Art Articles

Bringing the light: Light Boxes by Jyll Bradley | The Box Plymouth
Art - Aug 2025

Bringing the light: Light Boxes by Jyll Bradley

One of the things you notice when you look around the ‘Jyll Bradley: Running and Returning’ exhibition is the number of light boxes that are on display in different areas of the show. Light as a material and a metaphor is something that runs through all of Bradley’s work – whether it’s through bringing light to a story, exploring the light we need to grow things, or using light in a completely different way.

Spotlight On: Jean Arp | The Box Plymouth
Art - Aug 2025

Spotlight On: Jean Arp

Jean Arp (1886-1966) was a German-French artist renowned for his contributions to modern art through sculpture, painting, poetry and collage. Born Hans Peter Wilhelm Arp in Strasbourg, then part of Germany, he became known as Jean Arp after moving to France. Discover more about him and the three sculptures he created during the 1960s and 1970s that are on display in our major ‘Forbidden Territories’ exhibition.

Historic plaque unveiled in Plymouth to honour Sir Charles Eastlake | The Box Plymouth
Press Release - Jun 2025

Historic plaque unveiled in Plymouth to honour Sir Charles Eastlake

The Box was delighted to welcome Sir Gabriele Finaldi, director of the National Gallery to Plymouth on Thursday 26 June, to celebrate the unveiling of a new commemorative blue plaque honouring Sir Charles Lock Eastlake (1793-1865). The plaque is located at Hillside Court, Plympton St Mary, the site of the pioneering Victorian art scholar and first director of the National Gallery's former home 'Hillside'.

Spotlight On: René Magritte | The Box Plymouth
Art - Jun 2025

Spotlight On: René Magritte

Surrealist artist René Magritte (1898-1967) had a unique ability to take something ordinary and make people see it in different and unexpected ways – asking questions about nature and the boundaries of reality. 'Forbidden Territories: 100 Years of Surreal Landscapes' (until 7 September 2025) includes two fascinating works by him.

‘Surreal Estates’ showcases creative talents of South West’s children and young people | The Box Plymouth
Press Release - Jun 2025

‘Surreal Estates’ showcases creative talents of South West’s children and young people

Works of art by over 260 children and young people from across the region are now on display at The Box following a competition that took place earlier in 2025 inspired by surrealism and landscape.

Bringing the light: 'The Hop' by Jyll Bradley | The Box Plymouth
Art - May 2025

Bringing the light: 'The Hop' by Jyll Bradley

Originally commissioned for The Hayward Gallery, London in 2022, ‘The Hop’ is an interactive sculpture by artist Jyll Bradley. With its vibrant colours that reflect different patterns as the light moves across Tavistock Place throughout the day, it’s unmissable as you arrive at The Box. It's also the perfect introduction to Bradley’s practice and her ‘Running and Returning’ exhibition in our St Luke’s church gallery.

'March Sky, Cape Cornwall' by Karl Weschke | The Box Plymouth
Art - Mar 2025

'March Sky, Cape Cornwall' by Karl Weschke

This abstract, atmospheric painting is called ‘March Sky, Cape Cornwall’. It was acquired for Plymouth's permanent art collection in 1964 and painted two years before this. German-born artist Karl Weschke led an extraordinary life, many years of which were spent living in Cornwall.

Meet the artist: John Lyons | The Box Plymouth
Press Release - Feb 2025

Meet the artist: John Lyons

John Lyons is the artist and poet behind the latest exhibition at The Box. 'Carnivalesque' is the first major survey of the contribution he's made to British art, art education and literature over the last 60 years and is filled with vibrant, dynamic paintings and a selection of his poems. Here are ten top facts about him and his career.

Explore the surreal and take part in The Box’s 2025 Children and Young People's Art Competition | The Box Plymouth
Press Release - Jan 2025

Explore the surreal and take part in The Box’s 2025 Children and Young People's Art Competition

Calling all budding artists from across the South West! How would you like to have your work displayed alongside famous names like Man Ray and Salvador Dali?

Meet the artist: Osman Yousefzada | The Box Plymouth
Press Release - Jan 2025

Meet the artist: Osman Yousefzada

British artist Osman Yousefzada has a stunning installation on display in the St Luke's church gallery at The Box until 9 March. 'When will we be good enough?' asks questions about power, class and race and makes a surprising link between old colonial sea routes and the places where the underwater cables that transmit digital information are laid.

Frank Auerbach (1931–2024) | The Box Plymouth
Art - Nov 2024

Frank Auerbach (1931–2024)

Frank Auerbach, one of the leading artists of his generation, passed away yesterday (12 November 2024) at the age of 93. This 1983 drawing by him was gifted to The Box's art collection by the Contemporary Art Society in 1989.