Wakefield Art Walk: Emergence Takes Centre Stage at Kirkgate

On Wednesday 26 November 2025, Wakefield Kirkgate Railway Station came alive with art, as part of this season’s Art Walk, and we were delighted to be part of it.

At the heart of the station’s Main Foyer stood Helen Brook’s stunning installation Emergence: a piece that invited everyone passing through to pause, reflect and connect with the rhythms of nature and creativity. Emergence was developed during Helen’s environmental artist residency in Selby earlier in 2025. Over the course of the residency she explored the changing landscapes of the area, took part in nature-connection workshops with local groups and gathered materials that speak to growth, transformation and decay.

From decaying leaves and seed heads collected from the grounds of Selby Abbey, Helen created a suspended sculptural installation that magnifies these fragile natural forms, beautifully laser-cut onto pages from discarded Selby Library books. In doing so, Emergence breathes new life into materials that might otherwise be forgotten, celebrating cycles of change in both nature and community. The work was realised with the support of

The Art House Wakefield’s laser-cutting facilities and was commissioned by Now Then! thanks to support from North Yorkshire Council, Arts Council England and UKSPF.

You can explore more about Emergence and Helen Brook’s practice here:🔗 https://www.helencbrook.co.uk/#/emergence/

Community Gallery: Pontefract Art Club

Alongside Emergence, our Community Gallery on Platform 2 featured a curated selection of paintings from the Pontefract Art Club. Based right here in West Yorkshire, this group of local artists brought warmth, colour and variety to the station throughout the evening, a gentle reminder of how inclusive creativity brings communities together. Their thoughtful works offered visitors a chance to slow down and explore expressive painting in its many forms while waiting for trains or simply wandering through the space.

This showcase built on their earlier exhibition at our gallery and reflects our ongoing commitment to celebrating both established and emerging artistic voices in the wider Wakefield District

Art Walk evenings like this remind us how vital accessible art spaces are particularly for members of the LGBT+ community who often seek places where creativity and identity can be seen and celebrated without barriers. From Emergence’s poetic interplay between humanity and nature to the rich diversity of work in our Community Gallery, Kirkgate is a place of welcome, curiosity and conversation.

Thank you to everyone who joined us, engaged with the art, and helped make Art Walk at Kirkgate such a special night.

If you are an artist, part of a community group or are interested in displaying artwork in the Wakefield Kirkgate Community Gallery, please visit our website for full details.