150 Cornish artists will be featured in a major new exhibition at Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery next month, as the museum celebrates the depth and diversity of contemporary artistic practice.

Framed: Cornwall Open was curated by a panel of independent experts following an open call for submissions; a record number were received with the overall standard described as “outstanding” by the judging panel.

Bryony Robins, Co-Director of Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery, commented: “It’s heartening to see the incredible levels of skill and imagination that exist across so many artistic disciplines in our community – from people who make a living through their practice, to emerging artists, to those who embrace it as a creative outlet which enhances wellbeing.”

She added: “Much of the work will be for sale, which is a great way to support local artists in the run-up to Christmas. We also urge everyone to vote in the People’s Choice Awards, as we seek to highlight the benefit to us all from living in a community where creativity thrives.”

Visitors to the exhibition, which opens to the public on 26th October, will be treated to a visual feast of portraits, landscapes, and still lives skilfully executed in pencil, pen, chalk, watercolours and oils.

Work on display will include sculptures in clay, metal and found materials, and beautiful decorative and functional ceramics alongside textiles and stained glass.

Drawing, photography, collage and printmaking is also well represented with engravings, woodcuts, monotypes and botanical prints, as well as paintings in oil, acrylic and watercolour.

Framed will also feature the work of a further 53 artists which will be digitally displayed in order to present as rich a tapestry as possible of contemporary creativity in Cornwall.

As part of the show, all artists exhibiting in the museum will be entered into The People’s Choice Awards of which there are three categories: the work that makes me happiest, the work that shows the most skill, and overall ‘best in show’. 

Voting for the People’s Choice Awards ends on Christmas Eve, with the winners announced on 21st January.

Framed: Cornwall Open is at Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery from 26th October 2025 to 31st January 2026.