New exhibit explores how LS Lowry’s Salford and Manchester landscapes might smell

Salford’s Lowry Gallery, home to the world’s largest public collection of works by LS Lowry, has unveiled a groundbreaking installation that brings the scents of Lowry’s 20th-century Manchester and Salford to life.

Collaborating with award-winning scent designer and historian Tasha Marks, the gallery invites visitors to explore Lowry’s industrial cityscapes through an unexpected sense: smell.

Marks, known for her innovative approach to making art more accessible, has crafted an evocative scent that embodies the atmosphere of Lowry’s beloved urban landscapes.

Visitors to the gallery will encounter the aroma of rain-soaked brick, damp wool, and the faint smokiness of industry.

The scent captures the essence of bustling streets, filled with the clatter of horses and carts and the faint musk of workers returning home from the mills—transforming the static beauty of Lowry’s canvases into a sensory experience.

A multi-sensory tribute to LS Lowry

“At the Lowry, we are always looking for innovative ways to bring LS Lowry’s collection to more audiences,” said Hayley Gore, Access & Interpretation Manager at the Lowry.

“Our sense of smell is incredibly powerful, capable of transporting us to specific moments in time. This installation offers visitors, especially those who are visually impaired or blind, a new way to engage with the industrial landscapes that Lowry captured so masterfully.”

The installation coincides with the launch of a new Access Hub, designed to provide equipment and support for all visitors, as well as UK Disability History Month and the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3rd.

The scent installation represents an important step in making cultural spaces more inclusive and engaging.

Capturing Salford’s soul in smells

For Marks, the project was a chance to delve deeply into the textures and tones of early 20th-century Salford.

“It was a joy to engage with the LS Lowry collection and respond with an aromatic interpretation of Salford in the 1910s,” she explained.

“The bespoke scent is intended to enhance Lowry’s cityscapes, transporting visitors into the past and drawing attention to the atmosphere and people that LS Lowry captured so expertly.”

The Lowry Gallery’s scent installation promises to immerse visitors in the industrial heart of Salford and Manchester, providing a rich, atmospheric connection to a world often viewed from afar in Lowry’s iconic paintings.

This innovative blend of art and olfactory experience breathes life into the cityscapes, offering a fresh way to appreciate the nuanced work of one of Britain’s most beloved artists.

Practical Information for visiting Lowry

The Lowry Galleries are free to enter and open Tuesday through Friday, 11 am to 5 pm, and Saturday to Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm.

Relaxed Sessions are also available for those seeking a calmer environment and can be booked through the Lowry’s website by clicking here