Major exhibition of recent work by Christopher Le Brun opens this autumn at Southampton City Art Gallery. – Southampton City Art Gallery

Major exhibition of recent work by Christopher Le Brun opens this autumn at Southampton City Art Gallery.

31 Aug 2018

As the Royal Academy of Arts celebrates its 250th anniversary, Southampton City Art Gallery is pleased to host an exhibition of works by celebrated British artist and current President of the Royal Academy, Christopher Le Brun.

Composer will bring together new paintings and works on paper, most of which have not been on public display before. These recent paintings in their handling, colour and visionary qualities affirm Le Brun’s position in a line of English painters extending from Gainsborough and Turner through Blake and Palmer to Paul Nash, Ivon Hitchens and Patrick Heron in the 20th Century.

Le Brun’s work is characterised by directness of touch and luminosity of colour, his interest in light and space perhaps the influence of growing up on the south coast. “Since the 1970s he has been producing paintings that defy categorisation but which are …possessed of an energy and drama at odds with the irony and theoretical baggage common to most British contemporary art.” Digby Warde-Aldam, The Week, July 2018.

This exhibition will feature a large-scale installation from Le Brun’s current body of work Doubles. This series of diptychs explores the idea of composition, by juxtaposing independent paintings to achieve greater complexity of expression. For Le Brun, the process of painting itself involves an intrinsic duality: ‘cover, uncover, discover – this is the essence of painting’s truth.’

Councillor Satvir Kaur, Cabinet Member for Homes & Culture said: “We are proud to have such an eminent artist as Christopher Le Brun originate from our region and we are thrilled to be welcoming him back. We hope residents and visitors alike will be inspired by this new exhibition.”

Christopher Le Brun: “This is my first exhibition within sixty miles of my birthplace, and I am delighted it is at Southampton Art Gallery, which has one of the very best collections of British art.”

For press information contact please contact Nicholas Upton at Southampton City Council on 023 80834345 or Email Nicholas.upton@southampton.gov.uk.

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