Developing the negatives: a rare glimpse of Tony Wilson comes into focus
A portrait of a cultural pioneer
10th April – 20th May 2026
We’re proud to announce the launch of a new, free exhibition that celebrates the life and legacy of one of Manchester’s most influential cultural figures, Tony Wilson.
Opening on 9th April, at The Refuge in the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel, Tony Wilson: A Portrait of Manchester brings together a remarkable series of previously unseen photographs by acclaimed photographer Paul Wolfgang Webster. Captured in 1996, the portraits offer an intimate and candid window into the world of a man who helped define a city.
Best known for his work with Granada Television and as the co-founder of Factory Records and the iconic The Haçienda, Wilson was a driving force behind Manchester’s late twentieth-century cultural identity. His vision helped propel the city’s music scene onto the global stage, shaping a legacy that still resonates today.
For the first time, Webster’s full series from that 1996 shoot will be exhibited together. Taken in Wilson’s own apartment, the images were born out of conversation – a meeting of creative minds that quickly found common ground in music, place and purpose. The result is a body of work that feels both personal and quietly powerful, capturing Wilson not just as a public figure, but as a man deeply connected to Manchester and the North West.
Shot on a Hasselblad 500CM medium format camera, Webster’s signature monochrome style brings a timeless quality to the portraits. Born in Rochdale, the photographer has spent decades documenting people and places with a distinct visual sensitivity, earning international recognition along the way, with works held in the collection of London’s National Portrait Gallery.
Reflecting on the shoot, Webster recalls:
“I felt it was important that the photographs reflected Tony’s connection with Manchester and the North West. He was relaxed and enthusiastic from the start, and once the conversation inevitably turned to music we bonded quickly… It remains one of the most enjoyable photo shoots I’ve ever done.”
Set within the vibrant surroundings of The Refuge, the exhibition finds a natural home in one of Manchester’s most iconic social spaces. Known for bringing people together through food, drink and culture, it provides the perfect backdrop for a collection that is as much about connection as it is about legacy.
Tony Wilson: A Portrait of Manchester will be free to view at The Refuge, Kimpton Clocktower Hotel, from 10th April to 20th May. Visitors will also have the opportunity to purchase limited-edition prints, offering a chance to take home a piece of Manchester’s cultural history.
Whether you’re drawn by the music, the man or the story behind the lens, this exhibition offers a rare chance to see Tony Wilson in a new light… unguarded, expressive and unmistakably Manchester.