The first major solo art exhibition by comedian Joe Lycett opens to the public at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery on Wednesday 29 July, EVERY THING MUST GO, which includes more than 80 paintings and artworks in other media such as stained glass, photography, ceramics, sculpture and screenprints, is inspired by ‘things that are no longer with us’.

The centrepiece is an (almost) life-size pink woolly mammoth sculpture called Martin from Hull, made with British wool that has been hand rugged by cast members from the series of The Great British Sewing Bee hosted by Joe.

The eclectic cast of subjects ranges from extinct animals and demolished buildings to deceased celebrities and discontinued chocolate bars, transforming the gallery into a vibrant and immersive exploration of nostalgia, memory, grief and loss.

Visitors can expect to see many familiar faces represented in Lycett’s distinctive, colourful manner and with his irreverent trademark wit, from Amy Winehouse to Benjamin Zephaniah.

The bold salon-style exhibition fills the space with what the artist describes as a “neon graveyard”, combining humour with genuine reflection, inviting audiences to consider how people, places, objects and memories shape our collective identity.

Joe has collaborated with a number of artists and creatives to produce artworks for the show including Dion Kitson, Faisal Hussain, Hannah Al-Shemmeri, Helen Lycett, Imbue, James Turner of Stirchley Printworks, Khuram Mirza, Lara O’Toole, Molly Cleaver, Primo Antoniazzi, and Tom Bird.

This exhibition marks a significant new chapter in Lycett’s artistic career. While widely known for his award winning work in television and comedy, his visual art has been exhibited at galleries and museums across the UK, including the Royal Academy of Arts, National Portrait Gallery and Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery.

The exhibition opens to the public on Wednesday 29 July 2026 and runs until 21 February 2027. General admission is free. For opening times, visit the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery website.