Jack Gann
@jackgann.bsky.social
Historian and curator. Museums, Victorians, and medicine.
Currently curator at Thackray Museum of Medicine, Leeds
Currently curator at Thackray Museum of Medicine, Leeds
From London to Delhi, but especially Leeds.
Nice to be featured in February's most anticipated new exhibitions worldwide.
Nice to be featured in February's most anticipated new exhibitions worldwide.
Our editors on the exhibitions they’re looking forward to around the world this month, from London to Delhi artreview.com/the-10-exhib...
The 10 Exhibitions to See in February 2026
Our editors on the exhibitions they’re looking forward to around the world this month
artreview.com
January 31, 2026 at 6:01 PM
From London to Delhi, but especially Leeds.
Nice to be featured in February's most anticipated new exhibitions worldwide.
Nice to be featured in February's most anticipated new exhibitions worldwide.
Children's hospitals should be painted blue and candy pink, according to this 1970s book of colour theory.
"Such a scheme is quiet enough for a sick room, but its tiny touches of clear colour would help to hold a convalescing child's interest, and counteract boredom."
"Such a scheme is quiet enough for a sick room, but its tiny touches of clear colour would help to hold a convalescing child's interest, and counteract boredom."
January 30, 2026 at 9:57 AM
Children's hospitals should be painted blue and candy pink, according to this 1970s book of colour theory.
"Such a scheme is quiet enough for a sick room, but its tiny touches of clear colour would help to hold a convalescing child's interest, and counteract boredom."
"Such a scheme is quiet enough for a sick room, but its tiny touches of clear colour would help to hold a convalescing child's interest, and counteract boredom."
Reposted by Jack Gann
Why did magic mushrooms evolve? We may finally have the answer www.newscientist.com/article/2512...
Why did magic mushrooms evolve? We may finally have the answer
Many species of fungus across the world produce psilocybin, a chemical with psychedelic effects in humans, but its evolutionary purpose may be to deter mushroom-munching insects
www.newscientist.com
January 23, 2026 at 2:34 PM
Why did magic mushrooms evolve? We may finally have the answer www.newscientist.com/article/2512...
"You do that picture of the relative position of the superficial organs of the thorax and abdomen, Joe?"
"Sure did boss, real fuckin sexy just like you asked."
"what"
"Sure did boss, real fuckin sexy just like you asked."
"what"
January 23, 2026 at 12:00 PM
"You do that picture of the relative position of the superficial organs of the thorax and abdomen, Joe?"
"Sure did boss, real fuckin sexy just like you asked."
"what"
"Sure did boss, real fuckin sexy just like you asked."
"what"
Reposted by Jack Gann
The Battle of Corunna took place #OTD in 1809. Civilian surgeon Charles Bell volunteered to treat wounded soldiers returning to Britain. He later created these artworks which he used for teaching. Some of these artworks can be seen in our Wohl Pathology Museum.
January 16, 2026 at 12:02 PM
The Battle of Corunna took place #OTD in 1809. Civilian surgeon Charles Bell volunteered to treat wounded soldiers returning to Britain. He later created these artworks which he used for teaching. Some of these artworks can be seen in our Wohl Pathology Museum.
2024's You Choose was one of my favourite exhibitions to work on. It was big, ambitious and weird. And - as @claireturner.bsky.social and I discuss here - gave us more insight into our visitors' preoccupations, interests and worries than we've ever had before.
thepolyphony.org/2026/01/12/y...
thepolyphony.org/2026/01/12/y...
‘You Choose’: 3D Pills, Cancer, and Personalised Medicine in the Museum
Claire Turner and Jack Gann explore questions of personalised medicine, digital technologies, and prevalent health concerns in the exhibition You Choose.
thepolyphony.org
January 16, 2026 at 11:14 AM
2024's You Choose was one of my favourite exhibitions to work on. It was big, ambitious and weird. And - as @claireturner.bsky.social and I discuss here - gave us more insight into our visitors' preoccupations, interests and worries than we've ever had before.
thepolyphony.org/2026/01/12/y...
thepolyphony.org/2026/01/12/y...
