Gillian Ayres: Paintings and Prints 1986 to 2011
This exhibition features the printmaking of Gillian Ayres, one of the leading British abstract artists of her generation. As well as the vibrant, heavily-worked canvasses for which she is best known, Gillian is also a dedicated printmaker.
Born in 1930, Gillian Ayres studied at Camberwell College of Art between 1945 and 1950. She worked initially in London and then went on to teach at the Bath Academy in Corsham, Saint Martins School of Art and finally became Head of Painting at Winchester School of Art. She left teaching in 1981 and moved to Wales and then Cornwall, where she currently lives.
Over the course of her career, the artist has made a significant and varied body of original prints. Most of the works in this exhibition have been proofed by Gillian Ayres and Jack Shirreff and were printed at 107 Workshop. Ayres and Shirreff first met at Corsham and it was his reinvigoration of the use of carborundum, combined with etching, that offered her a whole range of possibilities in the medium of print.
Gillian Ayres’ work is in the collections of the British Museum, Tate, the Victoria & AlbertMuseum; and the Museum of Modern Art, New York. Ayres was made a Royal Academician in 1991 and awarded a CBE in 2011.
On sale during the exhibition will be illustrated books featuring works on display and a selection of prints and paintings.
Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am-5pm.
Please note that from time to time the galleries will be closed for special events; please check before travelling, phone: 01392 265858.