Northern Art Prize exhibition brings together the work of shortlisted artists at the Leeds Art Gallery

LEEDS.- Work by shortlisted artists Liadin Cooke, Leo Fitzmaurice, James Hugonin and Richard Rigg have come together in the exhibition on which they will be judged for the fifth annual Northern Art Prize, at Leeds Art Gallery from 25 November 2011 until 19 February 2012. Sarah Brown, curator of exhibitions at Leeds Art Gallery and chair of the judging panel commented: “The 2012 Prize short list brings to our attention four very different artists who each produce work that often takes a painstakingly [...]

Vibrant street art exhibition at Ulster Museum showcases over 30 street artists

BELFAST.- A vibrant collection of works, by some of today’s most celebrated and controversial street artists, opens at the Ulster Museum, Friday 9 December. The exhibition showcases over 30 street artists, including the world-famous Banksy, D*Face, Sickboy, Miss Tic, Shepard Fairey and Jamie Hewlett, featured through bold and colourful prints and stickers, highlighting the diversity and talent that can be found in the street art community. Street art is an internationally recognised urban phenomenon that crosses all boundaries and media. It is [...]

Renaissance masterpiece by Francesco Xanto Avelli discovered by Lyon & Turnbull

EDINBURGH.- A rare and previously unrecorded plate by the important Maiolica artist Francesco Xanto Avelli, dated 1537, has been uncovered by Lyon & Turnbull auctioneers. The plate was discovered on a regular house valuation and is expected to realise over £100,000 at auction at Lyon & Turnbull in Edinburgh on the 7th December 2011. The plate is thought to have been purchased by the vendor’s family in Italy between 1894 and 1916. Celia Curnow, ceramics consultant to Lyon & Turnbull said “I have [...]

Exhibition at Victoria & Albert Museum tackles tough task: define “Postmodernism”

LONDON (REUTERS).- On the wall near the exit to the Victoria & Albert’s new show on postmodernism hangs a bright neon sign of the word “Shop”. Many museums are too embarrassed to draw attention to the fact that they force visitors to walk through the gift shop in order to get out of a blockbuster show. Not so “Postmodernism: Style and Subversion 1970-1990″. But then the self referential joke with its bold allusion to consumerism is part of the point. The show, which [...]

Victoria & Albert Museum at Dundee Designs Unveiled

DUNDEE.- Six stunning designs for the V&A at Dundee project will be unveiled at an exhibition in Abertay University library this Wednesday (29 September). The ‘V&A at Dundee – Making it Happen’ exhibition features work from the six shortlisted teams of world-class architects and designers who have put forward outstanding ideas for a landmark building that will house the V&A at Dundee and dominate Dundee’s waterfront. Delugan Meissl Associated Architects were formed 15 years ago and are based in Vienna [...]

Show at Victoria & Albert Museum Puts Diaghilev Among Greats of Modern Art

LONDON (REUTERS)- Russian dance impresario Sergei Diaghilev once sat down to dinner with Pablo Picasso, James Joyce, Marcel Proust and Igor Stravinsky. For many, his name is the least familiar amid the roll-call of early 20th century artistic greats, but a major exhibition at London’s Victoria & Albert Museum seeks to explain why Diaghilev deserved his seat at the table. “It is curious organising an exhibition when you know that your central figure is much less well known than many [...]

Raphael Tapestries Go on Show in Britain at the Victoria & Albert Museum

LONDON (REUTERS).- Four priceless tapestries designed by the Renaissance master Raphael have gone on display with their original drawings for the first time at an exhibition in London to coincide with Pope Benedict’s visit to Britain. The fragile artworks — woven from wool, silk, gold and silver — were created for the Sistine Chapel and are considered to be among the greatest treasures of the High Renaissance. The Vatican has never lent four of its Raphael tapestries at the same [...]