Celebrating contemporary art in Wales in a new exhibition

09.04.2025

On 12 April a new exhibition celebrating contemporary Welsh art will open at the Riverside Gallery, Haverfordwest. The CYFOES: Celf Cymru Heddiw · Contemporary Welsh Art exhibition will showcase a selection of new artworks, all created within the past decade, from the Art Collection at the National Library of Wales. 

The exhibition will include oils, sculptures and mixed media works, and will include works by both young and established artists. The majority of works are by female artists. 

The CYFOES exhibition will offer a glimpse into the vibrant world of contemporary art in Wales, dealing with modern influences and topics such as the Covid-19 pandemic and identity. It will also represent the changing face of art in Wales today as bold new ideas and fresh perspectives on Welsh culture are conveyed through the works on display.

Exhibition highlights include Dannedd Dodi by Anya Paintsil, HorseHead by Dr Adéọlá Dewis; Blodeuwedd by Natalia Dias and Moelni Maith by Lisa Eurgain Taylor. 

Rhodri Llwyd Morgan, Chief Executive of the National Library of Wales said:

“The Library is home to over 60,000 works of art, and it is essential that we share as many as possible with the public. Our gallery at the Riverside Library enables us to share them with audiences beyond our site in Aberystwyth. The contemporary works in this exhibition are an opportunity for us to show how we continue to collect to ensure that the collection reflects contemporary Wales.”

Mari Elin Jones, Interpretation Officer at the National Library of Wales said:

“We are glad of this opportunity to share a special selection of works of art by some of Wales' leading contemporary artists and extremely proud to be able to share so many works by female artists. The aim of the exhibition is to celebrate the richness of contemporary art in Wales and its continued vitality in interpreting the world today.”

Events will be held to coincide with the exhibition, details of which will be published on the National Library of Wales’ website over the coming weeks. 
Showing alongside the CYFOES exhibition is the permanent exhibition Pembrokeshire: Past and Present, focusing on the history, culture and landscape of Pembrokeshire.

Both exhibitions will run until Saturday 11 October 2025.

--ENDS--

** Mae'r datganiad yma hefyd ar gael yn y Gymraeg**

The National Library of Wales Media Contact
Rhodri ap Dyfrig, Head of Marketing and Audiences  
rhodri.apdyfrig@llyfrgell.cymru  / 07521761762

NOTES FOR EDITORS

The Riverside: Library, Gallery & Visitor Information, Haverfordwest

The Riverside is a flagship cultural centre in the heart of Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire. Opened in December 2018, it features a 21st century library, visitor information, coffee shop and a national government indemnity gallery space, which showcases collections from The National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth. This high quality facility is unusual and pioneering and is already playing a central part in regenerating the town and wider area of Pembrokeshire.

For more information visit:

• The Riverside website
• Pembrokeshire Libraries Facebook page, or
• call Glan-yr-afon/The Riverside on 01437 775244

About the National Library of Wales

The National Library of Wales is a library for Wales and 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
• 6,000,000 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. You will find further information along with a list of resources on the National Library of Wales website.