John Ledger’s “Straight A’s” Exhibition Opens at Cooper Gallery

A new exhibition, “Straight A’s”, by local artist John Ledger, opens at the Cooper Gallery from Saturday 17 January to Saturday 11 April 2026. It will offer visitors a powerful and honest insight into mental health, drawing on Ledger’s own life experiences through his acclaimed large-scale drawings, video, and sculpture. The exhibition is free to visit, though donations to Barnsley Museums Heritage Trust are welcome. 

The Straight A’s exhibition offers a deeply personal look into the adult life of Barnsley born artist, John Ledger, told through five powerful themes: Anxiety, Anorexia, Alcohol, Ageing, and Art. This immersive exhibition brings together 25 years of his work, featuring large-scale ink drawings alongside new collaborative 3D and audio-visual installations created with fellow Barnsley artists. 

“Straight A’s” will run alongside “Expressing the Walls in My Mind”, another important exhibition exploring mental health and wellbeing, created by young people in collaboration with artist Tony Wade and supported by Barnsley Civic. This exhibition, located in the Sadler Room upstairs at the Cooper Gallery, highlights the voices and creativity of local young people and will be open from 17 January to 21 March 2026. 

Councillor Robin Franklin, Cabinet Spokesperson for Regeneration and Culture, said: “We are proud to host John Ledger’s ‘Straight A’s’ at the Cooper Gallery. Exhibitions like these highlight not just the immense talent within Barnsley, but also the courage it takes to share stories of mental health. Telling these conversations through art helps us foster a greater sense of understanding and compassion in our town.” 

The “Straight A’s” exhibition will be open during the Cooper Gallery’s opening hours. For more information and updates on events and accessibility, please visit the Cooper Gallery website. 

Please note this exhibition deals with themes of mental health and eating disorders. Support materials will be available from the customer service desk in the gift shop.