Swindon Museum and Art Gallery
Swindon Museum and Art Gallery Bath Road, Swindon SN1 4BA
http://www.swindon.gov.uk/artsandculture/museumandartgallery/artgallery.htm
In 1944 local resident HJP Bomford donated a collection of artworks to the city, creating the foundations for Swindon Art Gallery.
Swindon’s collection is comprised of a selectio of British artists from the modern period including Gwen John, Augustus John, Paul Nash, Ben Nicholson, Henry Moore and Ivon Hitchens. More recent artists' work includes pieces by Terry Frost, Howard Hodgkin and Lisa Milroy.
Swindon recently acquired the work Laundromat Locomotion, consisting of twelve photographs by Turner Prize short-listed artist, Steven Pippin.
Swindon holds a significant collection of studio pottery, with works by Bernard Leach, Lucie Rie and Hans Coper. Alongside the permanent collection Swindon hosts a number of temporary touring exhibitions.
Editor's note:
This is a modest domestic-scale house. The entrance is unexpectedly narrow with a steep little stairway up to the main galleries. There is talk of relocating the gallery — the collections really deserve a new environment — but there is a wonderful atmosphere to this well-used place.
In the hall, just before the main gallery, are some built-in glass cabinets that hold an inspired collection of studio ceramics — Lucy Rie pieces and more.
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