Pallant House Gallery facts for kids
The gallery extension, with Pallant House on the right
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| Established | 1982 |
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| Location | North Pallant, Chichester, West Sussex |
| Type | Art Gallery |
| Architect | Colin St John Wilson, MJ Long |
Pallant House Gallery is a cool art gallery located in Chichester, West Sussex, England. It's known for having one of the best collections of British art from the 1900s (the 20th century) anywhere in the world!
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What is Pallant House Gallery?
Pallant House Gallery isn't just one building; it's a mix of an old, beautiful house and a modern, new building. It opened in 1982 and has become a special place to see amazing artworks. The gallery is managed by a group of people who make sure it stays open and exciting for everyone.
A Look at the Art Collection
The gallery's collection started with a generous gift from a man named Walter Hussey in 1977. He was the Dean of Chichester Cathedral and loved art. He gave many artworks to the city of Chichester, including pieces by famous artists like Barbara Hepworth, Henry Moore, John Piper, and Graham Sutherland. He wanted his collection to be shown in Pallant House.
Over the years, many other people have added to the gallery's collection:
- In 1989, Charles Kearley donated works by British artists like John Piper and Ben Nicholson. He also gave art by European artists such as Paul Cézanne and Fernand Léger.
- In 2006, architect Sir Colin St John Wilson gave many artworks. These included pieces by Peter Blake, Lucian Freud, and Richard Hamilton. Many of these artists were friends with Sir Colin, and he even designed homes for some of them!
- More recently, in 2018, Frank and Lorna Dunphy donated six works by a group called the Young British Artists. One of these was Butterfly by the well-known artist Damien Hirst.
The gallery used to have a collection of old 18th-century Bow porcelain (a type of fancy pottery). This was given by Geoffrey Freeman, but it has since moved to another museum called the Holburne Museum in Bath.
Exciting Exhibitions
Pallant House Gallery often holds special exhibitions that bring new and interesting art to see. These temporary shows focus on different artists or themes.
- From late 2015 to early 2016, they had an exhibition called Evelyn Dunbar: The Lost Works. It showed 500 paintings by Evelyn Dunbar that had disappeared after her death and were only found again in 2013!
- In 2016, there was an exhibition about John Piper's textile designs, called John Piper: The Fabric of Modernism.
- In 2021, the gallery featured Glyn Philpot: Flesh and Spirit, which was the first big show of Glyn Philpot's work in many years.
- Other cool exhibitions have included art by Gwen John (2023), a show about the Sussex landscape (2022-2023), and a display of British printmaking from 60 years, featuring artists like Hockney and Himid (2021-2022).
About Pallant House Itself
The original part of the gallery is a historic house called Pallant House. It's a Grade I listed building, which means it's very important and protected. It was built in 1712 for a wine merchant named Henry Peckham.
It's a beautiful brick building with big windows. You'll notice stone ostriches guarding the entrance – these are from the Peckham family's coat of arms! Inside, there's a lovely old oak staircase. The house was designed by an architect from London.
For a long time, starting in 1919, the building was used as council offices. It was carefully restored in 1979, and then the art gallery opened its doors in 1982.
The Modern Extension
In June 2006, a brand new part of the gallery opened. This modern extension was designed by Sir Colin Wilson and Long & Kentish. This project cost a lot of money, funded by different groups who wanted to support the arts.
The new building stands right next to the old Queen Anne house and blends in with it. This mix of old and new won a special award called the Gulbenkian Prize in 2007. The judges said that the two buildings create a "vibrant relationship" and that the modern part has "inspired contemporary installations." The extension also won an award from the RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects).
One really cool thing about the new extension is how it's heated and cooled. It's believed to be the first art gallery in the UK to use a geothermal system! This system uses water pumped through pipes deep underground to keep the building warm in winter and cool in summer. It helps the gallery use much less energy and is better for the environment.
Behind the gallery, there's also a new courtyard garden. It was designed by Christopher Bradley-Hole, who has won awards at the famous Chelsea Flower Show.
