PREVIEW

AssetID: 36470135

Headline: Ancient & Modern Exhibition, York Art Gallery, Yorkshire, UK

Caption: Thursday 23rd May 2019 Picture Credit Charlotte Graham Pictures Shows, Large scale sculpture by internationally acclaimed artist Michael Lyons will be displayed in a major new outside exhibition in York this spring. Ancient and Modern will include nine sculptures inspired by nature, myth and ancient cultures. Lyons, who died suddenly in April 2019, worked from Cawood, North Yorkshire, with this the first major exhibition of his work in York. The sculpture will be displayed in the unique setting of York Art Gallery’s Artists Garden, with the central space dominated by Amphitrite (1993), a large painted steel structure. Becky Gee, Curator of Fine Art at York Art Gallery, said: “Michael Lyons’ incredible work has been shown around the world and in some of the most respected art institutions here in the UK, but this is the first large scale exhibition in York, his home city. “His works will bring a new dimension to the setting of The Artists Garden, complementing and contrasting with the ancient walls of St Mary’s Abbey and the more rustic landscapes of the Edible Wood. “Amphitrite is one of Lyons’ most ambitious creations and we hope it will excite and spark debate for those who come to see it as they explore this wonderful corner of the city centre.” Before his passing, Michael said about the show: “‘To my knowledge this is the first time such a large exhibition of outdoor sculpture has been shown in York – certainly for many years. It is a great pleasure to make a contribution to the cultural life of York in this way and I hope that the exhibition will help to make sculpture a more integral part of the city.” Becky added: “It has been wonderful working on this exhibition with Michael before his passing. His energy, warmth and creativity made a real impact on the gallery team and we hope the show will prove to be a true celebration of the extraordinary skill and talent he possessed.” The exhibition is free and will run for 12 months. Lyons’ sculptures range from small-scale to monumental, while his materials include brass, bronze, clay and copper. The artist’s in-depth exploration of the medium of steel has resulted in an ambitious body of work that is at home in both rural and urban landscapes. Although the sculptures are abstract, their starting point is often figurative. Alongside Amphitrite (1993), eight other works will be shown in the Artists Garden and nearby Edible Wood. These pieces show varying styles as Lyons’ work changed between the 1980s to the 2000s. The works are: Ace (1982), Michaelmas (1982) Mayflower (1983), High Priest (1989), Cavalcade (1990), Hornblower (1992), Harvest : Ceres’ Key (2000) and Harvest : Demeter’s Dream (2000). Images of the works are available on request. PHOTO CALL FOLLOWS… Photo Call Time: 10am Date: Thursday May 23 Venue: York Artists Garden, York Art Gallery Journalists and Photographers are invited to come and see the large sculpture in the beautiful York Artists Garden and Edible Wood, with curator of fine art, Becky Gee. Biography Michael Lyons (1943 - 2019) gained recognition in the 1960s when he was included in exhibitions such as the ICA’s ‘Young Contemporaries’ and the Whitworth’s ‘Northern Young Contemporaries’. By the mid-1970s he was one of the finest steel sculptors of his generation, whose potent, architectural forms commanded attention in their relation to landscape. ‘Heights of David’ (1976–77), exhibited at London’s Serpentine Gallery, Manchester’s Whitworth and Yorkshire Sculpture Park, confirmed and embodied this. Lyons’ sculpture ranges from steel constructions, rooted in the tradition of Picasso, González and David Smith, to organic bronzes modelled on an intimate or monumental scale. A visit to China in 1993 profoundly influenced the development of Lyons’ work through teaching and making sculpture in Hangzhou, Beijing, Shanghai and many other cities. Residencies in Mexico, Germany, USA, Turkey and Cyprus have resulted in numerous large–scale sculptures produced in relation to these countries’ cultures and sculptural traditions. During a residency at Shanghai Sculpture Park in 2009 Lyons produced a monumental clay work ‘Voice of the Mountain: Sudden Storm’, subsequently cast in bronze in 2011 and sited in the Park. Lyons’ drawings and sculpture are represented in the collections of the Canary Wharf Group, Arts Council England, Henry Moore Institute, Yale Centre for British Art and galleries throughout Britain and abroad. Lyons was a founding member of Yorkshire Sculpture Park and Vice-President of the Royal Society of Sculptors. ‘The Sculpture of Michael Lyons’ by Dr Judith LeGrove was published by Sansom and Company in 2013 to mark the sculptor’s 70th Birthday. Recent projects include ‘Machines and Myths : Sculpture, Drawings, Prints by Michael Lyons’ at Hatton Gallery in 2018 as part of the Great Exhibition of the North, ‘Full Circle’, a solo exhibition at Wolverhampton Art Gallery in 2017 and ‘Freeze Frame’, an exhibition of sculpture and drawings from the 1970s and 80s at the Stanley and Audrey Burton Gallery in 2016. Notes to Editors: Image credits: First image: Michael Lyons, Hornblower, 1992, steel (now galvanised) 329 x 149 x 183cm. Artist's Collection. Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Michael Lyons Second image: Michael Lyons, Amphitrite, 1993, painted steel 305 x 488 x 266cm. Artist's Collection. Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Heini Schneebeli Third image: Michael Lyons, Cavalcade, 1990, steel (rusted and varnished) 280 x 135 x 50 cm. Artist's Collection. Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Heini Schneebeli For high resolution images or more information please contact: Lee Clark, communications and evaluation manager: lee.clark@ymt.org.uk / 01904 687673 Lauren Masterman, press and marketing co-ordinator: lauren.masterman@ymt.org.uk / 01904 650351 York Art Gallery Opening Times: Monday- Sunday: 10am-5pm. Last admission: 4:30pm Closed: 25, 26 December and 1 January www.yorkartgallery.org.uk

Keywords: News,Events,shows,Art

PersonInImage: