Wolverhampton Art Gallery facts for kids
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| Established | 1884 |
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| Location | Lichfield Street, Wolverhampton, England |
| Collection size | 20,000 objects |
| Visitors | 158,658 (2008) |
The Wolverhampton Art Gallery is a cool place to visit in the city of Wolverhampton, United Kingdom. It's a museum where you can see amazing art from different times and places. A local builder named Philip Horsman helped pay for and build it. The gallery first opened its doors in May 1884.
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Discover the Gallery Building
The Wolverhampton Art Gallery building has two floors. It was designed by a famous architect from Birmingham named Julius Chatwin. The building is made from a special stone called Bath stone. Six red granite columns mark the main entrance.
Look closely at the front of the building! You'll see cool sculptures showing different arts and crafts. These include sculpture, painting, architecture, and even glassblowing. This building is so special that it's listed as a Grade II* listed building. This means it's a very important historical building.
The gallery got a makeover in 2006 and 2007. It was updated and made bigger to hold even more exciting exhibitions.
Explore the Art Collection
The gallery has a huge collection of art, with about 20,000 items! Many of these were given as gifts by people who loved art and wanted to share it.
Famous Paintings to See
One of the most important paintings here is Peace and Plenty Binding the Arrows of War. It was painted in 1614 by a Flemish artist named Abraham Janssens van Nuyssen. This large painting is the only one by Janssens in a public collection in Britain. It's a great example of Flemish Baroque art, which is a style known for its drama and rich colors.
The gallery also has a few other older paintings. These include a version of A Spinner's Grace by Gerard Dou and Bouquet of Flowers by Jan van Huysum. You can also find old drawings by artists like Wenceslas Hollar.
Victorian Art and Local Artists
A big part of the gallery's collection comes from the Victorian period. This is because local art lovers like Philip Horsman and Paul Lutz gave many artworks to the gallery. You can see paintings and other art from the 19th century.
The gallery also has many artworks by local artists. These include John Fullwood, Joseph Vickers de Ville, and George Phoenix. Later, art from the Bilston Museum and Art Gallery joined the collection. This added more works by local painters like Edwin Butler Bayliss, who painted scenes of the industrial Black Country area.
Pop Art and Modern Works
Since the late 1960s, Wolverhampton Art Gallery has been collecting lots of pop art. This is a fun and colorful style that uses images from popular culture.
The gallery also has a special collection of art about the time of Troubles in Northern Ireland. These artworks help us understand this important part of history.
Unique Collections from Around the World
The gallery has some really interesting collections from other parts of the world:
- Eastern Weapons and Art: In 1924, the gallery got a large collection of weapons from Eastern countries.
- Japanese Tsuba: There are 114 historic tsuba (sword guards) from Japan. These date from the 16th to the 19th centuries. A local councilor named Davis Green bought this whole collection and gave it to the gallery!
- Local Crafts: You can also see collections of japanned ware and Bilston enamels. These show off the special crafts that Wolverhampton was famous for in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Permanent Exhibitions
The gallery has several rooms where you can always find a selection of its amazing collection on display.
The Georgian Room
This room shows art from the 18th century, called the Georgian period. You can see paintings like Portrait of the Lee Family by Joseph Highmore and The Provoked Wife by Johann Zoffany. There's also a portrait of Erasmus Darwin by Joseph Wright of Derby. You'll find tiny Portrait miniatures and beautiful Bilston enamels here too.
The Victorian Rooms
These two rooms show British art from the 19th century. You can see landscapes by artists like David Cox and David Roberts. There are also religious paintings by Pre-Raphaelite artist Frederic Shields. Look out for local japanned ware and pottery. You'll also find Eastern objects like Chinese ceramics and Japanese woodblock prints, collected by local people long ago.
Pop Art Gallery
This gallery is a super cool, interactive space! It's designed to look retro and lets you dive into the world of pop art. You'll see how pop art mixes popular culture, social comments, and celebrity. The artworks here change every six months to show different themes. You might see works by famous pop artists like Andy Warhol, Peter Blake, and Roy Lichtenstein.
The Northern Ireland Collection
This special display looks at how artists show and think about the history of Northern Ireland. It includes works by artists like Willie Doherty and Jock McFadyen. The gallery shows its own collection alongside artworks borrowed from others. This helps you see different views on the history of the conflict and how it was resolved.
The Makers Dozen Studios
The Makers Dozen Studios are workshops for artists and creators in the West Midlands. They are connected to the main gallery building. This is a nod to the past, when Wolverhampton's School of Art and the Art Gallery were in the same building.
Learning and Accessibility
The Georgian Gallery has special furniture that lets you learn about the 18th century in a hands-on way. You can explore scientific discoveries and even what life was like back then.
The Sensing Sculpture display is really unique. It encourages you to touch, smell, and listen to the sculptures, not just look at them! Many of these sculptures are from the gallery's own collection. Braille information is available throughout the gallery. Visitors are even encouraged to try learning some Braille during their visit.
Other Places to Visit
Wolverhampton Art Gallery is part of Wolverhampton Arts and Museums Services. This group also includes Bantock House and Bilston Craft Gallery.
