Latest Tweet 
Contact
- Rye Art Gallery
107 High Street, Rye
East Sussex. TN31 7JE - 01797 222433
- ryeartgallery@gmail.com
Gallery News
Private View for 'Abundance' our final exhibition of 2023
On Saturday 18th November the gallery welcomed a very large number of attendees to celebrate the opening of our final exhibition of 2023.
‘Abundance’ is a group exhibition that celebrates the fantastic new work of our local artists at Rye Art Gallery. Artworks featured include ceramics, drawings, paintings, prints and sculpture.
The exhibition is scheduled to run until 14th January and features work ideal for Christmas gifting.
Do come and see us soon........🎁
Photo credit : John Cole Photography
Celebrating Halloween at Rye Art Gallery
On Friday 27th October we welcomed a large number of ghouls, ghosts and spookily dressed individuals into the Stormont studio for lots of creative fun!
Our annual Halloween creative workshop events are growing rapildy year on year and we hope to do more workshops centred around other seasonal events in the coming months.
Watch this space............🎃
Opening reception for 'Jacqueline Stanley HRHA ARCA (1928-2022) A Retrospective'
On Friday 28th July 2023, the gallery had the pleasure of welcoming over 100 guests to the opening reception of our brand new Summer exhibition 'Jacqueline Stanley HRHA ARCA (1928-2022) A Retrospective'
Celebrating the life and work of Jacqueline Stanley, from her early years of painting in the 1940's through to her final oil painting. The exhibition has been extended through to October 8th.
Alongside we also feature 'Little Men' the box figure series from Liz Finch and selected works by Angie Braven.
From left to right : Louise Simkiss-Day, Claire Kirwan, Jane Milton-Bruce, Liz Finch, Nichola Bruce, Angie Braven, and Nichole
Photo credit : John Cole Photography
An afternoon of talk and poetry
On Saturday 22nd July 2023, as part of our 'Works on Paper' exhibition we welcomed the artist Sally Cole and poet Peronel Barnes in the gallery for a relaxed afternoon of talk and poetry.
Sally discussed her travels and inspirations drawn from the Pembrokeshire coast, Ireland and New Zealand, her techniques and working methods whilst Peronel read poems that she had written especially for the event.
We thank them both for giving their time to the gallery.
Photo credit : John Cole Photography
Private View 'Works on Paper'
On Saturday 20th May 2023 the gallery welcomed a large number of attendees to celebrate the opening of our new exhibition 'Works on Paper'.
Featuring artist Sally Cole alongside newly discovered permanent collection works from Robert Mackechnie (1894-1975).
The exhibition will run in galleries 4 & 6 until Sunday 23rd July
Photo credit : John Cole
Saturday 22nd April 2023 - celebrating Earth Day at Rye Art Gallery
To celebrate Earth Day at Rye Art Gallery we held two events during the day.
Our children's morning workshop drew in a creative crowd. All of which participated in making rain sticks, paintings stones and decorating globes.
The afternoon session in connection with our 'tilt' exhibition saw a second visit from artists Rosamund Cran, who demonstrated the art of hand making coptic bound books.
And Sarah Palmer who shared a very hands on approach in encouraging our visitors to experiment with shape and form through the use of clay.
The events throughout the day again proved extremely popular for the gallery and we look forward to holding and sharing more events with you all soon.
Here are local twins Robyn and Harry, showing their 'rain sticks' made during our morning workshop
Karl Terry RSMA - Rooted in the Landscape - En Plein Air workshop
On Saturday 25th February Karl Terry RSMA joined us in the gallery for an afternoon workshop.
The attendees came to watch him at work and were then given the opportunity to paint en plein air on our terrace.
To quote :-
"wonderful afternoon with Karl.....informative and inspiring"
"a brilliant afternoon, learned so much from Karl, thank you"
"inspiring......a beautiful day painting with Karl"
The success of this event has meant we will be following this up with further workshops in the coming Spring and Summer months.
Watch this space....................
Karl Terry RSMA - Rooted in the Landscape - Private View
On Saturday 28th January we held a successful private view for Karl Terry's new solo exhibition, Rooted in the Landscape. A very large number of guests attended to show their support of Karl and his prolific plein air work.
The exhibition runs until 12th March 2023
Jacqueline Stanley HRHA ARCA 1928-2022
It is with great sadness that Rye Art Gallery announces the news of Jacqueline Stanley’s death this month. A prolific artist who had work in the gallery from its inception in the 1960s, and more recently with our special 65th anniversary exhibition Colony in the Summer.
Born in Camberwell, London in 1928 Jacquie saw the hardships between the wars but was a beneficiary of the post-war council grants receiving a full-time scholarship to study at Beckenham just before the turn of the 1950s. Her teachers were some of the greatest pioneers in art education; Lucienne and Robin Day, Carel Weight and Ruskin Spear who encouraged her to apply to the Royal College of Art. Her tutor here was John Minton and she continued her art education with Ruskin and Weight and on occasion Francis Bacon. She would meet her future husband at the RCA, Campbell Bruce, when after some family illnesses they moved to Egerton House in Kent. Many of the paintings from this period were featured in Colony and the move from stark, dark London scenes to brightly coloured fields of rainbows and orchards were so greatly admired in our Autumn show.
With a strong CV and a natural aptitude for drawing and painting, Jacquie would go on to win many prizes and worked around the world producing not just painting but prints which are featured in our current show The Art of British Printmaking. In the 1970's Jacquie and Campbell moved to Ireland where she was a founder member of the Black Church Print Studio, remaining a director for many years and on the board of the Graphic Studio. Jacquie also lectured at NCAD and many students relate what a fantastic and generous tutor she was, especially to the younger ones starting out on their own paths.
From the early London Street scenes, her Egerton landscapes to the pastel series, Jacquie's work is not only relevant but raw and uncovers the unnerving of nature. Her skill in drawing is forever present and it's echo will be omnipresent for all those who view or own her work. I for one will miss her particularly at the private views, her rawness was not only part of her work but her personality too. Offering stark and guided opinions, which reminds me of an unfinished task. Hopefully by this time next year, we will find Jacquie in her rightful place in the annals of our great British contemporary women artists.
We offer our love and deepest sympathy to the Stanley / Bruce family especially Nichola and Jane who helped us immensely with the selection and staging of Colony. We all raise a glass during this festive season to remember a talented tenacious and gifted artist and a woman who was not afraid to say what she thought.
Louise Simkiss-Day
Rye Art Gallery trustee
Programme Engagement & Royal Academy Representative
Photo credit: John Cole
Private View of our 65th anniversary exhibition 'Colony'
The private view of our 65th-anniversary exhibition 'Colony' on Friday 9th September 2022, saw between 240 and 250 guests enjoying the display throughout the entire gallery.
The gallery was very pleased to welcome two of the artists included in the show, Mick Rooney RA and Jacqueline Stanley ARCA HRHA along with their families. We also welcomed the families of Fred Cuming RA and Gus Cummins RA.
The exhibition will now run until November 6th, 2022.
Mick Rooney RA receiving his bottle of champagne, photo credit: John Cole
The Rye Art Gallery Trust - No. 310318