LONDON — For over three decades, the National Gallery has set itself apart by offering a unique residency program, allowing contemporary artists to create significant works inspired by its extensive collection. Located adjacent to the gallery’s conservation department, the artist studio has become a hub of creative reinterpretation and engagement with classic artworks. Notably, the current Artist in Residence scheme is distinguished as the only European residency offering a stipend for caring responsibilities.
2014: George Shaw’s Tribute to Titian
In 2014, Coventry-born artist George Shaw reflected on his residency experience as a monumental opportunity, akin to “playing for England.” Shaw’s residency culminated in a triptych that paid homage to Titian’s Diana and Actaeon (1556-59). His work, depicting a woodland scene with remnants of teenage revelry, drew inspiration from Titian’s portrayal of Actaeon discovering the goddess Diana in her private sanctuary. Shaw’s project explored themes of transition from innocence to experience, with a nod to how even religious paintings engage with universal themes of life, death, and nature. Shaw remarked on the enduring relevance of such themes in art, noting, “It’s all sex, death, bowls of fruit and flowers, and the odd landscape; that may sound somewhat dismissive, but it’s kept artists busy for 700 years and continues to do so.”
2019: Bridget Riley’s ‘Messengers’
In 2019, renowned artist Bridget Riley produced a significant piece titled Messengers, which was dedicated to the National Gallery’s collection. This expansive work further established Riley’s reputation for creating dynamic, visually compelling pieces that engage deeply with the museum’s collection.
2021-22: Contemporary Dance and Artistic Expression
The 2021-22 winter exhibition, Poussin and the Dance, was celebrated by the gallery with contributions from four contemporary artists: Florence Peake, Hetain Patel, Zadie Xa, and Benito Mayor Vallejo. Their projects explored Nicolas Poussin’s use of dance and movement as narrative tools. Florence Peake’s Factual Actual was particularly notable, featuring large, vibrantly painted canvases that were manipulated by dancers, creating a series of immersive sculptural forms. Peake’s work investigated the concept of “collapse,” from physical dance movements to the potential dissolution of traditional Western artistic canons represented within the gallery.
The National Gallery’s residency program continues to foster innovative dialogues between contemporary artists and historical masterpieces, enriching both the artists’ practices and the gallery’s engagement with its collection.
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