The Collection of Art Owned by the People of Reading
THE RFA CELEBRATES 50 YEARS!
Key works featured in Reading Museum's 2024 exhibition 'Art Stories'
As a registered charity, the Foundation relies heavily upon the local donors, without whose support and contributions the collection could not flourish and grow.
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The Foundation were recently delighted to accept the very generous donation of Picasso's linocut 'Still Life with Watermelon' from a longstanding supporter of the Reading Foundation for Art. The artwork was on show throughout 2024 in Reading Museum's 'Art Stories' exhibition.
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​Reading Museum has been celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Reading Foundation for Arts with a major exhibition entitled ‘Art Stories’ featuring key works acquired by the Foundation during its fifty year history and which have been presented to the Museum.
RECENT EVENTS, PROJECTS & ACQUISITIONS AT THE FOUNDATION
Pablo Picasso (1881-1973)
‘Still Life with a Watermelon’ 1962, Linocut
Generously donated in 2023 by a ‘proud Reading Man’
As a registered charity, the Foundation relies heavily upon the local donors, without whose support and contributions the collection could not flourish and grow.
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The Foundation were recently delighted to accept the very generous donation of Picasso's linocut 'Still Life with Watermelon' from a longstanding supporter of the Reading Foundation for Art. The artwork was on show throughout 2024 in Reading Museum's 'Art Stories' exhibition.
HALIMA CASSELL 'Vestige'
October 2022 - Recent Commission
In 2021 the Contemporary Art Society, supported by Reading Foundation for Art, and the Heritage Lottery Fund, through the Reading Abbey Revealed project, commissioned Halima Cassell to make a sculpture in response to the important decorative carved stones from Reading Abbey. She has created something extraordinary for the town.
Halima, a member of the Royal British Society of Sculptors, has been recognised as one of the leading figures in contemporary British studio pottery.
To learn more about the commission, read the BLOG
MATT HULSE 'Bridges/Brucken' 2023
** Supported by the Reading Foundation for Art ** October 2023
New Photographic Commission Celebrating Reading and Dusseldorf by Matt Hulse
An exciting new project, commissioned by the Reading Foundation for Art, by internationally celebrated photographer and film maker Matt Hulse was recently revealed at an event hosted by Haslams Estate Agents in Reading.
Since early 2021 Reading-based artist and film maker Matt Hulse has produced eyecatching projects that have been inspired by historic links between Reading and the town’s German partner city Düsseldorf. 'BRIDGES / BRÜCKEN' is Hulse’s most recent project within this framework. It combines striking night time photographic studies of
bridges and bridge structures captured over a two-year period in both Reading and Düsseldorf, exploring architectural form and metaphors of connection.
The outcome of the commission evolved in to a collection of twelve photographs, mounted as sets of six entitled 'Relationship 1' and 'Relationship 2', each offering their own unique aesthetic and approach.
To learn more about Matt Hulse and the commission, read the BLOG
BISHOPSLAND SILVERSMITHS - The Caddy Spoon Commission
** Recent fundraising ** April 2022
Reading Foundation for Art is delighted to announce a project commissioning a range of silver caddy spoons supporting the unique silversmiths of Bishopsland Educational Trust which is based just outside Reading. Postgraduate students of Bishopsland, representing some of the finest contemporary silversmiths working in Britain today have been asked to present designs based on original design techniques of the traditional caddy spoon while taking advantage of contemporary sculptural forms. The winning designs, once commissioned will form part of the Reading Foundation collection and will be on view at Reading Museum.
*NECESSARY FUNDS RAISED, Summer 2022 * With thanks to the generosity of our benefactors and supporters, the necessary funds were achieved to allow the commissions to go ahead.
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* SEE THE CADDY SPOONS* on view at the Reading Museum NOW.
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Oh Beautiful World! by Eleanor Lakelin
On leaving Reading Gaol in 1897 Oscar Wilde declared `Oh Beautiful World`.
Using timber from trees that had stood by the Gaol since Wilde`s time, celebrated contemporary wood sculptor Eleanor Lakelin, has created a sculpture that is as enigmatic as Wilde`s words. It refers to his love of Beauty and Classicism and, being made from an endangered species in a time of great uncertainty, it also speaks of human fragility and resilience. It was the first Contemporary Art Society Rapid Response Fund commission made during the pandemic.
To learn more, read the Reading Museum BLOG about the origins and importance of this collection HERE.
RFA acquires a remarkable painting by the celebrated Reading artist, Rebecca Swainston
Rebecca exposes the human condition; its complexity, vulnerability and strength, juxtaposing ideas about physicality with the conscious and subconscious mind. There is a strong narrative throughout the work with many layers of meaning giving the work the ability to fascinate, challenge, hold, and reward the viewer’s attention.
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The RFA is delighted to have been able to acquire 'Duality with White Horse' for the Reading Museum collection.
RFA commissions portrait of Sir John Madejski
In 2011 Reading Foundation for Art commissioned a portrait of Sir John Madejski CBE DL by celebrated portrait artist Thai Shan Schierenberg. The portrait will become part of the RFA collection and will be on view at Reading Museum.
Sir John Madejski, CBE, DL, is best known as an entrepreneur businessman, patron of the arts and lover of football. In 2009 he received a knighthood for his services to charity. Tai-Shan Schierenberg is one of Britain's leading artists whose portrait sitters have included the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh and recently Professor Stephen Hawking.