Future Exhibitions | Abbot Hall Art Gallery

John Sell Cotman A Windmill (detail) c.1828

'This Exciting Gallery': Abbot Hall's Early Years

29 March - 28 May

To coincide with Abbot Hall’s fiftieth anniversary celebrations, this display celebrates the opening of Abbot Hall as an art gallery in 1962 through the use of fascinating archival material relating to the early years under the first director, Helen Kapp, accompanied by an eclectic selection of the very first paintings and drawings acquired for the collection. Some of these are by familiar artists, others by lesser-known talents, and most have not been shown for a long time; together they demonstrate the richness and variety that are at the very core of Abbot Hall’s philosophy.

Supported by - Arts Council England

Display - John Ruskin: 'All great art is delicate'

24 April - 30 June 2012

Abbot Hall has a remarkable collection of 43 works by the influential Victorian critic, philanthropist, social thinker and artist, John Ruskin. Although he is most often associated with the minutely detailed works of the artistic movement he championed, the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, the watercolours and drawings in this display demonstrate a remarkable range of effects, from the refinement and delicacy in Ruskin’s studies from nature to the boldness of execution of his sublime landscapes inspired by the painter he most revered, JMW Turner.

Supported by - Arts Council England

Abbot Hall at Fifty

27 April - 9 June 2012

Abbot Hall at Fifty focuses on Abbot Hall’s impressive permanent collection spanning several centuries. We have selected key pieces from the collection which encompasses over four thousand works. Members of the public, celebrities, artists and professionals have chosen their favourite fifty artworks, explaining their individual choice on the supporting labels.

The selection represents the scale and breadth of the collection, including works by George Romney, JMW Turner, John Ruskin, Ben Nicholson, Winifred Nicholson, Sheila Fell, Kurt Schwitters, Stanley Spencer, David Hockney, Bridget Riley, Samuel John Peploe, sculpture by Elisabeth Frink, Barbara Hepworth and Jean Arp and furniture by Gillows of Lancaster.

Supported by - Arts Council England

Francis Bacon to Paula Rego: Great Artists

23 June - 16 September 2012

Our summer exhibition Francis Bacon to Paula Rego: Great Artists reads like a role-call of 'who's who' in the art world in the last fifty years. The show builds upon Abbot Hall's own strong twentieth-century British collection.

Artists include - Michael Andrews, Frank Auerbach, Francis Bacon, Lucian Freud & David Hockney.

As well as looking back 2012 is about looking forward to the next fifty years and the exhibition features a gallery of contemporary artists who we think will be great in the next fifty years - we have Turner prize nominee George Shaw, Christopher Le Brun, President of the Royal Academy and Kendalian artist Monica Mesters.

Supported by - Arts Council England

Hughie O'Donoghue

28 September - 22 December 2012

Hughie O’Donoghue is one of the most ambitious painters at work today. He is best known for his exploration of the human figure, often depicted in extreme situations, in relation to the themes of history, war and myth.

This exhibition, explores this central aspect of O’Donoghue’s work, emphasizing the importance of the landscape to his figuration.

Supported by - Arts Council England