Jeremy Deller goes Poking About in Bradford's past – in pictures

Portraits taken at Belle Vue Studios depict members of Bradford's immigrant communities capturing their new lives in the city to show relatives back home Photograph: Belle Vue Studios archive, Bradford Museums and Galleries collection

When the Belle Vue Studio closed in 1975, thousands of glass negatives were left in the cellar. Turner prize-winning artist Jeremy Deller ploughed through all of them, selecting 50 of his favourites for the exhibit Photograph: Belle Vue Studios archive, Bradford Museums and Galleries collection

Also in the exhibition are photographs depicting life in Bradford, donated by local individuals, the local newspaper and Bradford Museums Photograph: Belle Vue Studios archive, Bradford Museums and Galleries collection

Also on display will be pictures from the Bradford Heritage Recording Unit, documenting people and places in Bradford from 1983 to 2003 Photograph: Belle Vue Studios archive, Bradford Museums and Galleries collection

Some of the oldest pictures in the show date back to the Victorian age Photograph: þ/Belle Vue Studios archive, Bradford Museums and Galleries collection

Jeremy Deller's artworks often focus on the lives of ordinary people. 'These pictures show the richness of Bradford,' he says. 'They are very striking, often very formal and show an important part of the subjects' lives' Photograph: Belle Vue Studios archive, Bradford Museums and Galleries collection

Poking About is at Bradford 1 Gallery from 2 September to 27 November 2011 Photograph: Belle Vue Studios archive, Bradford Museums and Galleries collection