Saturday 23 March 2024 - Sunday 1 September 2024
10:00 am - 4:30 pm
In partnership with the Friends of the Glynn Vivian
Glynn Vivian at Night, Friday 22 March 2024, 5:30pm – 8:00pm
Glynn Vivian Art Gallery is delighted to be celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Wakelin Award, with a retrospective exhibition that will bring together work by all past winners.
Founded in memory of Swansea-based artists, Richard and Rosemary Wakelin, the annual award is given to an artist living and working in Wales, whose work is purchased for the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery’s Permanent Collection.
Previous award winners include Robert Harding, David Tress, Pete Davis, Craig Wood, David Garner, Tim Davies, Dick Chappell, Brendan Stuart Burns, Anthony Shapland, Catrin Webster, Jonathan Anderson, Meri Wells, David Cushway, Helen Sear, Clare Woods, Alexander Duncan, Philip Eglin, Richard Billingham, Anya Paintsil, Cinzia Mutigli and Ingrid Murphy.
Dr Peter Wakelin, said: “When we set up the Award after my mother died in 1998, we thought it would be something our parents would have enjoyed because of their love of the Glynn Vivian, and it would last for a few years. We never guessed that the scheme would continue to be so worthwhile for a quarter of a century. It’s fantastic to look back at all the artists the Award has supported in that time and the wealth of works that have been added to the Glynn Vivian collection to be enjoyed by the people of Swansea.”
Louise Burston, Chair of the Friends of the Glynn Vivian, added: “The Friends are very pleased to be involved with such a prestigious award. It is heartening to be able to support Welsh artists and contribute towards the gallery’s contemporary collection of art, plus it’s always fascinating to see whose work the nominated selector will choose. Over the years the award has gone to a splendidly diverse selection of artists from different disciplines and at different stages in their careers.”
Karen MacKinnon, Curator, Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, said: “The Wakelin Award has enabled the gallery for the past 25 years to acquire wonderful works for its permanent collection. This unique partnership between the Wakelin family and the Friends of the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery is very special in the support it offers the gallery, artists in Wales and the works it enables us to share with audiences and communities. This exhibition is a celebration of what the award has achieved over so many years.”
The Award is administered and supported by the Friends of the Glynn Vivian, together with donations in memory of Richard and Rosemary Wakelin.
Selected artworks in this exhibition have been loaned from Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales, as part of the National Contemporary Art Gallery for Wales initiative, Celf ar y Cyd
Previous award winners:
2000 - Robert Harding
2001 - David Tress
2002 - Pete Davis
2003 - Craig Wood
2004 - David Garner
2005 - Tim Davies
2006 - Dick Chappell
2007 - Brendan Stuart Burns
2008 - Anthony Shapland
2009 - Catrin Webster
2010 - Jonathan Anderson
2011 - Meri Wells
2012 - David Cushway
2013 – Helen Sear
2014 - Clare Woods
2015 – Alexander Duncan
2017 - Philip Eglin
2018 – Richard Billingham
2020 – Anya Paintsil
2021 – Cinzia Mutigli
2022 – Ingrid Murphy
Richard and Rosemary Wakelin
Richard Wakelin (1921-1987) and Rosemary Culley (1919-1998) were both artists, based in Swansea from the late 1950s. They were born in Cardiff and met as students at the Welsh School of Architecture in 1939 before entering the services for the duration of the war. They married in 1947. Richard worked as an architect in private practice and later with the City Council (where his role included care and alterations at the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery). As artists, they both worked in abstract styles, but they appreciated all forms of art and craft. They worked through several organisations to further the visual arts, notably the Swansea Art Society, the Association of Artists and Designers in Wales, the 74 Guild of Artist Craftsmen, the Welsh Group, and the Friends of the Glynn Vivian.
They were co-founders of the Swansea Arts Workshop in the Maritime Quarter, now the Mission Gallery. They were keen to help and encourage talented artists and craftspeople and to broaden the enjoyment of the arts in Swansea. Their three surviving children are Andrew, Sally (and her daughter Kate) and Peter Wakelin. Their eldest son Martin died in 2012 leaving his wife Christine Townley and his daughter Megan, who continue to take an interest in the award.
Friends of Glynn Vivian
Established in 1958, the Friends of Glynn Vivian association has been flourishing ever since. As an independent charity, it is run entirely by its membership, contributing to the purchase of works that extend the Gallery collection and support the Gallery’s programmes. It is a lively organisation, one whose programme of events include lectures, behind the scenes visits and social events. The Friends are always keen to welcome new members. For more information on how to join visit www.friendsoftheglynnvivian.com
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