Following the successes of Oriel Ynys Môn’s exhibitions by Wales’s most celebrated artist – ‘Kyffin Williams – A Celebration’ and ‘Kyffin Williams – Oriel Ynys Môn Collection’, it is with great pleasure and excitement that the Oriel presents it’s latest exhibition – ‘Kyffin Williams – Portraits’.
The exhibition will start on February 6 until July 11, 2010. It will be officially opened on Friday evening, February 5, 2010 by Rolf Harris, the well-known artist, musician, singer, TV presenter, and one of Britain’s best-loved entertainers.
This exhibition comprises works within the Oriel’s own collection as well as portraits from national, public and private collections including The National Portrait Gallery London, The Southbank Centre London, The National Museum Wales and The National Library Wales.
This unique exhibition shows paintings which have never before been exhibited together and it is with immense pride to Oriel Ynys Môn that they will only be on show in Oriel Kyffin Williams.
It is believed that Kyffin Williams considered his portraits his most important works. In 1993 Oriel Ynys Môn held retrospectives of ‘Portraits’, ‘Landscapes’ in 1995 and ‘Drawings’ in 1997 – of these the ‘Portraits’ proved his most popular.
Kyffin’s portraits, which range from eminent Welsh figures, women and children to the old Welsh farmer all depict honesty, humanity and simplicity.
“The people of Wales have always appeared to me to have an unusual curiosity about their fellow men, so it is strange that we have produced so few portrait painters. I have never considered myself to be one of these but over the past fifty years I have been unable to resist the challenge of the portrait. I too have been obsessed by people and have always presumed that this has been because so many of my forebears were persons who ministered to the needs of their parishioners. Every portrait I have painted has been a considerable strain for nothing comes easily to me, but I believe that some of my best work has been of the many interesting faces I have painted” – Kyffin Williams: thoughts on portrait painting.
Leisure Portfolio Holder, Cllr Goronwy Parry MBE said, “We are grateful to the many contributors who have helped us create a unique exhibition.”
“This exhibition allows us to meet those people who were so much a part of Kyffin’s world”, added Pat West, Principal Officer – Museums, Culture and Archives, Isle of Anglesey County Council.
Opening Times: Daily 10.30 am – 5.00 pm
Admission Free
Oriel Ynys Môn
Llangefni
Anglesey
LL77 7TQ
Tel: 01248 724444
