In 2012, nestled among the Old Town’s strange, black net shops and fronting a shingle beach, known since the Norman Conquest as The Stade, a striking new art gallery first opened its doors. What followed has been a decade of ground-breaking exhibitions, quality-packed retrospectives and important showcases for emerging and overlooked talent.
To celebrate its tenth anniversary, this autumn Hastings Contemporary will present Making Waves, a special alumni exhibition appropriately bringing ten artworks by ten of Britain’s most astonishingly talented artists, all of whom have exhibited in the gallery over this last decade, including Chantal Joffe, Rose Wylie, Maggi Hambling and Sir Quentin Blake. Other major artists set to feature in the exhibition are: Ansel Krut, Rachel Howard, Jeffery Camp, Stephen Chambers, Anne Ryan and Gillian Ayres.
Announcing the show, Hastings Contemporary director Liz Gilmore says: “Over the last ten years the response to the art we have shown has been phenomenal. We have been constantly punching well above our weight, with alumni artists to be proud of, all whilst receiving awards and positive reviews.”
In the post-pandemic era, Hastings Contemporary continues to build on its legacy of success, as Gilmore explains: “The ever-increasing volume of visitors coming from the local community and further afield demonstrate that Hastings has a vital role to play in artistic exchange. Since we first opened, as the Jerwood Gallery, over 400,000 people have visited our exhibitions, with many more engaging in our learning and participation programmes.
“Here’s to more exhibitions to come, showcasing emerging and established artists and their work, making Hastings Contemporary a cultural hub of regional, national and international significance.”
Image Credits: Courtesy of the artist and Victoria Miro. Photo: Stephen White. .