Crossing Borders: Internationalism in Modern British Art
Charlie Phillips (b. 1944) Notting Hill Carnival, 1968. Silver Gelatin Print, 30.5 x 40.6cm Courtesy of Centre for British Photography
In British Art Fair’s special exhibition Crossing Borders this autumn, we highlight the significant contribution of 20th century immigration to the evolution of modern British art and culture, highlighting the broad definition of ‘British Art’ at the Fair.
Artists who came to live and work in Britain from all over the world during the 20th century and contributed significantly to its culture, are the subject of a wide-ranging exhibition.
Artworks by immigrants to the UK from India and Pakistan, Central and Eastern Europe, Africa, the Caribbean, Australia and New Zealand, and America will all be on display. Works are being supplied by past and present exhibitors of the fair and will be for sale with prices ranging from four to six figures.
The exhibition is being co-curated by Colin Gleadell, who is on the fair’s advisory committee, and art historian and author Monica Bohm-Duchen, founding director of the Insiders/Outsiders project.
Bernard Meninsky (1891-1950) Poppies and Roses. 61 x 50.8 cm. Courtesy of Christopher Kingzett Fine Art
Lucian Freud, Head of Bruce Bernard (1985). Etching, 51 x 47 cm Edition of 50. Courtesy of Julian Page Gallery
Ibrahim El-Salahi, Pain Relief ,141 x 200 cm. Courtesy of Vigo Gallery
James Barnor , Two Sisters in-law, Florence and Gifty, Digital silver gelatin fibre based print, 70 x 70 cm. Courtesy of October Gallery
John Lyons (b.1933), Jab Jab, 1986. Oil on canvas, 128 x 85 cm. © John Lyons. Courtesy of Felix and Spear
Josef Herman (1911 - 2000) Spreading out the nets, 7.5" x 9.75". Courtesy of Kaye Michie Fine Art
Hellmuth Weissenborn (1898-1982) London Bombsite, 1941. 30 x 30cm. Courtesy of Gwen Hughes Fine Art
Peter De Francia (1921 – 2012) An Indian Student (Kulwant Aurora) 1, 1957. Oil on canvas 151.5 x 90.5 cms. Courtesy of James Hyman Gallery
Balraj Khanna( b. 1940) Mask, 2004. Acrylic and sand on canvas ,60X 50 cm. Courtesy of Osbourne Samuel
The truly diverse and global nature of Modern British Art is explored in three texts written by Colin Gleadell to accompany the Crossing Borders exhibition.
These essays trace the immigration of artists to the UK in the 20th century and reveal the impact of their work on the visual arts in Britain.
Talk by Monica Bohm-Duchen
Friday 29 September 4pm
Monica Bohm-Duchen, London-based art historian and guest curator of Crossing Borders, will give a talk on this exhibition, highlighting and contextualising key works that tell a story of twentieth century British art hugely enriched by the presence of artists from a wide range of geographical and cultural backgrounds. Starting with the Jewish immigrants who found refuge here from the anti-semitic pogroms of Russia and eastern Europe, and followed by the (mostly) Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi persecution in the 1930s, the story continues in the post-war period with members of the Windrush Generation as well as countries that have links to their UK through their colonial histories. By the 1970s, the British art scene was more vibrant, diverse and truly international than ever before.
Read Monica Bohm-Duchen’s essay to accompany her talk and the exhibition here.
David Bomberg (1890-1957), Calle San Pedro, Cuenca, 1934. Oil on canvas, 67 x 52 cm. Courtesy Osborne Samuel Gallery
Exhibiting Galleries
Austin Desmond Fine Art
Ben Uri Reference Collections
Broadbent
Christopher Kingzett
Dominic Kemp Modern British Prints
England & Co Gallery
Felix and Spear
Gallery Different
Grosvenor Gallery
Gwen Hughes Fine Art
Jack Wakefield
James Hyman
Jenna Burlingham
Jonathan Clarke
Julian Page
Kaye Michie
Kynance Fine Art
Middlemarch Fine Art
October Gallery
Osborne Samuel
Piano Nobile
Richard Saltoun Gallery
Simon Hilton
Timothy Taylor
Upstone
Vigo Gallery
Whitford Fine Art