Reposted by Jack Gann
Claire Turner and Jack Gann explore questions of personalised medicine, digital technologies, and prevalent health concerns in the exhibition You Choose.
thepolyphony.org/2026/01/12/y...
thepolyphony.org/2026/01/12/y...
‘You Choose’: 3D Pills, Cancer, and Personalised Medicine in the Museum
Claire Turner and Jack Gann explore questions of personalised medicine, digital technologies, and prevalent health concerns in the exhibition You Choose.
thepolyphony.org
January 12, 2026 at 12:07 PM
Claire Turner and Jack Gann explore questions of personalised medicine, digital technologies, and prevalent health concerns in the exhibition You Choose.
thepolyphony.org/2026/01/12/y...
thepolyphony.org/2026/01/12/y...
Weird take on Scarecrows Wedding, given virtually every shot is set against a backdrop of coastline and a lighthouse.
I wouldn't find this irritating were the tone not "I know we're not really paying much attention but give us some credit".
www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...
I wouldn't find this irritating were the tone not "I know we're not really paying much attention but give us some credit".
www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...
December 28, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Weird take on Scarecrows Wedding, given virtually every shot is set against a backdrop of coastline and a lighthouse.
I wouldn't find this irritating were the tone not "I know we're not really paying much attention but give us some credit".
www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...
I wouldn't find this irritating were the tone not "I know we're not really paying much attention but give us some credit".
www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...
Have progressed beyond "does my 5 year old genuinely believe Santa is real?" and onto "does my 5 year old genuinely believe all the complicated Santa lore that she herself has invented to be real?"
December 24, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Have progressed beyond "does my 5 year old genuinely believe Santa is real?" and onto "does my 5 year old genuinely believe all the complicated Santa lore that she herself has invented to be real?"
It's the most wonderful time of the year for a museum Victorian street scene.
York Castle adopting a soundtrack of 19th century carols, while at Abbey House I was surprised to see the scene play out to Julia Jacklin's "Baby Jesus is Nobody's Baby Now".
York Castle adopting a soundtrack of 19th century carols, while at Abbey House I was surprised to see the scene play out to Julia Jacklin's "Baby Jesus is Nobody's Baby Now".
December 21, 2025 at 6:23 PM
It's the most wonderful time of the year for a museum Victorian street scene.
York Castle adopting a soundtrack of 19th century carols, while at Abbey House I was surprised to see the scene play out to Julia Jacklin's "Baby Jesus is Nobody's Baby Now".
York Castle adopting a soundtrack of 19th century carols, while at Abbey House I was surprised to see the scene play out to Julia Jacklin's "Baby Jesus is Nobody's Baby Now".
Joseph Maclise pinups on page 3.
December 9, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Joseph Maclise pinups on page 3.
Unfortunately the exhibition does not come with a literal 'catalogue of irrelevant penises'.
'Jack Gann, the curator at Thackray Museum of Medicine in Leeds, which is hosting the Beneath the Sheets: Anatomy, Art and Power exhibition, says Joseph Maclise’s work also broke new ground by centring black bodies and focusing on queer desire.'
Anatomical exhibition includes rare Victorian-era drawing of a black body
The work of surgeon and artist Joseph Maclise is the focus of a show at the Thackray Museum of Medicine in Leeds
www.theguardian.com
December 9, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Unfortunately the exhibition does not come with a literal 'catalogue of irrelevant penises'.
The measure of how tall 5 yr old is getting is not pencilled lines on the wall, it's how high up the Christmas tree the spaceman, Frida Kahlo, bauble of bees, and her special rose are hanging. These were so much lower last year.
December 7, 2025 at 4:53 PM
The measure of how tall 5 yr old is getting is not pencilled lines on the wall, it's how high up the Christmas tree the spaceman, Frida Kahlo, bauble of bees, and her special rose are hanging. These were so much lower last year.
Currently writing a "Do not touch" sign for a Victorian mortuary table. Could always take inspiration from this.
