Following a stunning £2.8 million renovation, the Lady Lever Art Gallery has now opened its South End galleries to explore, plus an exciting exhibition of linocuts from Pablo Picasso. With free entrance and open seven days a week, inspiration awaits.
When Lord Lever founded the Lady Lever Art Gallery in Port Sunlight, Wirral, he did so in memory of his wife Elizabeth and to share his remarkable art collection with his soap factory workers. He believed that “art should be within the reach of everyone”. Now considered to be one of Europe’s finest galleries, it houses the world’s best collection of Wedgwood jasperware, one of the best collections of Chinese ceramics in Europe, an internationally renowned collection of Pre-Raphaelite paintings and fine examples of 18th century furniture, paintings and sculpture.
Art for everyone!
This year sees the Lady Lever’s South End galleries fully restored thanks to a huge £2.8 million investment funded through Patrons, members, donors and generous grants including a £1.4 million contribution from the Heritage Lottery Fund. This wasn’t to be a renovation designed to appeal to only art aficionados but rather something that was open and accessible for all. The renovation had to be transformative, engaging and impressive. How could this beautiful building be upgraded to match the calibre of its stunning collections and how could this be done in a way that would make the gallery even more inclusive? The Gallery turned to the public and after numerous consultations with the local community, there was a clear blueprint of what the new and improved South End Galleries should be – an inspiring space, showcasing the collection of one man with little technology and stunning art.
The galleries saw a total restoration of the building’s architecture, including the removal of suspended ceilings inside and restoration of the original glass sculpture dome. The result is a bright, unique, and intimate space that is ideal for not only viewing art but also feeling and experiencing it.
Experience Pablo Picasso like never before!
To mark this celebratory year, the Lady Lever Art Gallery has a new special exhibition from an artist that befits such a grand occasion and needs little introduction. Who else could it be other than Pablo Picasso? Open until 8 January 2017, Picasso linocuts from the British Museum will be showcased for the first time outside of London. A revolutionary and groundbreaking artist, Picasso is most associated with cubism – a movement he cofounded and pioneered throughout his illustrious career.
Follow the linocuts journey with a genius!
Traditionally the production of a linocut print was a time consuming process with an artist having to carve multiple blocks of lino, overlay with colour and build up many layers to produce a single print The ever-impatient and inspired artist got so frustrated with the time consuming and old fashioned method of linocutting, he developed his own. Rather than using several pieces of linocut he decided to only use one, overlay colour, and then carve into it even more and wipe down to apply a new colour and use it repeatedly for a series of prints. This method required that Picasso had a vision of the final print in mind when he started and meant there was no going back, a single error would invalidate the whole process. The “Still Life Under The Lamp” series on display, is considered to be a masterpiece in linocut, and is so inspiring as it takes us into the mind of this incredible man who was innovating this technique well in to his 80s. Experience the genius of Picasso in this exhibition.
Open seven days a week, 10am to 5pm until 8 January 2017 (Closed 24, 25, 26, 31 December 2016 and 1 January 2017) this is a visceral and inspiring experience for all ages that is not to be missed!
For more information visit us online at http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/ladylever/
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![Stephen Webb [Frank-N-Furter], Richard Meek [Brad], Haley Flaherty [Janet] & cast](/resources/images/180x180/1x/17679473.jpg)
