The Queen: Art and Image
4 February – 29 April
To mark The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012, the National Portrait Gallery will stage an innovative touring exhibition bringing together 60 of the most remarkable and resonant images of Elizabeth II spanning the 60 years of her reign – some on public display for the first time. The Queen: Art and Image will tour to British venues before being shown in London, opening in Edinburgh in June, Belfast in October and Cardiff and London in 2012.
Artes Mundi 5
6 October – 20 Jan 2013
Artes Mundi is an international arts organisation based in Wales. Established in 2002, Artes Mundi is committed to supporting groundbreaking contemporary visual artists from around the world whose work engages with social reality, lived experience and the human condition. Every two years, working with artists, galleries, art institutions, curators and the British Council, Artes Mundi seeks nominations of artists known in their own country or region but who are still gaining wider international recognition. Two independent selectors review the nominations and select six artists for the biennial Exhibition and Prize.
The 12 week Exhibition features a body of work from each of the shortlisted artists and takes place at the National Museum of Art in Cardiff. A separate panel of five judges awards the Artes Mundi Prize, which at 40,000, is one of the world’s largest cash prizes in the visual arts.
David Jones: Drawings & Watercolours
5 November 2011 – 4 March 2012
David Jones (1985-1974): Paintings and Watercolours. A selection of work from our outstanding collection of works by the artist.
David Jones occupies a unique place in twentieth-century British art, and is often called the greatest painter-poet since William Blake.
Like Blake David Jones was a Londoner, born at Brockley, in north Kent. However he was the son of a Welsh father and an English mother, and the landscape, language, and myths of Wales were powerful influences upon his art.
Amgueddfa Cymru has the principal public collection of Jones’s work, but as he worked primarily in watercolour this is not on permanent display.
This exhibition focuses on his work in that medium, and will be followed by another which examines his engravings, book illustrations, and inscriptions.
David Jones 2: Prints and books
10 March – 15 July
David Jones occupies a unique place in twentieth-century British art, and is often called the greatest painter-poet since William Blake. A further selection of work from Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales’ outstanding collection of works by the artist David Jones (1985-1974). Following on from the watercolors exhibition during Nov-March, this new exhibition examines Jones’ engravings, book illustrations, and inscriptions.
Research and Reveal: ‘Investigating French Painting with the University of Bristol’
24 March – ongoing
A collaborative project between Amgueddfa Cymru and the University of Bristol. A new display by six History of Art students from the University of Bristol who have researched aspects of the museum’s exceptional collection of nineteenth-century French paintings. The project focuses on well-known figures such as Corot, Millet and Daumier, as well as Meissonier, granet and Stevens.
John Piper: The Mountains of Wales Paintings and Drawings from a Private Collection
11 February – 13 May
John Piper is a major figure in British art of the twentieth century. His work encompasses portraiture, landscape, architectural studies, still life, ceramics and design for stained glass and tapestry. Piper’s interest in landscape and architecture extended to all areas of Britain, including Snowdonia.
This exhibition examines the Snowdonia works by John Piper from a private collection. The mountains of North Wales provided a great source of inspiration to Piper from the early 1940s to the mid-1950s, during which time he rented two cottages, Pentre and Bodesi, in the Snowdonia area. Using these as a base, he travelled round this glacial landscape, capturing the rugged beauty of the mountains.
Through the Magic Mirror: The world of Anthony Browne
May 2012 – October 2012
Through the Magic Mirror, the World of Anthony Browne is a retrospective exhibition of Browne’s artwork, which invites you to immerse yourself in his surreal, colourful and sometimes darkly contemplative world.
Through the Magic Mirror, the World of Anthony Browne brings Anthony’s work to life, with real street scenes including the infamous Willy the Wimp, the character said to be based on Anthony himself.
Anthony Browne is a truly unique and exceptional picture book artist whose pictures often tell more of the story than the words.
Animated Wales – 100 Years of Welsh Animation
13 October 2012 – 17 March 2013
An exhibition following the history of the animation industry in Wales, from Jerry the Tyke in the 1920s, to Superted in the 1980s, to Igam Ogam in 2010. The exhibition also focuses on current talent and look towards the future. As well as showing the characters, the artists and awards, we will also follow the different methods of creating animation from drawing a picture to new digital methods. There will be opportunities to see films, participate in workshops and create your own animation.
Titian “Diana and Actaeon” on tour from the National Gallery
19 April 2012 – 17 June 2012
A £50m painting, described as one of the most significant public purchases of art in recent years, is to go on display in Cardiff.
Diana and Actaeon by 16th Century artist Titian, will be shown at the National Museum next April as part of a tour.
It was acquired after two years of fund-raising in Scotland in 2009.
Anne Prichard from the museum described Titian as the greatest artist in Renaissance Venice.
She said: “We will be delighted to host such an important and beautiful painting here in Cardiff.
“Diana and Actaeon is probably the UK’s most significant public purchase of art in recent years.
“It will be a fine complement to the historic art collection during its stay here.”
It will be displayed in Cardiff between 19 April and 17 June 2012 as part of a UK tour that takes the work to galleries where it has never been seen before.
