South London Gallery facts for kids
 |
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Established | 1879 |
|---|---|
| Location | London |
| Type | Art gallery |
The South London Gallery (often called SLG) is a cool art gallery in Camberwell, London. It opened way back in 1891 and shows off contemporary art, which means art made in our time. Since 2001, Margot Heller has been its director, helping it become a famous place for art.
Contents
The South London Gallery: A Look Inside
How Did the Gallery Start?
.jpg)
The story of the South London Gallery began in 1868. It started as the South London Working Men's College. This college was located on Blackfriars Road. A famous scientist named Thomas Henry Huxley was in charge. He was the grandfather of writer Aldous Huxley.
In 1878, the college moved to Kennington Lane. A Free Library was also opened there. The next year, in 1879, an art show was held at the library. It showed art owned by private collectors. After this, the place became known as the Free Library and Art Gallery.
The library and gallery moved a few more times. In 1881, they went to New Road, Battersea. Then in 1887, they moved to Camberwell Road.
Who Supported the Early Gallery?
Many important people helped the gallery in its early days. Famous artists like Sir Frederic Leighton supported it. He was the head of the Royal Academy. Other artists like Edward Burne-Jones and G. F. Watts also lent their support.
Even the Prime Minister, William Ewart Gladstone, was involved! He was the first president of the gallery. Later, Sir Frederic Leighton took over as president in 1887.
Opening the New Building
On May 4, 1891, the South London Fine Art Gallery officially opened. It was in a brand new building on Peckham Road. This building was on the land of Portland House.
In 1893, the Prince of Wales (who would later become King Edward VII) visited. He officially opened a new lecture hall and library. These new parts were paid for by a newspaper owner named John Passmore Edwards.
Later, in 1898, another important building opened. It was a Technical Institute. This was also funded by Passmore Edwards. It was built to remember Lord Leighton, who had passed away. This institute later became the Camberwell College of Art.
Growing the Art Collection
The gallery kept adding to its art collection over the years. In 1953, they bought new art to celebrate the coronation. These works were by modern artists like John Piper and Christopher Wood. In the next ten years, they collected over 500 prints from the 20th century.
In 1965, the new London Borough of Southwark took over the gallery. But it was still run by independent groups.
The Gallery Today: Modern Art and Exhibitions
New Beginnings in the 1990s
In 1992, David Thorp became the new Director. This started a new chapter for the gallery. It began to focus on "Britart," which was a new and exciting art movement in Britain. The gallery started holding very modern and "cutting edge" art shows.
One famous show was Minky Manky in 1995. It featured artists like Sarah Lucas and Damien Hirst. The show explored how artists connect with their art. It also looked at how art can be rebellious and challenge rules.
Another important show was by artist Tracey Emin in 1997. It was called I Need Art Like I Need God.
Becoming More Famous
The gallery's exciting art shows made it very popular. More people came to visit. It even won awards and was nominated for others. Famous artists like Anselm Kiefer and Gavin Turk showed their work there.
The gallery also bought art by important artists. These included works by Antony Gormley, Anish Kapoor, Tracey Emin, and Sarah Lucas.
In 1999, the gallery started a "Live Art" program. This meant artists would perform their art. Some of these performances were quite unusual and caused people to talk!
The Gallery's International Reputation
In 2001, Margot Heller became the Director. She continued to make the gallery famous around the world. The gallery became known for its modern art shows and live art events. It also started educational projects for kids, teens, and adults.
Each year, the gallery has about five big shows. These shows feature art by well-known international artists. Some of these artists include Tom Friedman and Mark Dion. They also show art by newer artists like Alice Channer.
The gallery also has live art and film events. Sometimes, they even do big art projects outside the gallery. For example, there was a project in Trafalgar Square in 2004.
The South London Gallery is located at 65 Peckham Road, London SE5 8UH. It is open from Tuesday to Sunday, 11am to 6pm. On Wednesdays and the last Friday of every month, it stays open until 9pm. The best part is, exhibitions are free to visit!
