Press Office

May

Prize-winning painting donated to gallery

A prize-winning painting by a Newcastle University Fine Art lecturer has been donated to an art gallery.

Nick Fox’s Metatopia won the John Moores Painting Prize 2010 and he has given the artwork to Liverpool’s Walker Art Gallery where it now forms part of a unique display which traces the last 55 years of the John Moores Painting Prize.

Metatopia appears decorative at first, drawing upon Victorian visual culture to suggest love and romance. However further inspection also reveals forbidden pleasures, secrecy and taboo.

Nick Fox said: “I’m delighted that Metatopia will be joining the Walker’s illuminating contemporary collection and honoured that it will be hung alongside John Moores champions of painting past and present.

“The Walker Art Gallery is one of the most important cultural institutions in this country housing a world class art collection which was an inspiration to me when I was studying Fine Art in Liverpool.

 “The John Moores Painting Prize and the Walker’s permanent contemporary works mediate and anchor its outstanding historic collection. It’s essential that this heritage of conversation between old and new continues to provoke debate, offer critical relevance and nourish contemporary culture, particularly in light of restrictive cuts to funding across the arts sector.”

Sandra Penketh, Director of Art Galleries said: “We are hugely grateful to Nick Fox, whose beautiful and intriguing painting is a fabulous addition to the Walker Art Gallery’s collection.”

published on: 15 May 2012