LSA History

Click here to view a list of 'Past Art Lectures'

The Society was founded in 1880 by a group of local artists and held its first exhibition in 1882. The Annual Exhibitions have been held at New Walk Museum and Art Gallery in Leicester 1897 and the tradition continues to this day. The Lord Mayor of Leicester opens the evening preview and presents the awards, and the preview is an opportunity to see the wide range of work and meet the artists themselves.

Project exhibitions began in 1992 in partnership with the New Walk Museum and Art Gallery, where selected objects in the Museum become the theme for developing new and original works of art. Another innovation to the calendar in 2006 for the LSA was an special exhibition to contribute to events in the Leicester Comedy Festival Theatre.

Works of art by LSA artists can be seen in many galleries across the Midlands and in national collections and exhibitions. Membership has always been of a very high standard and among current members of both emergent and established artists there are many who exhibit their work in national shows including The Royal Academy Summer Exhibitions, the Royal West of England Academy, The Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours, the Pastel Society, the Royal Institute of Oil Painter, The Royal Birmingham Society and other Open Shows.

In 1989 the Society started an art lecture series as a contribution to the cultural life of the city. This is an annual public event with recognised artists, critics and curators on a wide range of topical art themes. The lectures in the series are listed below.

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These evening public art lectures were all held in Gallery 6 at the New Walk Museum & Art Gallery, Leicester.

For further information on individual lectures:
Art Lecture 2006 go to Programme > Art Lecture