Colours May Vary – Leeds Life illuminates the Street

Photographic Artist Peter Mitchell’s artwork captures people and spaces from across the city – so where better to exhibit than in the city itself?

Pre-pandemic, Leeds independent art gallery Colours May Vary were set to host Peter Mitchell’s exhibition in house. With some funding support from the Civic Trust, Colours May Vary have evolved the exhibition into something beautiful which can happen outside – replicating the art with posters, exhibited in the sorts of Leeds spaces the art itself captures.

To celebrate the launch of Peter Mitchell’s book, ‘Early Sunday Morning’, Colours May Vary takes to the streets. The innovative open-air exhibition will showcase recently uncovered images of Leeds captured during the 1970s and 80s.

The exhibition will showcase 20 different images from Peter’s collection, and Colours May Vary are asking anyone who enjoys the exhibit to share their photos of the posters whenever they spot them, tagging their location with the hashtag #EARLYSUNDAYMORNINGLEEDS on Instagram.

Meleri Roberts, of Leeds Civic Trust said:

“As an organisation which champions the city’s heritage, we couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate who we are and the city’s past than by seeing Peter Mitchell’s street photography, on the streets themselves.

His pictures reveal the people, communities, homes and shops which are so familiar to us all, but through his lens he also captures the very essence of ‘Leeds’. As a Trust, we are delighted to support this pavement exhibition – could this be the largest gallery in Leeds?”

Colours May Vary said:

“Being able to host a show of Peter’s work is a real honour for us, especially during times like these.  It feels right to us that we emerge from lockdown with an exhibition that has Leeds as its focus, especially as Peter’s images often have pubs, shops and other small businesses at their centre.

Peter Mitchell has been taking photos of Leeds since the 1970s, and they are a hugely important part of Leeds’s heritage. We are delighted to be returning with such a fantastic collaboration. It is a real thrill to be able to share them with a new audience.

That the exhibition can find a life outside of our gallery is such an exciting opportunity. We realise that many people aren’t ready to come back to the ‘new normal’ just yet, so to be able to walk past Peter’s photographs on the streets affords everyone the opportunity to engage with his work safely and at their own leisure.

It also feels perfect that Peter’s photographs find a place under Leeds’ skies, alongside the buildings and businesses that define his work.”