Hartlepool unlocks its art collection in new exhibition

‘Unlocked’, which runs from Saturday 28th August to Saturday 30th October at Hartlepool Art Gallery, will celebrate the recent reopening of the popular tourist attraction and the opportunity to once again show items from the town’s collection of art following the restrictions of the COVID pandemic.

The FREE exhibition will display famous pieces by LS Lowry, Margaret Green and John Bratby, works by 19th century British artists, pieces by local artists celebrating industrial Hartlepool and modernist and abstract works by women artists.

The exhibition also features works by one of Hartlepool’s finest artists, John W. McCracken, who was well-known for his portraits of Hartlepool people and who was instrumental in acquiring several important contemporary works of art for the town’s collection.

Georgina Ascroft, Hartlepool Art Gallery Manager, said: “‘The recent reopening of the gallery is an exciting opportunity for us to welcome back our visitors and showcase some of the fantastic artworks in the collection.

“The exhibition showcases the breadth of our collections and reflects the importance of art to the history of the town, with works from our founding collections gifted to the town by William Cresswell Gray over 100 years ago to pieces from contemporary visual artists.

“Visitors will be able to see ‘Idleness’ by Alice Hogarth Nicholson - which is one of the original artworks that William Gray donated to the town in 1920 – as well as popular pieces such ‘Seaton Carew Beach’ by Margaret Green and various lesser-known, but no less significant artists.”

As well as enjoying the display, visitors can also tuck into tasty treats in the gallery’s Vestry café and browse the gift shop’s range of unusual, quality items.

The gallery is based in Church Square and is open 10am – 5pm Tuesdays to Saturdays and entry is free.

For more information call (01429) 869706 or visit www.hartlepoolartgallery.co.uk