In 2017 Open Eye Gallery is celebrating its 40th Birthday Year.

Open Eye Gallery’s success is down to the many people who have shaped and grown the organisation over the last 40 years. The new Wall Work features snapshot-quotes from 40 people reflecting upon their experience of Open Eye Gallery. Shaped by our Research Curator and oral historian Dan Warner, and designed by Thom Isom, through the 2017 facade of the gallery we wish to pay homage to a much larger group of photographers, volunteers, partners, visitors and staff who have championed our work.

Open Eye Gallery, Where I…

Share your experiences
#OEG40

Open Eye Gallery, where I… was dynamic. We were doing an exhibition a month. It wasn’t madness – it was exciting. Opportunities came up and we took them. – 1978
Colin Wilkinson, Founder of Open Eye Gallery

Open Eye Gallery, where I… found out that art can shock people. If you’re not provoking people into thought, what are you doing? – 1980
Peter Hagerty, Director (1978-81)

Open Eye Gallery, where I… protested against an exhibition. Myself and other feminists sprayed shaving foam on some quite graphic images of women. – 1980
Mandy, Visitor/Acquaintance

Open Eye Gallery, where I… worked with some of the best British photographers of the time, and of the present. We showed people like Martin Parr, Tom Wood, Chris Killip, John Davies, John Stoddart. They all emerged to national prominence, and I was massively proud of that. Liverpool should be too. – 1985
Neil Burgess, Director (1981-1986)

Open Eye Gallery, where I… discovered photography was what I’d do for the rest of my life. Having a voice that people want to hear is a rare privilege. – 1999
Simon Norfolk, Photographer

Open Eye Gallery, where I… got my first full-time job as trainee programme assistant. A significant occasion, because my Chinese parents always supported my madness for the arts, but never knew how. – 2000
Debbie Chan, Member of Staff (2000-03)

Open Eye Gallery, where… the exhibition ‘Ground Zero’ by Joel Meyerowitz had it’s UK launch attended by the US Ambassador William Farrish, The US Cultural Attaché and NYC Fire Department personnel and LOTS of heavily armed Secret Service/Special Branch! A very surreal evening. – 2002
Paul Mellor, Director (1995-2004)

Open Eye Gallery, where I… was commissioned to produce portraits of Women who worked on the docks. I worked with an oral archivist and it was a wonderful opportunity to collaborate and work with women of all ages – each with fascinating histories. The exhibition and accompanying published book The Water’s Edge were really successful outcomes to the project. – 2006
Michelle Sank, Photographer

Open Eye Gallery, where I… flew over from Sydney to attend the opening night of my show, Richard & Famous. The Gallery treated me like long lost family, and the people of Liverpool were exceptional, warm, funny, friendly and generous. – 2012
Richard Simpkin, Photographer

Open Eye Gallery, where I… worked on UK premiers with Susan Meiselas, David Goldblatt, Yto Barrada, Alec Soth, Helen van Meene, Philippe Chancel, Donovan Wylie, Anne Collier, John Stezaker, Pieter Hugo, Mishka Henner, Richard Mosse and Eva Stenram. – 2013
Partick Henry, Director (2004-2013)

Open Eye Gallery, where I… realised that photography is today the most accessible, immediate and effective tool for transnational storytelling. – 2014
Lorenzo Fusi, Director (2013-15)

Open Eye Gallery, where I… showed when I was 40 (1988) and again when I was 70 (2015). We have grown up together. – 2015
Richard Ross, Photographer

Open Eye Gallery, where I… was hugely impressed by the work of the children from SliCE workshop programme after helping them to produce a series of images created and manipulated in the gallery. – 2016
Sam Hutchinson, Photographer

Open Eye Gallery, where I… have the privilege of working in an era when billions of people are using photography to curate and share their lives and when the expertise of photographers can make real difference to communities. – 2016
Sarah Fisher, Director (2015-Present)