123rd Annual Exhibition

24 May - 13 July 2008

New Walk Museum & Art Gallery, Leicester
Click here for location map

Time: Monday - Saturday 10.00am - 5.00pm
Sunday 11.00am - 5.00pm
Telephone: 0116 225 4900

Free Admission

2008 marks the 123rd annual exhibitions of the Leicester Society of Artists, always held at New Walk Museum & Art Gallery. There are brand new works from members and the breadth of work exhibited continues to widen. There are 162 works on show and many media are included from sculpture to pantings, embroidered pieces, artists’ prints, drawing and wood-carving.

The exhibition was opened by the Right Worshipful the Lord Mayor of Leicester Councillor Majula P Sood, who attended the evening preview opening with her Consort Cllr Manish Sood. The prizes listed below were kindly selected by Sue Brooks of the J Gallery, Northampton and presented to the artists by the Lord Mayor of Leicester.

LSA Prizes 2008

George Pickard Prize for the most innovative and modern work

Barbara Agg, ‘Sheep and Sorrel’ (see photograph below)
“An acrylic painting of what she sees around her, this work has wonderful atmosphere, which reflects her love of the countryside. Her original choice of colours reveals a mature confidence that has enabled her to manipulate the colour and form juggling them into rhythmic distillations of place.” – Sue Brooks

Guy Dixon Prize for the most outstanding work

Dennis F Wills, ‘Melrose Abbey and the Eildon Hills’.
“This is a borderline between figuration and abstraction. When a mark starts to form a recognisable readable landscape. Melrose is ”on the edge” and Dennis has caught the sombre symmetries of his subject matter and this watercolour arouses a strong sense of place.“ – Sue Brooks

Society Prize

Brenda Brailsford, ‘Interior with Flowers 1’
“This is a muted mixed media composition. Its combination of intimacy, fresh information and rough edges gives a view of the flowers and the table in a deconstructed form.” – Sue Brooks

Henton Prize

Peter Carter, ‘First Kiss’ (see photograph below)
“A recognisable embrace from two figures evokes warmth and passion in a medium that is, by it’s very nature, cold and hard. Sculpturally accurate, skilfully and artistically fabricated from recycled material conveying movement, allows this piece to show emotion and attractiveness.” – Sue Brooks

Ellis Prize

Carl L Swanson RWA, ‘Forbidden Fruit’ (see photograph below)
“An imposing sculpture of bronze aluminium and other media. This work draws interest into and around its form and your naturally enquiring eye asks you to peer into the cavity to reveal a catalogue of texture and colour. Through and around the form the focus is drawn to the centre. ‘Craggy and silky’ might describe this interesting form.” – Sue Brooks