See the world through the eyes of Welsh contemporary artists in a new exhibition

25.10.2023

On 28 October a new exhibition opens at the National Library of Wales’ Gregynog Gallery, celebrating contemporary Welsh art. The CYFOES: Celf Cymru Heddiw · Contemporary Welsh Art exhibition brings together a selection of works dating from 1945 to the present day from the National Art Collection.

Exhibition highlights include a brand new work by the artist Dr Adéọlá Dewis, Y Fari Lwyd, which has been specially commissioned as part of the Library’s work to decolonise the art collections; Cofeb Tryweryn by John Meirion Morris; Greenham Peace Vigil by Claudia Williams; and Ponterwyd / Gaia by Mary Lloyd Jones.

The works in the exhibition – from oil paintings, collages and photographs to sculptures and multi-media works – show the range and diversity of the Library’s collections. They are a reflection of the world around us and a record of the world through the eyes of our most notable artists.

Looking at how contemporary art reflects the forces and issues that shape our world today, the exhibition presents the works across a number of themes:

• Health and Wellbeing
• Wales and Welsh Relevance
• People, Society and Identity
• The Body
• Politics, Protest and Activism
• Nature and the Environment
• Our World, and
• Religion and Beliefs

Rhian Gibson, Director of Communications, Engagement and Partnerships at the National Library of Wales said:
"The Library is home to over 60,000 works of art, and it is vital that we exhibit as wide a range of these as possible. The contemporary works in this exhibition are an opportunity to open the door to new audiences and to demonstrate how we are continuing to collect so that our collections represent today’s Wales. We hope that this exhibition also serves as a shop window for future loans and collaboration with other galleries."

Mari Elin Jones, Interpretation Officer in the Exhibitions Department at the National Library of Wales said:
"We are very glad of this opportunity to share a special selection of artworks by some of Wales' leading contemporary artists. The aim of the exhibition is to celebrate the richness, diversity and range of contemporary art in Wales; as well as displaying well-known works the exhibition also reflects the continued vitality of art in Wales today as we include brand new works. We really hope that visitors will enjoy this opportunity to see the best of contemporary art in Wales, and that the exhibition will stimulate dialogue and inspire creativity."

To coincide with the exhibition there will be a series of events and details of these will be published on the Library's website over the coming weeks.

The Library is working in collaboration with our partners to develop a National Contemporary Art Gallery for Wales and this exhibition provides examples of works that will be available to lend to galleries across Wales.

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** Mae’r datganiad yma hefyd ar gael yn Gymraeg **

For more information, requests for interview or media offers please contact:
Rhodri ap Dyfrig, Head of Marketing and Audiences, National Library of Wales

rhodri.apdyfrig@llyfrgell.cymru / 07521 761762

NOTES FOR EDITORS

About the National Library of Wales:

The National Library of Wales is one of the great libraries of the world. Located in Aberystwyth, it is the home of the story of Wales.

Opened in 1907, the Library is the centre of research into the culture and heritage of Wales and the Celtic nations.

The purpose of the Library is to make our culture and heritage accessible for everyone to learn, research and enjoy.

We are a legal deposit library, which means we are entitled to a copy of every print publication in Britain and Ireland, but our collections also include the following:

• 7,000,000 feet of film
• 250,000 hours of video
• 7,000,000 books and newspapers
• 40,000 manuscripts
• 1,500,000 maps
• 150,000 hours of sound
• 950,000 photographs
• 60,000 works of art
• 1,900 cubic meters of archives

You can search the collections online and can find further information along with a list of resources on the Library's website.

List of artists:

• John Elwyn
• Natalia Dias
• Kyffin Williams
• Ogwyn Davies
• Adéolá Dewis
• Roger Tiley
• Glenn Dene
• Caitlin Dolman
• Gwenllian Beynon
• Brenda Chamberlain
• Mary Husted
• Jon Pountney
• Ken Elias
• Nick Treharne
• Morgan Dowdall
• Pete Davies
• Gwenno Llwyd Till
• Anya Paintsil
• Abbie Trayler-Smith
• Pete Jones
• Roger Cecil
• Haydn Denman
• Natalie Chapman
• Claudia Williams
• Clive Hicks-Jenkins
• John Meirion Morris
• Claudia Williams
• Ivor Davies
• Luned Rhys Parri
• John Petts
• Geoff Charles
• Marian Delyth
• Tim Pugh
• Valerie Ganz
• Ray Howard Jones
• Tony Steele-Morgan
• Lisa Eurgain Taylor
• Alun Evans
• Jeremy Moore
• Bedwyr Williams
• Manon Awst
• Kim James-Williams
• Alison Lochead
• Philip Jones Griffiths
• Charles & Patricia Aithe
• Abbie Trayler-Smith
• Humberto Gatica
• Karel Lek
• Nicholas Evans
• Iwan Bala
• Rhodri Jones
• Mary Lloyd Jones
• Ruth Koffer