The Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool is set to open a groundbreaking exhibition this week that celebrates the enduring influence of renowned British artist JMW Turner. "Turner: Always Contemporary" will run from Friday, October 25, 2025, through Sunday, February 22, 2026, marking the 250th anniversary of Turner's birth with an innovative presentation that bridges classical and modern art.

The exhibition will showcase National Museums Liverpool's extensive collection of Turner's oil paintings, works on paper, and prints alongside contemporary artworks that explore shared themes of travel, landscape, and artistic experimentation. This unique curatorial approach demonstrates how Turner's revolutionary techniques continue to inspire today's leading artists.

Visitors will encounter several remarkable pieces making their Liverpool debuts, including works by internationally acclaimed artists such as Maggi Hambling, Jeff Koons, Annie Swynnerton, and George Frederick Watts. The exhibition features important loans from major galleries across the United Kingdom, creating a comprehensive dialogue between Turner's historical works and contemporary artistic expression.

One of the exhibition's most striking features will be Damien Hirst's "Two Similar Swimming Forms in Endless Motion" (1993), which includes two preserved sharks displayed in formaldehyde-filled tanks. This marks the first time this particular artwork has been exhibited in Liverpool and the first occasion it has been displayed alongside Turner's paintings. Hirst, who is internationally recognized for his series featuring preserved animals, brings a contemporary perspective to themes of nature and mortality that also fascinated Turner.

Jeff Koons will contribute "Gazing Ball (Turner Ancient Rome)" (2015), a hand-painted recreation of a Turner painting enhanced with a blue reflective glass ball positioned on a central shelf. This piece represents Koons' first exhibition of a painting from his Gazing Ball series in Liverpool. Additionally, the exhibition will feature two handbags from Koons' collaboration with Louis Vuitton, part of the Masters collection inspired by his Gazing Ball paintings series, demonstrating how classical art continues to influence luxury design.

Dr. Melissa Gustin, Curator of British Art at National Museums Liverpool, emphasized the exhibition's significance, stating: "In his lifetime, Turner pushed the boundaries of what it means to paint, and to use it as a means of exploring some of the pressing issues of his day. It's perhaps not surprising that his revolutionary approach would in turn influence some of the greatest living artists of our own generation. We're looking forward to displaying Turner's artwork in this context, alongside a diverse and exciting selection of modern masterpieces."

The exhibition is supported by Lead Partner Quilter Cheviot and promises to offer visitors a fresh perspective on both Turner's historical significance and his continuing relevance in contemporary art. Tickets for "Turner: Always Contemporary" are available for purchase at liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/turner.