York Art Gallery located in Exhibition Square has many changing special exhibitions and home to an impressive collection of paintings and ceramics. There is a lovely cafe and gift shop.
Just across the road is Bootham Bar - one of the medieval gates (or bars) into the city, where you can walk through towards York Minster or climb the steps up onto the city walls.
We visited during the York Residents Festival, it was fairly busy! There are displays crammed with unique, interesting ceramics. These bears (above) caught my eye and also the rainbow of ceramics. 'The Lumber Room: Unimagined Treasures', Curated by the artist Mark Hearld was very interesting. You can also see 'Melanie' (below) by Turner Prize winner Grayson Perry. centreofceramicart.org.uk
(Photo above) Shows the arches and entrance to the gallery, CoCA (Centre of Ceramic Art).