Explore a selection of previous exhibitions at Southwark Cathedral
Southwark Cathedral has hosted exhibitions by artists and organisations working across a wide range of disciplines, exploring themes including faith, history, the natural world, social justice and the life of London. Explore a selection of past exhibitions below, including major exhibitions in the Cathedral and exhibitions by artists in the Cathedral Café.
Featured Cathedral Exhibitions
Gaia
Luke Jerram
October 2022
Measuring seven metres in diameter, Gaia features detailed imagery of the Earth’s surface compiled from NASA’s Visible Earth series. Suspended in the Cathedral, the artwork offered visitors the opportunity to see our planet as a floating three-dimensional globe. A specially commissioned surround-sound composition by BAFTA-winning composer Dan Jones accompanied the installation.
The Small House
Richard Woods
August 2022
Commissioned by Southwark Cathedral, The Small House is a 7.5-metre-high installation depicting a simplified, two-dimensional terraced house. Positioned in front of the Cathedral’s Great Screen, the work brought together the familiar architecture of everyday life with the grandeur of Gothic architecture.
Threads through Creation
Jacqui Parkinson
July–August 2024
Threads through Creation is a series of twelve large-scale textile panels retelling the creation story from the Book of Genesis. Created over almost three years, the exhibition brought together vibrant colours, intricate patterns and depictions of the natural world in one of the largest textile projects by a single artist.
Peace Doves
Peter Walker
July–September 2025
Peace Doves was a mass-participation installation featuring thousands of illuminated paper doves suspended above the Cathedral’s Nave. Each dove carried a handwritten message of peace, hope, love or remembrance contributed by local schoolchildren, community groups and visitors. The installation was accompanied by a soundscape composed by David Harper.
A Glimpse into the Lives of Afghan Women
Organised by the International Organization for Migration, featuring works by Shamsia Hassani, Claudia Janke, Mina Nazari, Joe Newman, Marjan Wafa and Mohammad Osman Azizi
June 2026
Installed in the Cathedral churchyard, A Glimpse into the Lives of Afghan Women explored the experiences and resilience of Afghan women, including those living under restrictions in Afghanistan and those rebuilding their lives in the UK. The installation brought together personal testimonies, photography and artworks, including work by Afghanistan’s first female graffiti artist, Shamsia Hassani, and a portrait series by photographer and visual artist Claudia Janke.
Featured Café Exhibitions
FLORA
London Independent Photography
April–June 2026
FLORA brought together more than 40 photographers from London Independent Photography, exploring the natural world through a wide range of photographic styles and processes. The exhibition included cyanotypes, monochrome photography and other approaches to the theme of flora.
La Mayeteria
Roman Lokati
July–August 2026
La Mayeteria explores the traditional agricultural practice of mayetería in southern Spain, particularly in the province of Cádiz and the town of Rota. Through acrylic paintings of tomatoes, onions, pumpkins and other garden produce, Roman Lokati pays tribute to the mayeteros who worked the land and celebrates a way of life closely connected to the seasons and natural rhythms.