Let’s be honest: Birmingham is often underestimated. People picture concrete, industry and a city cast in grey. But those who know it understand something very different.
This is a place that breathes, evolves and continually surprises. Beyond the red-brick heritage and alongside its canals, there are green spaces and bursts of wildflowers that give the city a distinctive rhythm, one that resists tired stereotypes.
As one of Europe’s greenest cities, Birmingham balances its industrial past with a vibrant natural landscape. Its historic framework and green heart exist side by side, constantly shaping one another and creating a city full of contrast, character and life.
This May, Seventh Circle gallery in Digbeth is throwing open its doors to celebrate that glorious interstice with their new exhibition, Beauty and the Beast.
Opening with a Private View on Friday 1st May, the exhibition brings together the work of over 40 independent artists, both local and those who may no longer live in the 0121 but still carry Birmingham in their artistic DNA. Their humour, resilience, warmth, and creative spark run through the show like a pulse.
“Brummies know Birmingham is a city of gorgeous duality, where our signature grit meets sudden, heavenly glimpses of nature,” says Marie Hutton, Director of Seventh Circle.
“Beauty and the Beast is a loud, proud exhibition that dives into the charged spaces where these forces coexist, clash, and celebrate each other.”
Featured Artist Award
As part of Beauty and the Beast, one exhibiting artist will be selected for the Featured Artist Award, a dedicated spotlight within Seventh Circle Gallery designed to support and elevate emerging talent. The award continues the gallery’s mission to champion artists who are pushing their practice, expanding their voice, and contributing to the creative scene of Birmingham.
Exhibition Highlights
Private View: Friday 1st May, 6-8pm
Exhibition Dates: 1st – 29th May 2026
Workshop: On Friday 8th May, 6-8pm, Root13 plant shop are taking over Seventh Circle for a Tropical Terrarium Workshop, bringing their signature mix of expertise, warmth, and botanical magic into the industrial gallery space.
Featuring street photography, painting, ceramics, jewellery, printmaking and more, the exhibition highlights a creative community deeply connected to the city it represents.
