PREVIEW

AssetID: 36470146

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

Caption: Thursday 23rd May 2019 Picture Credit Charlotte Graham Pictures Shows, Becky Gee with the Art Work called High Priest 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 GalleryÕs 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: ÒMichael LyonsÕ 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. ÒHis works will bring a new dimension to the setting of The Artists Garden, complementing and contrasting with the ancient walls of St MaryÕs Abbey and the more rustic landscapes of the Edible Wood. ÒAmphitrite is one of LyonsÕ 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.Ó Before his passing, Michael said about the show: ÒÔTo my knowledge this is the first time such a large exhibition of outdoor sculpture has been shown in York Ð 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.Ó Becky added: ÒIt 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.Ó The exhibition is free and will run for 12 months. LyonsÕ sculptures range from small-scale to monumental, while his materials include brass, bronze, clay and copper. The artistÕs 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 LyonsÕ 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 : CeresÕ Key (2000) and Harvest : DemeterÕs Dream (2000). Images of the works are available on request. PHOTO CALL FOLLOWSÉ 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 ICAÕs ÔYoung ContemporariesÕ and the WhitworthÕs ÔNorthern Young ContemporariesÕ. 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. ÔHeights of DavidÕ (1976Ð77), exhibited at LondonÕs Serpentine Gallery, ManchesterÕs Whitworth and Yorkshire Sculpture Park, confirmed and embodied this. LyonsÕ sculpture ranges from steel constructions, rooted in the tradition of Picasso, Gonz‡lez and David Smith, to organic bronzes modelled on an intimate or monumental scale. A visit to China in 1993 profoundly influenced the development of LyonsÕ 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 largeÐscale sculptures produced in relation to these countriesÕ cultures and sculptural traditions. During a residency at Shanghai Sculpture Park in 2009 Lyons produced a monumental clay work ÔVoice of the Mountain: Sudden StormÕ, subsequently cast in bronze in 2011 and sited in the Park. LyonsÕ 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. ÔThe Sculpture of Michael LyonsÕ by Dr Judith LeGrove was published by Sansom and Company in 2013 to mark the sculptorÕs 70th Birthday. Recent projects include ÔMachines and Myths : Sculpture, Drawings, Prints by Michael LyonsÕ at Hatton Gallery in 2018 as part of the Great Exhibition of the North, ÔFull CircleÕ, a solo exhibition at Wolverhampton Art Gallery in 2017 and ÔFreeze FrameÕ, 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

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