Manchester Academy of Fine Arts Exhibition ‘Art of the Everyday’ will run from May 18th – June 26th 2021 at Gallery Oldham. You’ll be able to get a sneaky peak at the exhibition online from the 4th May.
We decided upon the theme of “the everyday” last year, when we couldn’t have begun to imagine how drastically our everyday lives would change. Since the artists began to work on this exhibition the Covid pandemic has affected every aspect of life as we know it. This will be reflected in the drawings and paintings of the 53 artists taking part in the exhibition.
The exhibition contains drawing, painting, print making and sculpture. Artist Colin Taylor’s painting ‘Last day in Manchester’ shows eerily empty streets of the city centre, Alison Diamond Rogers’ wood engraving ‘Holding Hands’ feels very different from if we’d looked at this 18 months ago. There are also portraits portraits by Kath Lowe of Oldham born Professor Brian Cox and Sir Norman Stoller, who have enhanced our everyday lives through Science and Philanthropy.
Nearly all of the works in the show are for sale so art can become part of your everyday. Buying a work from the exhibition is a great way to support local artists and our local economy at this tricky time. The easiest way to buy work from the exhibition is to visit the gallery and make your choice, but if you can’t do this you can download the catalogue and price list below.
Download Art of the Everyday Catalogue
We will run a digital programme to accompany the exhibition from 4th May. MAFA artists Janina Cerbertowicz and Anthony Ratcliffe share their top artistic tips on Pastel drawing and woodcut relief printing techniques. Anna Thomas and Peter Davis take you behind the scenes in a guided tour of their studios. Our website will also feature filmed interviews with MAFA president Malcolm Taylor and MAFA Exhibition Organiser Kath Lowe, both of whom are successful artists.
Follow @galleryoldham on Instagram and Twitter or Gallery Oldham on Facebook for more information. For opening times and to plan your visit to the Art of the Everyday exhibition go to our Visitor Information webpage.
Manchester Academy of Fine Arts
Since MAFA’s foundation in 1859 the Academy has promoted fine art and education. Shows held in both public and private galleries in Greater Manchester are often accompanied by talks and workshops which reach out to the community. Young artists are encouraged and supported, and an annual event is the awarding of prizes to students in their final year at MMU School of Art. This is followed by an invitation to show their work in Academy exhibitions.
Noteworthy artists including Ford Madox Brown and Alfred Waterhouse, architect of Manchester Town Hall, and the Prudential Assurance grade 11 listed building on Union Street Oldham, were active members, as was L.S. Lowry who first studied at Academy classes and exhibited in the annual show for forty years.
Past members of the Academy from Oldham include William Stott of Oldham, James Fitton RA and Charles Potter. Indeed Charles Potter’s painting was the 1st one in the gallery’s collection. The first Academy exhibition was held at Oldham in 1951.
To find out more about the Academy and its artists members please visit the MAFA website www.mafa.org.uk or view their Facebook page, Instagram and Twitter feed to keep up to date with news of events and further exhibitions.
