Harland Miller: XXX – York Art Gallery Exhibition 2025

About

image: Harland Miller, 2019, courtesy White Cube (Ollie Hammick)

14 March – 31 August 2025

York Art Gallery is set to welcome the return of internationally acclaimed artist and writer Harland Miller with his new exhibition, XXX. Opening in March 2025, this major exhibition will present paintings and works on paper from his renowned Letter Paintings series. Inspired by his early years in 1970s Yorkshire and a nomadic lifestyle across New York, New Orleans, Berlin, and Paris in the 1980s and 1990s, Miller’s bold, graphic artworks reflect his fascination with popular language and typography.

A New Collection of ‘Letter Paintings’

XXX coincides with the release of a book of the same title, published by Phaidon. The exhibition will feature Miller’s distinctive hard-edged Letter Paintings, including new works, one of which celebrates the city of York. Inspired by medieval illuminated manuscripts, Miller combines sacred and everyday themes through his vibrant use of colour and typography.

The Letter Paintings series presents overlapping letter forms as their central image, paired with a neutral band at the bottom that resembles a book title, often accompanied by Miller’s name as the ‘author’. Through his layering technique, he creates a sense of depth, encouraging viewers to explore the nuances of language. Key works in the exhibition include XXX, Boss, and the diptych Far Out. Preparatory drawings on graph paper provide insight into Miller’s process and the structural composition of his large-scale paintings.

A Special Homecoming for Harland Miller

Born in York, Miller expressed his excitement about returning to his hometown with this new body of work:

“It’s great to be coming back to York again with this new show. Five years ago, we opened the exhibition York, So Good They Named it Once, so it’s kind of appropriate to be doing it once more… but this time with an entirely new body of work which has never been seen together before. This show is entitled XXX, but it doesn’t flout any indecency laws, so it should stay open longer than the last one! York is a city of perpetual mystery and history, including my own, and it always draws me back. It’s especially exciting to be sharing this with everyone – not once, but twice.”

Beyond the Gallery: Art in the Gardens

Expanding beyond the gallery space, the themes of XXX will extend into the surrounding gardens. A floral interpretation of Miller’s diptych Far Out (2022) will be created using flowering plants, displayed on raised planting beds visible from both the ground and the Gallery’s balcony. Designed to bloom from late June, the installation will provide a dynamic outdoor element to the exhibition.

Events and Activities

Alongside the exhibition, York Art Gallery will host a range of events, including:

• A Q&A session with Harland Miller
• Community workshops and activities
• Educational events designed to engage visitors of all ages

Visit ‘Harland Miller: XXX’

Harland Miller: XXX is a significant exhibition for York, Yorkshire, and the UK, bringing together a striking collection of works in a homecoming celebration of one of the region’s most renowned artists. The exhibition runs from 14 March to 31 August 2025 at York Art Gallery.

For more details, visit York Art Gallery’s website.