December 5, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Currently writing a "Do not touch" sign for a Victorian mortuary table. Could always take inspiration from this.
Really enjoyed Wake Up Dead Man.
One of the underappreciated strengths of the Benoit Blanc movies is - sort of spoilers - how it's always who you most suspect.
Genuinely love them for this.
One of the underappreciated strengths of the Benoit Blanc movies is - sort of spoilers - how it's always who you most suspect.
Genuinely love them for this.
December 1, 2025 at 8:35 AM
Really enjoyed Wake Up Dead Man.
One of the underappreciated strengths of the Benoit Blanc movies is - sort of spoilers - how it's always who you most suspect.
Genuinely love them for this.
One of the underappreciated strengths of the Benoit Blanc movies is - sort of spoilers - how it's always who you most suspect.
Genuinely love them for this.
Reposted by Jack Gann
We have lent a piece of fossilised medieval poo to the Thackray Medical Museum!👇
🔗Find out more research.yorkarchaeology.co.uk/poo/
#Archaeology #History #York
🔗Find out more research.yorkarchaeology.co.uk/poo/
#Archaeology #History #York
November 26, 2025 at 11:39 AM
We have lent a piece of fossilised medieval poo to the Thackray Medical Museum!👇
🔗Find out more research.yorkarchaeology.co.uk/poo/
#Archaeology #History #York
🔗Find out more research.yorkarchaeology.co.uk/poo/
#Archaeology #History #York
Always nice to receive feedback!
💩🤮👎
💩🤮👎
November 21, 2025 at 8:21 AM
Always nice to receive feedback!
💩🤮👎
💩🤮👎
Had a good time sharing the story of blood in Otley last week. Looks like the rest of the lineup was fun too
That was a week! Otley Science Festival is over for another year. Follow the link for a small look back...
otleysciencefestival.co.uk
otleysciencefestival.co.uk
November 19, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Had a good time sharing the story of blood in Otley last week. Looks like the rest of the lineup was fun too
Reposted by Jack Gann
Heard of the Evelyn Tables? Displays of real human nerves & blood vessels in their positions in the body. Love that @realgdt.bsky.social included these 17th century science artifacts in #Frankenstein.
Love this article by @emmalgometz.bsky.social, too! www.sciencefriday.com/articles/fra...
Love this article by @emmalgometz.bsky.social, too! www.sciencefriday.com/articles/fra...
400-Year-Old Displays Of Human Tissue Live On In ‘Frankenstein’
The 17th century Evelyn Tables show real human nerves and veins, dried on wooden boards. Designers on the new Netflix film took note.
www.sciencefriday.com
November 18, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Heard of the Evelyn Tables? Displays of real human nerves & blood vessels in their positions in the body. Love that @realgdt.bsky.social included these 17th century science artifacts in #Frankenstein.
Love this article by @emmalgometz.bsky.social, too! www.sciencefriday.com/articles/fra...
Love this article by @emmalgometz.bsky.social, too! www.sciencefriday.com/articles/fra...
Reposted by Jack Gann
We're happy to share: Amazing Blood Ties! written by Jieun Kim (PI of Hematopolitics) and illustrated by Leigh Bowser. This children’s book introduces kids aged 5–8 to the stories behind blood donation and how we’re all connected. Freely available at: hematopolitics.org/amazing-bloo...
November 13, 2025 at 1:49 PM
We're happy to share: Amazing Blood Ties! written by Jieun Kim (PI of Hematopolitics) and illustrated by Leigh Bowser. This children’s book introduces kids aged 5–8 to the stories behind blood donation and how we’re all connected. Freely available at: hematopolitics.org/amazing-bloo...
Have seen various hot takes on how faithful or otherwise del Toro has been with this. But to be honest, of the two Netflix properties we've seen on the big screen this week, it's been the other - Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie - that seems less related to its source material.
Saw Guillermo del Toro's beautiful Frankenstein for Halloween.
I love this poster's reference to the 1700s 'Flayed Angel'.
