"IT FEELS LIKE AN HONOUR TO BRING THEM OUT INTO THE WORLD AGAIN." 20:08, 04 Jun 2025 The first ever public exhibition of Tony Wilson's work is coming to Manchester this

summer. Affectionately known as 'Mr Manchester', legendary broadcaster and co-founder of Factory Records, Wilson is known for playing a hand in the creation of Mancunian greats

like Joy Division, Happy Mondays, New Order and the Haçienda Nightclub. Now, after preserving and cataloguing 20 year's worth of material in museum vaults Wilson family, led by

Tony's son Oliver, are teaming up with the Smolensky Gallery to host the first public exhibition held by the Tony Wilson Archive of his works. The immersive exhibition curated by

time at the exhibition, with others released throughout the year. Designed in collaboration with Manchester-based artists DR.ME, The Tony Wilson Archive embodies the Wilson ethos with all

works made in Manchester by local artists. Article continues below Discussing the journey of the archive from being discovered in Tony Wilson’s loft, through two museums vaults, to the

British pop archive and now being brought back to life with current artists, there will be a panel talk with Oli Wilson (son of Tony Wilson), Joe Wilson (Smolensky Gallery), Mat Bancroft

(Curator, John Rylands Library). As well as, Jan Hicks (previously creator at Museum of Science and Industry), John Cooper (owner of Cerysmatic Factory), DR.ME (artists Ryan and Eddie from

Salford Design Studio), as well as the legacy Tony Wilson left on music culture and the city. Following the panel talk Oli Wilson will be playing rare Factory Records tracks from Tony

Wilson’s personal record collection and demonstrating the lineage between Tony Wilson and Manchester’s music scene with support from DJ Pablo Blanquito. The free exhibition will be open to

the public on 20 June 2025 and run until 31 July 2025. A limited number of free tickets are available to the public for the opening night on Thursday 19 June, to get one visit here. Tony

Wilson fans will also have a chance to purchase limited edition prints from the 10-piece FAC Collection risograph print series. Released exclusively for sale through Smolensky Gallery in a

limited run of 50 prints, with new prints released almost every month over an 18-month period. Speaking about the exhibition, Oli Wilson said: “This is the first time we’re doing something

in the real world as the Tony Wilson Archive so it’s great to finally get here and be doing an exhibition with Smollensky Gallery, which I think is a great space and I couldn’t think of a

better place in Manchester for our home over the next 12 months. "It’s been a long journey for the archive over the last nearly two decades and I look forward to the panel conversation

with the people who have been a part of that, including the archivists and experts that have looked after it along the way. "It’s been a huge joy for me to share the archive with the

world. It’s really inspiring. All of the items tell a really unique story. A lot of these items haven’t been seen since the actual time they were made. Article continues below "So it

feels like an honour to bring them out into the world again, doubly so in doing it with DR.ME who have ensured process and production qualities in line with the original Wilson ethos.” Owner

of Smolensky Gallery and exhibition curator Joe Wilson said: “Tony Wilson’s impact on this great city is everywhere to see and hear, as the music he helped to shape enjoys its renaissance.

It's only right that the cultural works of Mr Manchester are available for everyone to see and enjoy.”