Leeds Art Gallery reopens tomorrow after a period of closure

• Newly uncovered exhibition space and transformed Central Court Gallery

• Major ARTIST ROOMS: Joseph Beuys exhibition - with works by Beuys showing in Leeds for the first time in over 30 years

• New presentation of the collection featuring recent acquisitions including work by Martine Syms gifted through the Valeria Napoleone XX Contemporary Art Society initiative, plus dynamic Art Fund Art Happens commission by Lothar Götz

Leeds, UK: Leeds Art Gallery reopens its galleries on the 13 October 2017 following the closure of the gallery in January 2016, during which time essential repairs to the original roof and the historic Victorian building have been made. The breadth of the collection is shown in its entirety throughout the galleries including work on paper, painting, sculpture, and audio visual works alongside each other.

During the past year’s renovations, a welcome discovery was made in the form of a barrel vaulted glazed roof on one of the first-floor galleries. This structure had remained hidden above a false ceiling for over 40 years, and is revealed to the public for the first time this week. This new space is marked by the presentation of British sculptor Alison Wilding RA’s renowned sculpture, Arena (2000), recently gifted from the Contemporary Art Society.

Marking the reopening of the gallery, the works of influential German artist Joseph Beuys (1921 - 1986) are exhibited in Leeds for the first time since 1983 as part of the ARTIST ROOMS: Joseph Beuys exhibition. Significant works - such as one of the last sculptures made by Beuys, Scala Napoletana (1985) - feature across the three ground-floor galleries, alongside works on paper and vitrines containing objects related to his performances or ‘Actions’.

The exhibition is drawn from the ARTIST ROOMS collection of international modern and contemporary art jointly owned by the National Galleries of Scotland and Tate, and accompanied by a public programme of talks and events, aimed at engaging young audiences. The collection was established in 2008 through The d'Offay Donation and is displayed in museums and galleries across the UK through a touring programme supported by Arts Council England, Art Fund and Creative Scotland.

The opening programme also features the presentation of new acquisitions by leading contemporary artists, as part of Leeds Art Gallery’s continued support of living artists and their work. Recent acquisitions on show include young LA-based artist Martine Syms, whose two-channel video A Pilot For A Show About Nowhere (2015) has been gifted to Leeds Art Gallery through the Valeria Napoleone XX Contemporary Art Society (VNXXCAS) initiative. Leeds Art Gallery is the first museum to receive a work through the VNXXCAS scheme that addresses the representation of female artists within public collections. An additional highlight is the new Art Happens commission, Xanadu, by the German abstract artist Lothar Götz: a wall painting that links the upper and lower galleries, drawing the viewer up the stairs to the new light-filled renovated galleries above.

The new collection displays feature works not seen for a generation – including the first opportunity to experience an extensive display of watercolours by John Sell Cotman; the majestic sculpture Maternity (1910-11) by Sir Jacob Epstein; and works on paper by Mexican artist Diego Rivera. The gallery’s

extensive sculptures are presented in collection displays across galleries on both floors featuring artists including Alexander Calder, Tony Cragg and Simon Fujiwara. The Ziff Gallery focuses on the first 10 years of the Leeds Art Gallery Collection, with the South Gallery focusing on the last 10 years of acquisitions.

Leeds Art Gallery is a key cultural hub in Leeds with close to half a million visitors a year. Whilst the gallery has been closed it has maintained an active profile through extensive loans from its art collection to local and international galleries, as well as engaging a diverse range of audiences through external programmes, including taking works from the collection out into schools and offsite activity with communities across the city. The gallery is a fundamental part of Leeds’ artistic heritage, particularly as the city bids to be named European Capital of Culture 2023.

Sarah Brown, Principal Keeper at Leeds Art Gallery, said:

‘We are delighted that Leeds Art Gallery is open once again and transformed. The refurbishment of the original Victorian glass roof has enabled us to create light-filled first floor galleries and present the world-class collection as it has never been seen before. We have revealed the original stunning Central Court for the first time in over fifty years to create a beautiful new gallery for visitors to enjoy.”

