Rugby Art Collection Display
The entire Rugby Art Collection comprising 257 works will be displayed together for the first time in decades from February 21 to June 6. This rare comprehensive viewing offers art enthusiasts a unique opportunity to see the complete collection that has been scattered across different locations for years.
- The collection was established in 1946 with the civic belief that art should be accessible to everyone, aiming to acquire works from British artists of "promise and renown" for the borough of Rugby. - Titled "UNVEILED," the exhibition will present the works chronologically, allowing visitors to trace the evolution of British art over eight decades, from post-war realism to contemporary pieces. - Prominent artists represented in the collection include L.S. Lowry, Lucian Freud, Paula Rego, Barbara Hepworth, Bridget Riley, and Stanley Spencer. - A new book, "The Story So Far: The Rugby Collection at 80," is being published by the Rugby Borough Council to coincide with the exhibition, detailing the history and key acquisitions of the collection. - The collection was shaped by a vision for public art rather than by private wealth and was developed with a relatively small budget, supported by organizations like the Contemporary Art Society. - The permanent home for the collection is the Rugby Art Gallery and Museum, a purpose-built venue that opened in 2000 and is shared with the town's library. - The collection continues to grow, with recent acquisitions including "Construct 2" by Turner Prize-shortlisted artist Barbara Walker, reflecting a commitment to including diverse and contemporary voices. - In addition to its modern and contemporary art, the Rugby Art Gallery and Museum also holds a collection of Roman artefacts excavated from the nearby town of Tripontium.
