Brush up on your art knowledge and discover masterpieces in one of Leeds’ many creative institutions…
Smart Gallery
Smart Gallery at Redbrick Mill in Batley and Crimple Hall in Harrogate sources contemporary artists that use texture and colour to add their own unique style.
One such artist is Guy ‘GuigsART’ Wilkinson, an independent, local self-taught abstract artist. Guy often works on largescale installations for the interior design world, however some of his favourite projects have been private commissions, allowing him to work more closely with his clients. He also has an extensive collection of unusual and diverse canvases with layers of paint with a variety of mixed media to create some stunning textures and layers, some taking up to three months to complete.
Permanently on show in both galleries is the mesmerising contemporary installations by London artist Michael Olsen, including ‘Butterflies’. These are all individually hand painted on feathers then delicately mounted and suspended as if still in flight in their own Perspex wall mounted case. Recently clients have been looking for a splash of colour to brighten up their walls, with this in mind, the gallery has introduced a collection of textured open edition prints each hand embellished with great daubs of coloured gel on top of the glass by artists such as Patrice Murciano.
Established 18 years ago in Batley, then four years ago in Harrogate, Smart Gallery houses a wide array of art, sculpture and giftware to view and purchase.
Smartgallery.co.uk
Headrow Gallery
Bought by Maxwell Roberts over 30 years ago, Headrow Gallery remains one of the oldest established art and picture framing galleries in Leeds, having sold paintings, prints and picture framing to the people of our city and surrounding towns and villages for over 100 years.
If you’re looking for something to proudly adorn your walls at home then Headrow has a large stock of prints and watercolour paintings depicting Leeds and the Yorkshire Dales, and now specialises in more contemporary work, with artwork that reflects recent movements and trends.
And if you do find something to your taste, the gallery also provides a professional framing service, framing everything from a shark’s jawbone to a 2012 Olympic torch, Jessica Ennis’s javelin, and a Tour De France bicycle wheel in the recent past.
Headrowgallery.co.uk
Leeds Art Gallery
Pretty much the daddy of all art galleries in Leeds, the Leeds Art Gallery celebrated recently reopening in October 2017. As a main tourist attraction alongside the Henry Moore Institute, the city centre gallery is able to obtain major artists’ work on a regular basis.
The renovation work, which saw repairs to the original roof among other building improvements to the 130 year-old institution now boasts important new commissions and acquisitions and a comprehensive rehang of the collection displays.
Historic news emerged recently when it was announced that Leonardo da Vinci’s greatest drawings in the Royal Collection will go on display at the gallery in February 2019. The 12 drawings, selected to reflect the full range of Leonardo’s interests – painting, sculpture, architecture, music, anatomy, engineering, cartography, geology, botany and his activity as a pioneering sculptor, will be on show from 1st February to 6th May. The gallery is uniquely placed to do this with its special partnership with the neighbouring Henry Moore Institute, a leading organisation in Europe for the research and display of sculpture.
Leeds.gov.uk/museumsandgalleries/leedsartgallery
The Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery
Stanley and Audrey Burton of the Burton menswear dynasty had always supported the arts in Leeds, so it seemed only fitting that a gallery in their name would be established. The gallery at the University of Leeds’ Parkinson building was redesigned and refurbished in 2007 and supported by Audrey Burton, was renamed The Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery.
Today this free gallery offers innovative art exhibitions from the University Art Collection including examples of European and British painting, drawings, and prints from the 17th century to the present day, as well as small collections of sculpture, ceramics, miniatures, and photographs. As part of The Burtons’ ongoing commitment to education, the gallery offers a lively programme of public events, including talks, craft workshops, and exhibition receptions.
Library.leeds.ac.uk/galleries
Main image: Guigsart