Art Articles
Art - Apr 2023
Quinlan and Hastings: Power and space
Through the use of drawings, etchings and films, artist duo Hannah Quinlan and Rosie Hastings produce skilled and thought-provoking work that explores the various forms of authority, power and disorder that exist within our public spaces, and questions how social hierarchy, class, order and obedience are negotiated. Take a look at three works on display in their ‘Portraits’ exhibition (until 4 Jun) to learn more.
Art - Apr 2023
Sue Williamson: A Few South Africans
Created by artist Sue Williamson between 1982 and 1987, when South Africa was firmly under the grip of apartheid, 'A Few South Africans' is a series of mixed media portraits featuring some of the many women who made an impact on the country’s liberation struggle. Here, we look at them in more detail.
Press Release - Mar 2023
Castor and Pollux Dish
This large purple dish with a design that features two figures is inspired by a beautiful Greek myth. Make sure you take a look at it when you visit our 'People and Place: Art Collection Showcase'.
Art - Mar 2023
'Fishing Boat, St Ives' by Margo Maeckelberghe
Margo Maeckelberghe (1932-2014) was born Margo Try in Penzance. She studied at Penzance School of Art and then at Bath School of Art, both of which were thriving artistic environments. This work is titled ‘Fishing Boat, St Ives’ and was acquired for Plymouth’s fine art collection in 1967.
Art - Mar 2023
Sue Williamson: All Our Mothers
‘All Our Mothers’ is an ongoing series of portraits of women that began as a photographic archive documenting the turmoil within early 1980s South Africa. The work was revisited in 2012 - as were some of the women who were involved in the liberation struggle - with new portrait photography.
Art - Feb 2023
Sue Williamson: The importance of remembering
In the ‘Between Memory and Forgetting’ exhibition (on display until 4 June), one of the questions artist Sue Williamson asks is who is honoured in times of conflict? She explores this through the lens of South Africa, the country with the turbulent history she’s called home for most of her life, but it’s a question that is universally relevant.
Press Release - Feb 2023
Hakutai (A Thousand Years)
Japan has a distinct and varied culture that blends age-old traditions with cutting-edge technology and creativity, and this object which you can see in our 'People and Place: Art Collection Showcase' exhibition is a very modern work which has been made using an ancient technique.
Art - Feb 2023
'Fern Colour' by Kate Nicholson
Kate Nicholson (1929-2019) came from a family of painters who all worked with the traditional subject of still life, but in very innovative ways. This vibrant oil on canvas was purchased from the artist for our fine art collections in 1958.
Press Release - Feb 2023
Is this Elizabeth I's signature?
We're displaying a famous portrait of Queen Elizabeth I in our '100 Journeys' gallery throughout 2023. The painting is on loan from The Woburn Abbey Collection and is show alongside materials relating to Sir Francis Drake. We also have a small number of items in our collections relating to Elizabeth I, including a book we believe she actually signed.
Press Release - Jan 2023
'Hoe Garden Nursery' by Stanley Spencer
This much loved work of art from our collection was painted by one of the greatest British artists of the 20th century.
Press Release - Jan 2023
'Plymouth Sound by Moonlight and Searchlight' by Julius Olsson
This much-loved painting from our art collection was gifted to Plymouth in 1909, and is by Julius Olsson (1864-1942).
Press Release - Jan 2023
'Plymouth Pier from the Hoe' by Charles Ginner
‘Plymouth Pier from the Hoe’ dates from 1923, and was purchased for our art collection with the support of the Art Fund in 1987.