The Speaker’s Advisory Committee on Works of Art met this morning and, after viewing each of the prints, accepted all six works in the Collection.
The Committee were very pleased at how well the works reflected the original brief to capture the day to day working life of Portcullis House and at the variety of styles and printing methods the artists had used. Inspecting the finished works, all by UK based printmakers, the Committee felt the artistic and technical qualities of the works made them excellent additions to the print collection, which holds works by 20th century artists such as Walter Hoyle, John Piper and David Gentleman and earlier works by 18th and 19th century printmakers.
The prints will be revealed on 1 June to coincide with the Jubilee celebrations, the commission, which marks the Jubilee, reflects the Queen’s link with Portcullis House which she officially opened in 2001.
The House of Commons receives two copies of each print into its Collection, the artist’s proof and the first print of the edition. The rest of the edition remains with the artists for general sale either as sets or individually.
Members of the public on the Contemporary Portraiture in Portcullis House tour will be able to see the prints on display in Portcullis House. The prints together with a exhibition explaining the background to the commission and how the prints were made will on display during Open House weekend when Portcullis House is open to the public free of charge.
Further information about the six artists and information about print sales can be found in the related links below.
Related links:
Paul Catherall
Chloe Cheese
Michael Kirkman
Bronwen Sleigh
Tobias Till
Frances Walker
Information about print sales
Image: Detail of Tobias Till’s studio showing the linocuts in preparation for printing – Tobias Till’s print shows the main Portcullis House atrium at dusk - a film crew carrying out an interview, visitors arriving for meetings and people making their way to Select Committee meetings are all included.