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06.02.2025
In a series of exciting events the National Library of Wales will delve beneath surface of the No Welsh Art exhibition, which challenges the myth that Wales has no visual culture of its own.
Curated by the artist and art historian Peter Lord, the exhibition reveals the rich story of Wales’ visual culture, as well as its social and political history. It does so by combining Peter Lord's extensive collection with items from the National Art Collection.
A rare opportunity to enjoy over 250 works of art of national significance, the exhibition presents the visual world of the gentry, middle class and ordinary people of Wales, before moving on to various portraits of Welsh identities.
Several 'In Focus' events will take place between now and September, which will look at topics such as Women in Welsh Art; Patrons of Art; Secrets of Art; Art and Poetry, looking at the poems in Afterlives, with John Barnie; Art, Politics and Protest; and Art and Identity. Several distinguished speakers will join us to present these events including Ceridwen Lloyd Morgan, Jill Piercy, Oliver Fairclough, John Barnie, Iwan Bala, Sara Rhoslyn, Mfikela Jean Samuel and Christine Mills, as well as the artist, art historian and curator Peter Lord.
In addition to this, there will be a series of Art at Night events, which will include a session to celebrate Pride month and a paint a pub sign session.
For those who want to learn more about the exhibition itself and the special works on display, a monthly guided tour will be held on the first Wednesday of the month in the company of Peter Lord. Some of these will include BSL interpretation. The Library will also hold special tours for blind or partially sighted visitors, meaning that this will be our most accessible exhibition to date.
During the school term, education workshops for primary and secondary pupils will be held to support the exhibition, and these sessions will focus on identity. During the visits, the pupils will visit the Gregynog Gallery to investigate the works of art, and will also have the opportunity to create a self-portrait – in pictures or words. Several community projects will also be planned by the Library's engagement team.
For those who want to visit with children, there is a fun activities booklet available to keep them entertained. A programme of activities for children and families will also be planned for the holidays, with details to be announced closer to the time.
Full details of events can be found on our website and tickets can be booked on our Events page.
--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
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 our website.
About the curator, Peter Lord
PETER LORD took a degree in Fine Art at Reading University in 1970, specialising in sculpture. He worked for some fifteen years as a practising artist, making both small-scale studio sculpture and large public art projects, including the Hywel Dda Memorial at Whitland. In 1986 he turned to writing about Welsh art history. He has published extensively in both English and Welsh languages, broadcast on television and radio, and curated many exhibitions.
Among his publications are a three-volume history of Welsh art, The Visual Culture of Wales, and the single volume survey of the subject, The Tradition. Most recently he has written with Dr Rhian Davies a history of the interaction between visual culture and music in Wales, The Art of Music. His substantial collection of Welsh visual art forms the basis of the current exhibition.