The hugely popular exhibition from one of Sheffield’s best-loved artists comes to a close this weekend after nearly a year of delighting visitors – including a major Hollywood star! 

Among the thousands of visitors the exhibition has welcomed is Sheffield-born Hollywood star, Sean Bean, who joined Pete for a tour of the displays at Sheffield Museums’ recent Fundraising Party marking Weston Park Museum’s 150th anniversary. Reflecting on their familiarity of many of the stories the exhibition shares, Sean was hugely generous in his praise of Pete’s work as he welcomed guests in during the event’s opening speech.      

The Boy with a Leg Named Brian: Memoirs by Pete McKee, which has been seen by over 130,000 people and received rave reviews from visitors, is set to close at Weston Park Museum on Sunday 2 November after a blockbuster 11-month run.

 Taking its title from a patch sewn onto Pete’s jeans as a child, The Boy with a Leg Named Brian chronicles the artist’s formative years in the 1970s through over 90 McKee creations.

Playful and poignant in equal measure, the exhibition has been delighting visitors through a vibrant, joyful array of paintings, prints and sculpture by Pete, as well displays celebrating the clothes, games, music and popular culture of the time. As well as transporting older visitors back through the decades, the exhibition has also inspired a host of younger fans through fun-filled activities and celebrations of the experiences we each continue to share growing up. 

Kirstie Hamilton, Director of Programmes at Sheffield Museums says: “It’s been absolutely fantastic to see such an incredible response to Pete’s exhibition at Weston Park Museum. It’s brilliant to see the exhibition welcome so many people, but what’s really wonderful is the depth of connection those visitors have told us they’ve felt. Whether it’s people being transported back to their own childhoods or younger visitors finding inspiration for their own creative talents, the exhibition has really stuck a chord.”

Pete McKee says: “I’ve been utterly overwhelmed by the response to my show The Boy with a Leg Named Brian. I wanted to create a show that was universally appealing but especially one that families could enjoy and spark conversations with their children and hopefully help inspire the next generation of artists.”