Birmingham-born comedian and artist Joe Lycett will open his solo exhibition at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery later this month. Titled EVERY THING MUST GO, the free exhibition brings together dozens of never-before-seen artworks.
Inspired by objects from the city of Birmingham’s collection, EVERY THING MUST GO explores nostalgia, grief, and cultural change through Lycett’s distinctive blend of colour and humour. Featuring paintings, mixed-media works, and collaborations with fellow Birmingham artists, the exhibition marks the comedian’s largest artistic project to date.
What is Joe Lycett’s EVERY THING MUST GO exhibition about?
EVERY THING MUST GO is the comedian’s first ever major solo exhibition. Opening at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, the exhibition presents a large new body of work inspired by objects from the city of Birmingham’s collection, exploring themes of cultural memory and the changing nature of everyday life.
The works featured in the exhibition were created by Lycett over approximately twelve months, with the artist stating:
“I’ve been the most productive I’ve ever been”. EVERY THING MUST GO brings together dozens of Lycett’s previously unseen works alongside collaborations with other Birmingham artists.
Announcing the exhibition on Instagram earlier this year, Lycett described EVERY THING MUST GO as “a celebration of things that are no longer with us” through a large “salon-style assault” of artwork. Visitors can expect to encounter discontinued chocolate bars, extinct animals, and destroyed buildings amongst Lycett’s chosen subjects.
On the official Birmingham Museums website Lycett states:
“I’m hoping to create a sort of neon graveyard which will overwhelm, delight and confuse gallery-goers. Expect colourful and silly depictions of loads of dead stuff.”
When does Joe Lycett’s exhibition open?
Joe Lycett’s EVERY THING MUST GO exhibition will open its doors to the public on Wednesday 29 July 2026 and will remain on display until 21 February 2027. Admission is completely free.
During the school holidays, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery will be open daily from 10am until 5pm. Outside holiday periods, the museum is open Tuesday to Sunday, providing visitors with ample opportunity to explore the exhibition alongside the gallery’s permanent collections.
Who is Joe Lycett?
Joe Lycett is an award-winning comedian, TV presenter, and artist from Solihull who continues to live in Birmingham. Widely regarded as one of the city’s most recognisable cultural figures, he has consistently championed Birmingham throughout his career, describing it as “the best city in the world”. Lycett has become somewhat of an ambassador for the city by using his stand-up comedy, documentaries, and television work to challenge outdated stereotypes about the city.
Lycett is a coveted part of Britain’s comedy royalty through appearances on programmes such as Taskmaster, 8 Out of 10 Cats, and QI, as well as boasting four performances on the BBC’s Live at the Apollo. He has built a reputation for his sharp, deadpan, and flamboyant comedic style.
Alongside his entertainment career, Lycett is a prominent advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and regularly uses his public profile to campaign on social and political issues.
Since when has Joe Lycett been an artist?
Although best known as a comedian, Joe Lycett has been developing his artistic practice for several years. His first widely publicised artwork was CHRIS, a sculpture made from a Pringles can and clay that appeared in the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition in 2018.
The artwork began as a comedy stunt, with Lycett listing the sculpture for sale at £12.5 million on his website. Writing for The Guardian, he jokingly declared:
“I am the greatest artist in the world. Perhaps who has ever lived. And CHRIS is my masterpiece.”
In the years that have followed, he has increasingly shared his original paintings through his website and on Instagram. His brightly coloured works feature witty handwritten phrases which often transform familiar objects into playful visual jokes. Examples include a blue inhaler labelled “Puff”, a pink swordfish accompanied by “See it, say it, swordfish”, and a bin bag with “Welcome to Birmingham” written above.
Despite being self-taught, Lycett has openly spoken about the influence of his mother, a graphic designer and watercolour artist, on his creative development. The two even co-exhibited at the They Made This gallery in 2023.
EVERY THING MUST GO represents Lycett’s most ambitious and largest artistic project to date. On Instagram, Lycett thanked the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery for its support and said he felt “honoured to be in such an amazing space”.
What family activities are available at the exhibition?
Alongside the main exhibition, visitors can take part in free drop-in screen-printing workshops inspired by Joe Lycett’s artwork. Participants will have the opportunity to create and take home their own print using techniques influenced by the exhibition.
The workshops are delivered by The Private Press, a contemporary screen-printing studio based in Brighton. Sessions will take place on the exhibition’s opening day, 29 July, and again on 28 October, with drop-in sessions running from 11am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 3pm.
The workshops are free to attend and are designed to encourage visitors aged 8+ to explore their own creativity while engaging with Lycett’s colourful artistic style.
Why is EVERY THING MUST GO significant for Birmingham?
EVERY THING MUST GO represents an important cultural moment for Birmingham as it brings together one of the country’s best-known contemporary entertainers with one of Birmingham’s most significant public museums.
The exhibition seeks to combine modern artwork with the city’s historic collections. By drawing inspiration from objects preserved within Birmingham’s museum collections, Lycett creates a dialogue between the city’s past and present, encouraging visitors to engage with local history in a refreshing and accessible way.
For Birmingham, the exhibition marks a homecoming and a celebration of local identity. Sara Wajid and Zak Mensah, the co-chief executives of Birmingham Museums Trust, stated on their website that
“[Lycett’s] unique artistic style, combined with his deep connection to Birmingham, makes this a truly special project. Visitors can expect something visually spectacular, thought-provoking and full of personality.”
Through humour, colour and nostalgia, EVERY THING MUST GO promises to reflect the city’s ever enduring sense of pride, offering visitors an exhibition that is distinctly Brummie while exploring themes that resonate far beyond the West Midlands.
