Art Fund Help Ferens Art Gallery Acquire Painting Of Local Artist

Ferens Art Gallery has acquired a painting by one of the region’s most celebrated artists. This was done as a result of a generous grant from Art Fund.

The stunning triptych – a canvas in three parts – is called, Portrait of a Woman. It was recently displayed at the gallery as part of the exhibition, Ian McKeever: Paintings 1992-2017.

The painting is currently on display in Gallery 3. Also, there are five works on paper that were generously donated by the artist.

McKeever is widely regarded as one of the most significant British painters of his generation. He grew up in Withernsea and became familiar with the Ferens’ collection as a boy.

The Portrait of a Woman painting is part of a wider series of the same name. The title of the group alludes to McKeever’s fascination with the history of portraiture.

The work has been acquired using the Ferens Endowment Fund with the assistance of  Art Fund.

Art Fund Make Acquisition Possible

Stephanie Jones, an exhibitions assistant at Ferens Art Gallery, said: “We are very proud to have secured this important contemporary painting by the locally born artist.”

“McKeever was inspired by the work of Stanley Spencer the Ferens Art Gallery as a boy. As a result, it seems very appropriate that we have come full circle by acquiring an example of his own work.”

One of the five recent works on paper donated by the artist was inspired directly by a sixteenth-century portrait in the permanent collection, William Segar’s ‘A Noblewoman’.

Councillor Marjorie Brabazon, chair of Hull Culture and Leisure, said: “Ian McKeever’s recent exhibition was incredibly well received by visitors. It’s fantastic that we have been able to acquire this piece for our permanent collection.

“The range of world-class artwork on display at Ferens continues to grow. This helps improve its reputation both regionally and also nationally.”