Leader of Leeds City Council Councillor Judith Blake, said:

“Leeds Art Gallery is a wonderful and iconic element of our city’s fantastic cultural offer and we cannot wait to see the galleries open their doors to the public once again this October. Now that we are moving full steam ahead with our 2023 European Capital of Culture bid, it is brilliant to see the return of Leeds Art Gallery which, internationally recognised and celebrated, will offer another timely reminder of why our bid is so varied and strong.”

ENDS

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Notes to Editors:

ABOUT LEEDS ART GALLERY

Leeds Art Gallery, The Headrow, Leeds, LS1 3AA.

www.leeds.gov.uk/artgallery

0113 247 8256

FREE admission.

Instagram / Twitter / Facebook: LeedsArtGallery

Leeds Art Gallery has just under 500K visitors a year and is one of the most visited attractions in Yorkshire. Prior to closure it featured in the top 10 of the most visited attractions in Yorkshire and Humber according to Visit England. During 2016-17 Leeds Art Gallery was closed to visitors in the gallery, but the Tiled Hall has been open throughout the time work has been taking place on the roof and internal refurbishment.

Founded in 1888, Leeds Art Gallery has designated collections of 19th and 20th century British painting and sculpture widely considered to be the best outside the national collections. The collection represents the work of early 20th century artists such as Walter Sickert and Stanley Spencer, with the development of English modernism shown through key works by Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth, Ben Nicholson, Paul Nash, Jacob Epstein and Francis Bacon.

The gallery is a renowned centre for modern and contemporary art with an exhibition programme that has showcased work of celebrated artists such as Damien Hirst from the ARTIST ROOMS collection through strategic partnership projects with the National Galleries of Scotland and Tate, in addition to curating major exhibitions together with Tate (Henry Moore and Terry Frost) and in partnership with the

Arts Council Collection. Leeds Art Gallery has established a strong reputation for initiating, commissioning and curating solo exhibitions by significant artists attracting national and international attention.

ABOUT ARTIST ROOMS

ARTIST ROOMS is a collection of international modern and contemporary art jointly owned by National Galleries of Scotland and Tate on behalf of the public. It was established by Anthony d’Offay through the d’Offay donation in 2008, with the assistance of the National Heritage Memorial Fund, Art Fund, and the Scottish and British Governments.

Since 2009, the collection has been shared with over 40 million visitors to museums and galleries across the UK, including the National Galleries of Scotland, Tate and a network of Associate venues. The current UK programme is a partnership between National Galleries of Scotland, Tate and lead Associate Ferens Art Gallery, supported by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, Art Fund and the National Lottery through Creative Scotland.

www.artistrooms.org | www.nationalgalleries.org/artistrooms | www.tate.org.uk/artistrooms

ABOUT CONTEMPORARY ART SOCIETY

The Contemporary Art Society champions the collecting of outstanding contemporary art and craft in the UK. Since 1910 the charity has donated thousands of works by living artists to museums, including the first works by Picasso, Matisse, Bacon, Hepworth, Caro, Antony Gormley and Damien Hirst to enter UK public collections. More recent acquisitions have included works by 2016 Turner Prize winner Helen Marten in 2012, Phyllida Barlow in the same year and in 2016 the first works by Glenn Brown and Kader Attia to enter a UK museum collection. Sitting at the heart of cultural life in the UK, the Contemporary Art Society brokers philanthropic support for the benefit of museums and their audiences across the entire country. Their work ensures that the story of art continues to be told now and for future generations. www.contemporaryartsociety.org

ABOUT LEEDS 2023

- Leeds is bidding for the title of European Capital of Culture 2023. The competition can only be hosted by the UK five times per century and was last hosted in 2008 when Liverpool won the title.

- The Leeds bid is being led by an Independent Steering Group which has cross party support from Leeds City Council. Leeds City Council is already a minority funder of the bid with commercial partners and sponsorship contributing to the cost of bidding.

- The bid process takes four years. Leeds started conversations about bidding in 2014 and expects a decision in 2018.

- The competition is delivered by the European Commission but not specifically for EU Countries. Norway, Iceland and Switzerland are all outside of the EU and have all hosted successful European Capitals of Culture.

- The competition is administered in the UK by the Department for Culture Media & Sport (DCMS)

For more information visit: www.leeds2023.co.uk