A BIG WELCOME
Ancient and Modern, a free exhibition of large-scale sculpture by internationally acclaimed artist Michael Lyons, is coming to a close. The display in York Art Gallery’s Artists Garden will end on April 11. Pictured is Hannah Savage, from the Visitor Experience team.
HIS SCULPTURES range from the small scale to the monumental and are inspired by nature, myth and ancient culture.
Works by the internationally acclaimed artist Michael Lyons are on display in Yorkshire and the public are being urged not to miss out on seeing them. The exhibition, Ancient and Modern, has been on show in York Art Gallery’s Artists Garden since last summer, but the display will come to an end next month on April 11.
It includes nine sculptures, with the central space dominated by a work from 1993 called Amphitrite, which is a large painted steel structure.
Becky Gee, the curator of fine art at York Art Gallery, said: “We’ve loved exhibiting Michael Lyons’ incredible work in the gardens, and feel honoured to have housed his first large-scale exhibition in York, his home city. We were so pleased to be able to extend the exhibition and keep it open for visitors to enjoy on their daily walks through the gardens.
“The sculptures have brought a new dimension to the unique space and we’re thrilled with the positive response. It’s been a privilege to have Ancient and Modern, and if you’re local we hope you’re able to enjoy the display before it closes.”
Staffordshire-born Mr Lyons was instrumental in the creation of the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, which opened in 1977 near Wakefield. He died on April 19, 2019 at the age of 75 in Cawood, in North Yorkshire.
Speaking ahead of the staging of the York exhibition, Mr Lyons said: “To my knowledge this is the first time such a large exhibition of outdoor sculpture has been shown in York – certainly for many years.
“It is a great pleasure to make a contribution to the cultural life of York in this way and I hope that the exhibition will help to make sculpture a more integral part of the city.”
The art gallery’s Artists Garden is open daily from 10.30am until 4.30pm.