A selection of works on paper by 12 contemporary women artists has gone on display at Aberdeen Art Gallery.
Works on paper can include drawings and watercolours, printed material and art photography.
There are over 13,000 works on paper in the Aberdeen Archives, Gallery & Museums collection. The new display in Gallery 16 will be refreshed over the coming years to highlight the full range and richness of the collection. One of the priorities for the redevelopment of the Art Gallery, completed in 2019, was for more of the collection to go on display, including works on paper.
Around half of the contemporary artworks in the collection are by women artists. The work of the 12 artists featured in the new exhibition spans 50 years and explores a variety of techniques including printmaking, photography and painting. The artists are Annie Cattrell, Mirian Dokotliver, Amy Gear, Louise Hopkins, Hannah Imlach, Bet Low, Bel McCoig, Nanny Mulder, Elizabeth Ogilvie, Frances Walker Caroline Walker and Francesca Woodman.
Among the highlights of the display are four photographs by the American photographer Francesca Woodman (1958-1981) who produced a highly-influential body of work during her brief 10-year career, often photographing herself in empty interiors. Her blurry images give a sense of human fragility.
A set of prints, which is a recent addition to the collection, is on display for the first time. Nocturnes by Scottish artist Caroline Walker (born Dunfermline, 1982) depicts women in a variety of domestic settings at nighttime.
The Tent that Helen Made by Bel McCoig 1975
Frances Walker (born Kirkcaldy, 1930) has been a major contributor to artistic practice and development in Aberdeen, having taught at Gray’s School of Art in Aberdeen for many years. In 1974 she was a founding member of the city’s Peacock Printmakers. Walker depicts wild and desolate landscapes and terrains in her paintings and prints.
Gallery 16 at Aberdeen Art Gallery, where this new display is on show, is one of 19 spaces in the building that showcase the outstanding collection that is cared for by the Archives, Gallery & Museums team on behalf of the people of Aberdeen. Each Gallery has a different atmosphere and a different story to tell, from Art Deco ceramics, to portraiture, jewellery, processes in art and craft, the influence of 19th century French art on Scottish artists, the artist-adventurer James McBey and the experience of Aberdonians during times of war and conflict. Visitors can discover more about the collection by listening to staff talking about some of the highlights of the displays by downloading the free digital guide to the Art Gallery on the Bloomberg Connects app.
Councillor Martin Greig, Aberdeen City Council’s culture spokesman, said: “This is a wonderful exhibition of works on paper by women artists. It's great to see the skills and talent on display. These changing exhibitions give everyone the chance to enjoy different aspects of the Art Gallery collection. These are treasures which belong to all of us in the city and it is good to have the opportunity to view these carefully-chosen artworks. The free digital guide to the Gallery on the Bloomberg Connects app is a really useful way to find out more about the drawings, paintings and other items in the city's excellent art museum. The app is a good way to familiarise yourself with and learn more about Aberdeen’s outstanding collection."
Visit the collections pages of our website to browse a selection of works on paper by women artists at Works on Paper - Women Artists Selection – Collections – eMuseum