Art and craft exhibitions in our galleries change around five times a year, ranging from top quality textile exhibitions to first class photography, amazing art exhibitions and cracking craft shows. ‘Every time we visit the Harley we see something new. Surprising’. Get exhibition info sent straight to your inbox. Subscribe to our newsletter
Making and Drawing
Main Auditorium 12 June - 11 AugustMaking and Drawing reveals the secret lives of artists and makers; showing their private drawings alongside the finished works that they inspire, inform or create. This exhibition celebrates the publication of Kyra Cane’s new book, Making and Drawing. Showing work by artists’ featured in her book, this exhibition will focus on how these makers use drawing for reference; planning and design; surface; making; thinking; with technology. Kyra Cane is a leading ceramicist based here the Harley Studios. Her beautiful works are inspired by her observations of landscapes and weather patterns. They range from large thrown pieces to small intimate pots, with surfaces decorated with marks and subtle textures. Join us on 22 June to celebrate the exhibition and enjoy a drink with Kyra Read Kyra’s notes on drawing Click to buy the 'Making and Drawing' book The Making and Drawing Exhibitors
Gallery 1 12 June - 11 August Adam Frew is celebrated for his sumptuous pots, rich with glossy glazes, luscious colours and expressive marks. This exhibition will show these ceramics alongside the drawings which inspire and inform them. This is the first time Adam’s drawings have been shown alongside his pots and an unusual opportunity to glimpse his working practice. ‘I love drawing, making quick, free marks that capture a moment and often these marks feed into the language I use to decorate pots.’ Adam Frew This exhibition will include works inspired by time spent here on the Welbeck Estate, observing the landscape, woodlands, plants and wildlife. Read Adam's notes on his Harley Gallery exhibition. Adam sees himself primarily as an image maker, using white porcelain as the perfect canvas for the inky cobalt drawings which decorate his pots. His pots are as spontaneous as his drawings, using playful techniques and unpredictable processes. The sketches which inform the marks on his pots are as fluid and impulsive as his wheel-thrown forms. They capture chance conversations, expressions, fleeting images and thoughts in vigorous pencil, ink and painterly marks. Join us on 22 June to celebrate the exhibition and enjoy a drink with Adam Find out more at www.adamfrew.com Watch a film
Treasury Museum Edward Harley, 2nd Earl of Oxford (1689-1741) was one of the greatest collectors in Britain’s history. This exhibition shows a selection of the extraordinary art, decorative crafts and fine books that he amassed. Welbeck’s historic Portland Collections contain some of the beautiful objects which belonged to Edward Harley. The son of one of the most powerful politicians in the country, Edward Harley married Welbeck’s Henrietta Cavendish-Holles - the wealthiest heiress in Britain. On his death, many of the objects from Edward Harley’s collections were sold to the nation but a selection of items were kept and treasured by his wife and daughter. This exhibition provides the opportunity to see these cherished objects from Edward Harley’s collection, including rare books and precious miniatures. Explore some of the artworks Buy the exhibition publication Did you know? This exhibition was designed by Real Studios, who also designed the David Bowie Is.. exhibition at the V&A! More pictures
The Portrait Gallery
Yelena Popova
Gallery 1 21 August – 3 November Yelena Popova’s abstract paintings are inspired by historical portraiture; hints of drapery, dress or gesture give these beautiful images an almost ghostly link to the portraits which inspire them. Translucent washes of paint on linen in paintings of all shapes and sizes are brought together in an installation of works which cascades across the gallery space, tumbling across the walls. Based at Primary Studios, Nottingham, Yelena has established a national reputation for her contemporary painting installations. ‘One of the best young painters working in Britain right now’ Time Out Read more
Yelena’s abstract paintings are inspired by historical portraits, including some of those in Welbeck’s own Portland Collections. The subtle washes of colour and intriguing forms suggest and x-ray, trace of an outline, or a long forgotten memory. In the unusual installation of these images, Popova reflects on the contrasts between contemporary exhibition spaces, with bare white walls and generous space, and the tradition of historical collections to hang work tightly, finding spaces for new works as they are collected. These works reflect on collections and materiality, display and hierarchy.
Nameless Noble, 2013, Golden leaf and mixed media on linen, 170x130cm. Courtesy of the artist and Figge von Rosen Gallery
Face to Face
George Hardy
Main Auditorium 21 August – 3 November This exhibition features portraits of members of the local community, celebrated in large scale, hyper-real drawings by George Hardy – you might remember his award-winning work from the Harley Open. ‘The scale and precision of the result is slightly intimidating, but the skill involved is quite extraordinary.’ Country Life North Nottinghamshire based artist George Hardy makes his phenomenally skilled works with humble materials. Working with biro pen on paper, he creates incredibly detailed, lifelike drawings. Closer inspection reveals that these drawings are made up of densely packed, carefully carried out, scribbles. Find out more about why George works in biro. www.georgehardy.co.ukMore pictures
As Large As Life
Quentin Blake
Main Auditorium & Gallery 1 13 November 2013 – 12 January 2014 Sir Quentin Blake’s charming illustrations are well known from children’s books – his name conjures images of giraffes and pelicans, book loving children, giant fruit or magic pencils! Recently Quentin has been commissioned by hospitals and health centres, in the UK and abroad, to produce works which have a therapeutic effect on their residents. This exhibition brings over 50 prints from the much loved artist to The Harley Gallery, for visitors to experience these restorative effects for themselves. read more
These drawings are instantly recognisable as Quentin’s work, combining his characteristic wit and warmth with subtly refined, reassuring colour, tone and quality of line. The images soothe the senses while drawing you into their narratives. “I think the very presence of pictures helps to make being in, or visiting a hospital a more normal, less alien experience. What I have tried to include is a certain amount of detail, some interesting activities, and some suggestions of the little drama of relationships, so that the viewers – especially any who have to wait – may feel the desire to go on looking and perhaps even to speculate about the stories happening in front of them.” Quentin Blake www.quentinblake.co.uk
This exhibition has been organised by Compton Verney in collaboration with the House of Illustration.
Our exhibitions have included work by: Nora Fok | Sir Peter Blake | Kate Malone | Euan Uglow | David Hockney | Junko Mori | Quentin Blake | Wendy Ramshaw | John Makepeace | Ptolemy Mann | Kyra Cane | Julian Bray | George Stubbs | LS Lowry | Damien Hirst | Tracey Emin | Richard Combes | Jim Partridge | Grayson Perry Visit our exhibitions archive ‘I love this gallery. Every time there’s a new artist!’
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 and Curlew (back). In background - Anna Gordon, Jewellery and Matthew Harris, Mixed media works','Celia Smith\'s sculptures in the Making and Drawing exhibition at The Harley Gallery Welbeck Worksop Nottinghamshire');)
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 biro pen drawing showing in Face to Face at The Harley Gallery Welbeck Worksop Nottinghamshrie');)
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, biro pen drawing showing in Face to Face at The Harley Gallery Welbeck Worksop Nottinghamshrie');)
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