Creative Tensions: The Penwith Society of Arts 1949-1960

Image: Box Factory Fire, 1948, Wilhelmina Barns-Graham

Current exhibition: 14 September-16 November 2019

Creative Tensions: The Penwith Society of Arts 1949-1960

Image: Box Factory Fire, 1948 Wilhelmina Barns-Graham ©Wilhelmina Barns-Graham Trust

Running from the 14 September- 16 November 2019 is The Penwith Society of Arts 1949- 1960.

In 1949, a group of artists broke away from the St Ives Society of Artists to found a new group, the Penwith Society of Arts in Cornwall.

Seventy years on from this seismic event, this exhibition looks at the range of work produced by its founder members, many of them the greatest names of 20th century British art, including Wilhelmina Barns-Graham, Barbara Hepworth, Bernard Leach and Ben Nicholson.

It examines the impact that the St Ives rebels made at the time and the creative tensions that existed between them.

A selection of Newlyn School paintings is on view upstairs in Gallery 5.

It is necessary to close some of the galleries between exhibitions, so please do check what is open before making a special journey during those times. Click here for 2019 dates

Not all the paintings are on show at any one time. If there is a particular picture that you would like to see, please let us know in advance of your visit or on the day.

CLICK HERE for a PDF of the current brochure

CLICK HERE for past exhibitions