at. If people only want to engage with the modern and contemporary, there's plenty of that as well."

Liverpool's remarkable Turner collection exists thanks to the city's wealthy 19th-century art patrons who collected late Turner works when they were considered unfashionable. This foresight means Liverpool now houses significant Turner paintings including "The Falls of the Clyde," a favorite at the Lady Lever Gallery, and "The Wreck Buoy," normally displayed at Sudley House.

According to John Ruskin, Turner's friend and champion, "The Wreck Buoy" – a dramatically violent seascape featuring crashing waves and a brilliant rainbow – was the last oil painting Turner created "before his noble hand forgot its cunning." In the new exhibition, this masterpiece is displayed alongside a Damien Hirst work featuring two small sharks preserved in formaldehyde, apparently swimming in an endless loop, where danger and death similarly loom.

Throughout the exhibition, unexpected pairings create dialogue between centuries of artistic expression. A Bridget Riley stripe painting hangs next to two luminous Turner Venetian watercolors and a massive painting by Maggi Hambling depicting crashing waves she observed at Southwold, Suffolk. "It is a very genteel place and then suddenly nature was there like a primeval force," Hambling has said. "I've never seen waves like it, it was extraordinary. It was very beautiful but terrifying."

The exhibition also features works by Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro, Ethel Walker, and Sheila Fell, alongside numerous rarely seen Turner pieces. "We do have this stunning collection but many are works on paper, which can't be displayed very often," Gustin noted. "People don't know that we have them, so the 250th anniversary seemed a good opportunity to get them out."

Contemporary artists and their studios have shown remarkable generosity in supporting the exhibition. Jeff Koons' studio immediately agreed to loan a blue glass gazing ball positioned on a hand-painted, oversized reproduction of a Turner painting that hangs at Tate Britain. While not among Turner's most famous works, Koons has identified it as one of his personal favorites.

"I think it is a really powerful opening to the exhibition," Gustin said of the Koons piece. "It says so much about how the most contemporary artist, one of the most important living artists there is – is still looking and thinking so seriously about these works." The curator has also contributed personal items to demonstrate Turner's continued cultural relevance, including a Bershka Turner sweater purchased from ASOS and a pair of Turner-themed Doc Marten boots. "I bought the sweater from Asos and I wear it," she said. "I will be wearing the boots."

"Turner: Always Contemporary" runs at the Walker Art Gallery from October 25 through February 22, 2026, offering visitors an unprecedented opportunity to experience how Turner's revolutionary artistic vision continues to inspire and influence artists across generations and artistic movements.