Hatton Gallery facts for kids
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The Fine Art Building of Newcastle University, home of the Hatton Gallery.
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| Established | 1925 |
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| Location | Newcastle upon Tyne, England |
| Type | Art museum |
| Public transit access | Bus, Metro |
| Great North Museum | |
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The Hatton Gallery is a cool art gallery located at Newcastle University in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It's inside the university's Fine Art Building and is part of the North East Museums group. The gallery was closed for a big makeover from February 2016 and opened its doors again in 2017.
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Discovering the Hatton Gallery's Past
The Hatton Gallery first opened in 1925. It was created by the King Edward VII School of Art, which is now part of Newcastle University. The gallery was named after Richard George Hatton. He was a professor at the art school.
The Birthplace of Pop Art
In 1955, a very important art show happened here. An artist named Richard Hamilton showed his famous work, Man, Machine and Motion. This exhibition later traveled to another gallery. Because of this, the Hatton Gallery is known as the birthplace of Pop Art. Pop Art is a fun art style that uses images from popular culture.
Saving the Gallery
In 1997, there was a plan to close the gallery. But many people loved the Hatton Gallery and wanted to keep it open. They started a big campaign to save it. Thanks to their efforts and a generous donation of £250,000 from Dame Catherine Cookson, the gallery was saved.
The Hatton Gallery is now a secure part of the Great North Museum project. Unlike some other university collections, the Hatton Gallery stayed in the Fine Art Building. It did not move to the Hancock Museum. The gallery closed on February 27, 2016, for a £3.8 million renovation. It reopened in October 2017 with a special exhibition called "Pioneers of Pop."
Exploring the Art Collection
The Hatton Gallery has a huge collection of over 3,500 artworks. These pieces range from the 14th century all the way to today. The collection includes paintings, sculptures, prints, and drawings.
The Unique Merzbarn
One of the most special artworks at the gallery is the Merzbarn. This is the only surviving `Merz` construction by an artist named Kurt Schwitters. `Merz` was a unique art style that used everyday objects. The Merzbarn was rescued from a barn in 1965. It is now a permanent and very cool part of the gallery.
Famous Artists on Display
You can see works by many other important artists in the collection. These include Francis Bacon, Victor Pasmore, and William Roberts. There are also pieces by Paolo di Giovanni, Palma Giovane, and Richard Hamilton. Other artists featured are Panayiotis Kalorkoti, Thomas Bewick, and Eduardo Paolozzi. You can also find art by Camillo Procaccini, Patrick Heron, and Richard Ansdell. The gallery also holds beautiful watercolours by Wyndham Lewis, Thomas Harrison Hair, and Robert Jobling.
Past Exhibitions
The gallery has hosted many interesting exhibitions over the years. Some notable ones include "No Socks: Kurt Schwitters and the Merzbarn" in 1999. Another important show was about the artist William Roberts in 2004.
