Talking animatronic mice, a mirrored room of repurposed toys and an on-screen version of the artist will feature in Ryan Gander’s new exhibition at Towner Eastbourne.
Maybe: Ryan Gander opens on 14 November 2026 and runs until 11 April 2027. Admission is pay what you can, with free entry for visitors under 25.
At a glance
| Where | Towner Eastbourne, College Road, Devonshire Park, BN21 4JJ |
|---|---|
| Dates | 14 November 2026–11 April 2027 |
| Admission | Pay what you can; free for under-25s |
| Booking | The exhibition page currently says booking opens soon |
Who is Ryan Gander?
Born in Chester in 1976, Gander works across sculpture, film, writing, installation and performance. His gallery biography records an OBE for services to contemporary art in 2017 and election as a Royal Academician in sculpture in 2022. His work is held by collections including Tate and the Arts Council Collection.
Rather than keeping to one recognisable material or style, he often builds a situation that asks the visitor to make connections: an everyday object behaves unexpectedly, a character speaks from an unlikely place, or a room changes the viewer’s sense of scale. The toys, mice and simulated artist at Towner belong to that broader approach.
What will be on display?
The exhibition brings together new work and pieces rarely seen in Britain, spreading across three rooms on Towner’s top floor and into the building’s public spaces.
Closed systems places colourful reused toys in a mirrored space. Elsewhere, an animatronic mouse speaks in the voice of one of Gander’s daughters, while Ryan Waiting presents an artist avatar whose behaviour is generated by an algorithm.
A new painting series, For I am a Sign, is made in collaboration with his son and explores communication through pictures. The exhibition takes imagination as its connecting theme, using familiar objects and unexpected encounters to invite a closer look.
How the works invite a closer look
In Closed systems, a room of mirrors multiplies the colourful toys on the floor, changing the view as the visitor moves. Ryan Waiting uses an avatar whose actions respond to an algorithm and outside data, so waiting itself becomes part of the work rather than a conventional film with one fixed sequence.
The new paintings are a collaboration with Gander’s son, who selects images for his father to paint. Towner links the series to picture-based communication. Together, the works approach imagination through objects, behaviour and ways of communicating, offering several starting points for visitors unfamiliar with conceptual art.
Planning a visit to Towner
The gallery’s usual opening hours are Tuesday to Sunday, 10am–5pm, plus bank holiday Mondays. Check festive exceptions before travelling.
General gallery entry and the arrangements for an individual exhibition are distinct: follow the exhibition’s own booking information for this show. For access requirements or help planning a group visit, contact Towner before booking.
The visitor guide lists College Road parking about 100 metres from the gallery, with Blue Badge provision and a separate short-wait drop-off area outside Towner. Nearby bus services include the 12, 12A and 12X along the coast. For access support, the gallery gives 01323 434675 and [email protected]. The exhibition booking page still says booking opens soon; suggested payment amounts and the booking process have not yet been released.
Find the venue
For more local planning information, see our East Sussex days out guide.
