ARTS AND EXHIBITIONS

ARTS & EXHIBITIONS

The Holburne Museum, Great Pulteney Street, Bath

Mick Peter: Old Ghosts, until 15 May Inside and outside, visitors will find tableaux which appear as cartoons that have come to life.

The Tudors: Passion, Power and Politics, until 8 May Come face-to-face with the five Tudor monarchs and other significant figures of the time.

Love Life: David Hockney’s Drawings, 27 May – 18 September

Hockney’s drawings in late 1960s and 1970s show his extraordinary power of observation and skill in using tiny, mundane details to help capture a situation.

Marvellous Makers, Wondrous Worlds: Raised Embroidery from the 17th Century 13 May – 11 September

A show of the exceptional raised and 17th-century embroideries from the museum’s collection.

holburne.org

Beyond Beastly: Creatures Natural and Imagined Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution (BRLSI), 16–18 Queen Square, Bath, until 1 October

As new continents were explored, a rich array of extraordinary new animals and plants were formally described. Here were creatures quite as weird as the ones in medieval pictures, but now they were being illustrated in vivid and accurate detail. Come and meet some familiar fantastical creatures (and quite a few natural ones) extracted from the pages of the historic books and boxes of specimens in Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution Collections.

brlsi.org

Dragons, unicorns and sea monsters in the exhibition Beyond Beastly

Spring Exhibition Gallery Nine, 9B Margaret's Buildings, Bath Until 31 May

by Melvyn Evans North Sea

Gallery Nine’s exciting spring exhibition brings together a mixed range of artists featuring oil paintings by Malcolm Ashman inspired by the everchanging landscape, seascapes by Melvyn Evans and Angie Lewin’s linocuts which are influenced by contrasting environments. Ceramicst Elizabeth Renton returns with her wheel-thrown stoneware and porcelain, alongside jewellery by Carla Edwards and Elizabeth Chamberlain. A show not to be missed.

The Arborist by Jake Sheppard, ink and thixotropic resin on paper

Solo Exhibition by Jake Sheppard Widcombe Social Club, Widcombe Hill, Bath, until 26 June Jake Sheppard is an artist from Bath who creates abstract and impressionistic work in oil paints and inks. Jake uses a mix of geometry, colour theory and dynamic symmetry to form the structure of his work. Born in 1990, Jake has painted since the age of two and recently began an online business printing his work on clothes and accessories. Find out more on the website. jakesheppard.co.uk

Victoria Art Gallery, Bath Bath Society of Artists 117th Annual Exhibition 14 May –2 July This annual exhibition allows art enthusiasts to browse and buy from a selection of paintings, drawings, prints, sculpture and mixed media works by the region’s top artistic talent, at prices to suit every pocket. Visitors to the exhibition will also be able to place their votes for the Public Choice Prize, selecting their favourite artwork to win a prize of £600 for the artist. The prize judges will be Aidan Quinn of Beaux Arts Bath and Stephen West, artist, sculptor, lecturer, curator and writer. victoriagal.org.uk

Elaine Pamphilon: New Paintings Adam Gallery, 3 Northumberland Buildings, Bath, 7–28 May

Farmers’ market, St Ives by Elaine Pamphilon

Adam Gallery is pleased to announce a show of new work by Elaine Pamphilon. The artist, who lives in Cambridge and Cornwall, follows in the St Ives tradition of naïve British painting with a beautiful selection of still-life paintings and landscapes. In her own words: “The more I paint, the less I need on the canvas. Colours excite me and inspiration comes from the things I love –everyday objects, souvenirs from travels, patterns and walking the romantic, wild countryside around our home.” adamgallery.com

Dress to Redress: Exploring Native American Material Culture The American Museum & Gardens, Claverton Manor, Bath, until 3 July

The American Museum & Gardens presents Dress to Redress, an exhibition of the work of contemporary Anishinabe artist Celeste PedriSpade. Featuring a series of spectacular wearableart pieces, personal artefacts and photography, alongside historical items from the Museum’s collection, the exhibition will demonstrate the continuing legacy and profound importance of visual and material culture.

americanmuseum.org

Let There Be Light, Bath Abbey, until 31 May

Here is an exhibition of over 20 pieces by local artist Shelley Ashkowski, celebrating the history and beauty of churches, cathedrals and abbeys. Each piece is inspired by the stunning architecture of these buildings, and there are also intricate studies of stained glass windows including one of Bath Abbey’s Great East Window which tells the story of Jesus’ life. Much of the collection uses acrylic gouache paint, chosen for its high pigmentation and matt finish to provide vibrant colours. Visitors will be invited to make a donation.

bathabbey.org

Bath Abbey’s Great East Window by Shelley Ashkowski

Exhibition of sculpture and works on paper by Jean Farrell and Maureen Hosier, Museum of Bath at Work, Julian Road, Bath 21 May –12 June, 10.30am–5pm

The sculptural work of artists Jean Farrell and Maureen Hosier complements each other –with the lyrical storytelling of the work of Maureen Hosier who uses found objects and Jean Farrell’s pared-down essences of colour and form. A specially commissioned film inspired by Bath’s working life, made in collaboration with the Museum, filmmaker Joe Short and artist Jean Farrell will be shown as part of the exhibition. The show is part of the Bath Festival Fringe at The Museum of Bath at Work. Admission free with museum admission.