Fitting for a movie that is fascinated by traditional anatomical illustration and the language it shares with Catholic art, depictions of martyred saints and memento mori.
I love this poster's reference to the 1700s 'Flayed Angel'.
Fitting for a movie that is fascinated by traditional anatomical illustration and the language it shares with Catholic art, depictions of martyred saints and memento mori.
November 2, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Have seen various hot takes on how faithful or otherwise del Toro has been with this. But to be honest, of the two Netflix properties we've seen on the big screen this week, it's been the other - Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie - that seems less related to its source material.
Saw Guillermo del Toro's beautiful Frankenstein for Halloween.
I love this poster's reference to the 1700s 'Flayed Angel'.
Fitting for a movie that is fascinated by traditional anatomical illustration and the language it shares with Catholic art, depictions of martyred saints and memento mori.
I love this poster's reference to the 1700s 'Flayed Angel'.
Fitting for a movie that is fascinated by traditional anatomical illustration and the language it shares with Catholic art, depictions of martyred saints and memento mori.
October 31, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Saw Guillermo del Toro's beautiful Frankenstein for Halloween.
I love this poster's reference to the 1700s 'Flayed Angel'.
Fitting for a movie that is fascinated by traditional anatomical illustration and the language it shares with Catholic art, depictions of martyred saints and memento mori.
I love this poster's reference to the 1700s 'Flayed Angel'.
Fitting for a movie that is fascinated by traditional anatomical illustration and the language it shares with Catholic art, depictions of martyred saints and memento mori.
Reposted by Jack Gann
Here we go! Just a few days now to the kick off the 2025 Otley Science Festival. Here's a picture of the week.
All the details on the website otleysciencefestival.co.uk/festival-2025/
#otleyscience #otleysciencefestival #otley #otleycourthouse
All the details on the website otleysciencefestival.co.uk/festival-2025/
#otleyscience #otleysciencefestival #otley #otleycourthouse
October 28, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Here we go! Just a few days now to the kick off the 2025 Otley Science Festival. Here's a picture of the week.
All the details on the website otleysciencefestival.co.uk/festival-2025/
#otleyscience #otleysciencefestival #otley #otleycourthouse
All the details on the website otleysciencefestival.co.uk/festival-2025/
#otleyscience #otleysciencefestival #otley #otleycourthouse
Visiting the newly revamped Station Hall at National Railway Museum. A blast from the past back to when TG Jones went by a different name.
(And you could buy a cheap giallo George Eliot novel on the platform).
(And you could buy a cheap giallo George Eliot novel on the platform).
October 27, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Visiting the newly revamped Station Hall at National Railway Museum. A blast from the past back to when TG Jones went by a different name.
(And you could buy a cheap giallo George Eliot novel on the platform).
(And you could buy a cheap giallo George Eliot novel on the platform).
All this talk of snakes, health and words prompts my wife to ask: "why isn't a herpetologist an expert on herpes?"
Turns out they do share an etymology: 'ἕρπης' ('herpēs'), meaning 'to creep' in ancient Greek. (Herpetologist studies creeping creatures, herpes sores creep across the body).
Turns out they do share an etymology: 'ἕρπης' ('herpēs'), meaning 'to creep' in ancient Greek. (Herpetologist studies creeping creatures, herpes sores creep across the body).
While the word 'theriac' comes from the ancient Greek meaning 'concerning venomous wild animals', today the word lives on as 'treacle', so named because the molasses-like sugar syrup was remimiscent of the dark, sweet, sticky snake medicine. (Theriacs tended to have honey as a core ingredient).
October 27, 2025 at 9:27 AM
All this talk of snakes, health and words prompts my wife to ask: "why isn't a herpetologist an expert on herpes?"
Turns out they do share an etymology: 'ἕρπης' ('herpēs'), meaning 'to creep' in ancient Greek. (Herpetologist studies creeping creatures, herpes sores creep across the body).
Turns out they do share an etymology: 'ἕρπης' ('herpēs'), meaning 'to creep' in ancient Greek. (Herpetologist studies creeping creatures, herpes sores creep across the body).