Take a good look at the Jerwood Collection

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 ‘Jerwood Collection: Revealed’

1 February – 23 April 2014

The Jerwood Gallery, Hastings, UK starts 2014 with an in-depth look at the Jerwood Collection of 20th- and 21st-century British art. The exhibition will mark two years since the opening of the award-winning gallery, which was designed as the permanent home of the collection, and will explore the history and personal stories of the collection’s development.

The Jerwood Collection, which was started 21 years ago with the purchase of Sir Frank Brangwyn’s From my Window at Ditchling, comprises primarily paintings, works on paper and prints by British artists working between the First World War and the 1960s. Highlights include paintings by Sir Stanley Spencer RA,  L.S. Lowry RA, Walter Sickert and Augustus John RA. In addition there are a number of contemporary works reflecting Jerwood’s commitment to supporting excellence in contemporary art, including works by winners of the Jerwood Painting Prize, Craigie Aitchison RA, Prunella Clough and Maggi Hambling.

This important exhibition offers a key opportunity to showcase the collection, and will be the most substantial hang of the collection since the opening of the gallery. It will include a number of key works, which have yet to be displayed publically at the gallery. This includes works previously on long term loan to other institutions such as Craigie Aitchisons’ Crucifixion (1994) and a series of sculptures by 20th-century British artists including Sir Jacob Epstein  (1880–1959), Dame Elisabeth Frink, (1930–93), and Henry Moore (1898–1986).

The collection continues to grow and evolve with new acquisitions and the exhibition will also provide opportunity to showcase some of the newest acquisitions, which have not yet been displayed at the gallery, including works by Alfred Wolmark (1877–1961), Sir Frank Brangwyn RA RWS RBA (1867–1956) and Ceri Richards, CBE (1903–71).

The Jerwood Collection has been developed over the past 20 years by Alan Grieve CBE, Chairman of the Jerwood Foundation. Speaking about the development of the Jerwood Collection, Alan Grieve says:

‘Inspired by our roots in Fitzrovia [in central London)and the lingering aura of the Bloomsbury artists,  I started to make the Jerwood Collection in the 1990s. The success of the Jerwood Painting Prize for contemporary painting (1994-2003) spurred me on and the Jerwood Collection now holds close to 250 works of 20th- and 21st-century British art. ‘Jerwood Collection: Revealed’ is raising the curtain for the first time on all that has been achieved. I confess now, all the mistakes are mine and the successes are to be shared with all those who enjoy British art.’