Exhibitions
THE BEST ART SHOWS TO VISIT THIS JULY
THE BFG IN PICTURES 23 July to 4 October
You might think you know The BFG, one of Roald Dahl’s most iconic stories. Yet, before the much-loved children’s book was published, the eponymous gentle giant underwent several guises, as charted in this touring show. Never-before-seen drawings by Quentin Blake go on show alongside the nal versions, giving an insight into the collaboration between author and illustrator.
Grosvenor Museum, Chester. westcheshiremuseums.co.uk
MARY FEDDEN: SIMPLE PLEASURES 9 July to 16 October
World War II caused Mary Fedden’s artistic career to come to an abrupt halt. Serving as a driver for the NAAFI in 1944, she returned home determined to make up for lost time and began to paint the simple pleasures denied to so many throughout the conflict. This round-up of work shows how she captured subjects such as foreign fruits, distant landscapes and abundant owers in graphic panels of bright colours.
Victoria Art Gallery, Bath. victoriagal.org.uk
HOWARDENA PINDELL: A NEW LANGUAGE 2 July to 30 October
African-American artist Howardena Pindell has spent six decades developing a unique visual language. By adding scent, glitter and paper circles made from hole punchers to her paintings, she has broadened the confines of modernist art, while her more recent work challenges racial and social injustices. This solo show will explore her incredibly varied output.
Kettle’s Yard, Cambridge. kettlesyard.co.uk
MILTON AVERY: AMERICAN COLOURIST 15 July to 16 October
Creating paintings too abstract for academics but too representational for the Abstract Expressionist scene, Milton Avery was often overlooked during his lifetime. Today, however, he is considered one of North America’s greatest 20th-century colourists, an accolade celebrated in this showcase of 70 works. Capturing scenes from daily life, including portraits of loved ones and landscapes from his visits to Maine and Cape Cod, he painted in broad planes of poetically juxtaposed colour. This is your chance to marvel at his signature style in celebrated works including Little Fox River [pictured].
Royal Academy, London. royalacademy.org.uk
THE SINGH TWINS: SLAVES OF FASHION Until 11 September
The Singh Twins – two artist sisters who work as one – are best known for fusing the traditions of Western and Eastern art to create provocative and sharply political images. Such work can be expected in this exhibition, which explores the hidden narratives around empire, enslavement, conflict and consumerism connected to the Indian historical trade in textiles. Light box artworks, preparatory work and satirical paintings on paper will go on show, providing a unique insight into the creative process behind the Slaves of Fashion series.
Firstsite, Colchester. rstsite.uk
GLYN PHILPOT: FLESH AND SPIRIT Until 23 October
A headline in the Scotsman on 30 April 1932 read, ‘Glyn Philpot goes “Picasso”’ – a phrase that sums up the Londoner’s transition from painting routine portraiture to taking on a more modern aesthetic after moving to Paris for a year. Eighty paintings, drawings and sculptures will demonstrate this shift, with an emphasis on Philpot’s portraits of dancers, lovers, poets and society hostesses, as well as his sensitive representation of Black sitters.
Pallant House Gallery, Chichester. pallant.org.uk