I blogged about the Black Country on Saturday 6th of March. One of the best developments there is the spectacular Art Gallery built in Walsall. Here is a taster to tempt you!

The New Art Gallery is sited in the centre of the Walsall. It was built with £21 million of public funding, including £15.75 million from the UK National Lottery.

 

 

Designed by the architects Caruso St John after winning an international design competition, it opened in January 2000, replacing the town’s old gallery and an arts centre that had been closed by the Council almost a decade earlier. The New Art Gallery’s stark building won several architectural awards. The five storey building is clad in terracotta.

 

The Gallery houses the fixed Garman Ryan collection of sculptures and paintings by modern masters including a large selection of work by Jacob Epstein which was donated by his late wife Lady Epstein and her friend Sally Ryan. The temporary exhibition galleries on the third and fourth floor are dedicated to exhibiting the best of contemporary and historic art.

Its first Director was Peter Jenkinson. After he stepped down, no further Director was appointed by the Council for over two years. In May 2005, appointed former BALTIC director Stephen Snoddy was appointed and he took up his post in September 2005.

And- of course Galleries are about art – here is a vivid piece from Jacob Epstein –