Anna Gillespie and Domestic Bliss Beaux Arts Bath, 12-13 York Street, Bath, until 4 June

Reuben 3.22 by Nathan Ford

Beaux Arts showcases a new collection of Anna Gillespie’s sculptures including her dramatic bronze To the Limit III and other works in bronze, natural materials (such as acorns), found objects and plaster. The accompanying exhibition Domestic Bliss is inspired by works completed during lockdown. It features Akash Bhatt, Susanna Bauer, Alex Callaway, Anna Calleja, Will Calver, Lewis Chamberlain, Comhghall Casey, Mark Entwisle, Linda Felcey, Nathan Ford, Donald MacDonald, Rob Pittam and Helen Simmonds. Porcelain by Sophie Cook. beauxartsbath.co.uk

David Ringsell: Bath Scenes

Local painter David Ringsell’s work is being exhibited at The Artery Art Café in Richmond Place and at The

Claremont Pub, 5 Claremont Road, Bath. He also has prints available at The

Art Cohort, 13 Chelsea Road, Bath.

David loves to share his artistic impressions of Bath, his home city. His unique contemporary art prints of Bath show a different, sometimes darker side of the city and his paintings of the architecture relish the stained stonework and peeling paint. Custom prints are available in a range of sizes –see the website: real-images.com

Image: Street of Dreams, A2 framed giclée print by David Ringsell. A couple walk down a deserted street past empty shop fronts on a rainy day. It looks normal but there is a dream-like atmosphere. This painting is on display at The Artery Art Café.

Bath Contemporary Artists’ Fair, Sunday 8 May, 10am–5pm Green Park Station, Green Park Road, Bath

The award-winning monthly Bath Contemporary Artists’ Fair (BCAF) continues its season on Sunday 8 May. Committed to bringing the best of contemporary art from the city and beyond to the heart of Bath, the fair has created a regular space where artists can network, share ideas, connect with the public, and where the public can connect with art. Visitors can browse the works of local artists and admire fine art, photography, sculpture, textiles, ceramics and much more, all under the vaulted glass roof of Green Park Station. For updates and exhibiting artists visit the website. bcaf.co.uk

Bear Flat Artists Open Studios 2022 Bear Flat, Bath, 21–22 May, 11am–6pm

More than 30 artists open their studio doors or create a pop-up exhibition at this year’s Bear Flat Artists arts trail. Discover a hive of creativity just ten minutes from the city centre with a dynamic mix of painting, ceramics, jewellery, printmaking, photography, wood turning, glass, illustration and upholstery. Meet the artists in their place of work, find out about the processes, and browse or buy original artwork direct in a relaxed setting. Free entry. A trail map can be downloaded from the website.

bearflatartists.co.uk Image: Stormy Skies by Kristine O’Connor

Pop Up Exhibition, The Drawing Rooms, Beau Nash House, 19 Union Passage, Bath

Curator and art advisor Sandra Higgins has been filling the walls of this quirky Georgian venue with accomplished contemporary artworks by selected artists, all for sale. Currently exhibiting are John Ball, Belinda Crozier, David Ferry, Pete Hoida, Marguerite Horner, Marq P. Kearey, Susan McDonald, Fiona McIntyre, Roy Osborne and David Walsh. Coming soon are Louisa Burnett-Hall, Timothy Emlyn Jones and Richard Walker. Meet Sandra Higgins in person to view the exhibition and to discuss any purchases over a coffee or a cocktail. Email Sandra to book a visit: sandra@sandrahiggins.com. View Sandra’s online gallery for more by these artists.

sandrahiggins.art Pop Art David Simon Contemporary 37 High Street, Castle Cary BA7 7AW 6 May –11 June

Exotic Beasts by Peter Blake

A Pop Art exhibition featuring works by Roy Lichtenstein and Keith Haring, alongside works by David Hockney, Peter Blake and Patrick Caulfield. This selling collection of work includes signed, original multiples of this iconic period of 20th-century art. The Pop Art Movement was pioneered in the 1950s by Richard Hamilton and Eduardo Paolozzi in London and in the 1960s by Blake, Caulfield and Hockney. By the 1960s artists in the USA including Lichtenstein, Jim Dine, Mel Ramos, James Rosenquist, Andy Warhol and Tom Wesselmann had developed the movement.

We can all recognise and identify with Pop Art. Essentially, associated works of art use borrowed imagery from popular culture –product advertising, brand logos, comic books and television advertising. Warhol, Rauschenberg and Lichtenstein particularly used methods of screen printing. The striking graphic nature and bold colour of their works lent well to creating limited edition multiples as well as larger production posters, completing quite an artistic ‘circle’ of the commercial world from which the artists had originallyreferenced.

Some 60 years on the popularity of these artist’s works continues and has seen something of a resurgence of popularity in recent years, with a major touring show in2021 stopping at the British Museum, London, and then on to Madrid and Barcelona. David Simon Contemporary are delighted to bring a fine selection of collectible works to Somerset this summer in this exhibition that packs a punch.

davidsimoncontemporary.com

Modern Art screenprint, 1967, by Roy Lichtenstein