Ben Johnson Begins to Complete One of His Paintings in Public at the National Gallery

LONDON.- This autumn, to coincide with the Sainsbury Wing exhibition Venice: Canaletto and his Rivals, the National Gallery has invited contemporary artist Ben Johnson to display his work in an exhibition in Room 1. Ben Johnson paints the city, for very different reasons, and with very different outcomes. The display reveals his motivations and working processes – and his fascination with the legacy of Canaletto. In this display, Ben Johnson will be completing one of his paintings in public. Following [...]

Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool Acquires Albert Moore’s Study for A Summer Night

LIVERPOOL.- As the end of the British summer approaches Study for A Summer Night, an exquisite drawing by English painter Albert Moore (1841-93), goes on display for the first time at the Walker Art Gallery from 13 October to 10 December 2010. The drawing, acquired for the gallery with assistance from the Art Fund charity, is reunited with an accompanying preparatory watercolour and the final oil painting, both from the gallery’s permanent collection. Seen together for the first time all [...]

Gallery’s Detective Work Shows Two Portraits Painted at the Same Time

LONDON.- New scientific detective work has revealed that two renowned 16th century portraits of Queen Elizabeth I belonging to two different galleries were painted on wood panels from the same tree. The portraits were first associated with Hilliard in 1933, and the new findings support the attribution as it is now known that both portraits were painted in the same studio. The paintings of Elizabeth I, known as the ‘Phoenix’ portrait and the ‘Pelican’ portrait, will be shown together for [...]

Paintings by Liverpool-born artist George Stubbs go on display at Walker Art Gallery

Liverpool, England.- They are a reminder of a long-vanished age when English aristocrats liked nothing better than breeding racehorses and hunting on their vast estates. These were the kind of scenes depicted by Liverpool-born artist George Stubbs, two of whose paintings are now on loan to the Walker Art Gallery from the Duke of Westminster’s Collection. They were commissioned by the Duke’s 18th-century ancestor, the Baron Grosvenor, later 1st Earl Grosvenor. Mares and Foals is a portrait of some of [...]

United Kingdom’s Largest Painting Prize Announces Shortlist

LIVERPOOL.- The final shortlist for the UK’s biggest painting competition, the John Moores Contemporary Painting Prize, is announced today. Almost 3,000 entrants submitted work in the hope of being one of the 45 shortlisted artists and in with a chance of winning the first prize of £25,000. All 45 are included in the exhibition, known for spotting rising talent. On display at the Walker Art Gallery from 18 September 2010 to 3 January 2011, the exhibition forms a key part [...]

Seldom Seen Oil Painting by LS Lowry is on Display at the Walker Art Gallery

LIVERPOOL.- A seldom seen oil painting of the Waterloo Docks, Liverpool, by matchstick people artist LS Lowry is on display at the city’s Walker Art Gallery. The celebrated artist created the work on a visit to the city in 1962 – and left a mystery. It is unclear what part of the docks, opened in 1834, is depicted. Laurence Stephen Lowry (1887 – 1976), of Salford, Manchester, travelled around Britain drawing and painting docks in Liverpool, South Shields and Glasgow [...]

The Art of Dance: Sculpture by Emma Rodgers at the Walker Art Gallery

LIVERPOOL.- A stunning 8ft bronze sculpture of a female dancer by local artist Emma Rodgers, takes centre stage at the Walker Art Gallery from 28 April to 6 July 2010. “The Dancer” captures a moment in mid-performance. The curve of the figure’s back and the outstretched limbs are reminders of the beauty and elegance of her movement and yet the physical strain and effort to achieve it. The high-arched feet of the sculpture mirror the distinctive shape of a dancer’s [...]

Britain’s Biggest Painting Prize Finds Way Round Volcanic Ash

LIVERPOOL.- Judging of Britain’s biggest painting prize took place on both sides of the Atlantic after volcanic ash grounded two of the judges. For the first time in the history of the competition judges sat thousands of miles apart as they sifted through entries. Both Sir Norman Rosenthal and Goshka Macuga found themselves stranded in America when their flights were cancelled. However it takes more than freak acts of nature to stop the Walker Art Gallery’s John Moores Painting Prize, [...]

John Moores Judging Underway – Contemporary Painting Prize Receives Nearly 3000 Entries

LIVERPOOL.- A painted canvas smeared in beeswax and another daubed in coffee beans are among the 2,880 entries bidding to win Britain’s biggest painting competition. Now in its 53rd year, the John Moores Contemporary Painting Prize is one of the most prestigious events in the British art world. Peter McDonald’s “Fontana” won the prize in 2008 With a first prize of £25,000, it’s entered anonymously and open to all UK-based artists working with paint. Previous winners include David Hockney, Peter [...]

Rihanna Picture Featured in Exhibition by Young Talent at the Walker Art Gallery

LIVERPOOL.- A striking image of pop star Rihanna by a local teenager is going on display at the Walker Art Gallery amongst paintings by famous artists like Monet and Lowry. The portrait is part of Reclaim Your Space, an exhibition of 71 works by talented young people on display at the Walker Art Gallery and World Museum from 25 March – 18 April 2010. Reclaim Your Space is giving emerging artists from local schools an extraordinary opportunity to exhibit in [...]

Walker Art Gallery Takes a Fresh Look at the Powerful Work of Aubrey Williams

LIVERPOOL.- The Walker Art Gallery launches its 2010 exhibition programme with a fresh look at the powerful work of international artist Aubrey Williams (1926 – 1990). ‘Aubrey Williams: Atlantic Fire’ runs from 15 January to 11 April 2010 and seeks a new appraisal on the important works of the Guyanese-born artist. The exhibition comprises of 14 paintings that demonstrate the strength of Williams’ work and the coherence and consistency of his approach to painting. The exhibition has been produced in [...]

October Gallery to Show the Work of International Artist Aubrey Williams

LONDON.- The New Year of 2010 welcomes in two major exhibitions, in two different cities, of the work of one extraordinary international artist: Aubrey Williams. October Gallery, London and Walker Art Gallery, National Museums Liverpool, have joined forces to produce two linked and overlapping solo exhibitions of Williams’ work together with the publication of a new catalogue providing fresh insights into one of the twentieth century’s great artistic spirits. Born, in 1926, in Georgetown, Guyana, Aubrey Williams remains one of [...]