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Art Stories - Celebrating Reading Foundation for Art @50

Writer's picture: Reading Foundation for ArtReading Foundation for Art
'Every picture tells a story. Some the artists leave for you to find. But there are more that you can make up for yourself'.

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. ‘Art Stories’ continues until 22nd February 2025 with the opportunity to join a guided tour on Saturday 1st February, CLICK HERE to book your place.



The founding of the RFA  in 1974 was an ambitious and unique project which aimed to enrich the lives of local people and enhance the cultural fabric of the town by building an art collection for the people of Reading. This inspirational story began with an anonymous donation in which launched the UK’s only regional art collection whose sole purpose was to enrich the lives of local people through owning their own world-class collection of paintings, sculpture and prints. Unlike other public collections, the Reading Foundation collection has no links with local councils and is therefore never at risk of being sold and will always benefit the people of the town.



Since 1974 the Foundation has acquired over 150 works ranging from the 18th Century to the Present Day. Many of these are of national significance including works by household names such as Paul Sandby, John Nash, Sir Peter Blake, John Piper, Mary Fedden and Sir Terry Frost, many of which are on show in the exhibition ‘Art Stories’. Many of these objects have Reading connections, adding interest for local historians as well as art lovers.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS from the exhibition 'ART STORIES'

Alice Kettle ‘Sunflowers’

Embroidery on linen

265 x 130cm

Acquired by the RFA 2024

This major acquisition marks the RFA’s 50 year history and the purchase was assisted by funding from the Art Fund and the V&A Purchase Grant Fund.


Internationally renowned as a pioneer in textile art, Kettle defies expectations of her medium through the unprecedented scale of her work. Her unique combination of machine and hand embroidery builds tiny individual stitches into sweeping, painterly lines that deceive the eye. Her art training at the University of Reading, links her to a generation of contemporary painters such as Terry Frost, Mali Morris and Albert Irvin, all of whom were her tutors.

Visitors admiring Alice Kettle's Sunflowers
Visitors admiring Alice Kettle's Sunflowers










Pablo Picasso linocut, donated to the RFA by in 2023
Pablo Picasso linocut, donated to the RFA by in 2023

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. The Foundation provides initial funds to attract matching grants from various charities. The Foundation has also attracted the interest of artists and there have been some generous donations.



Edmund John Niemann (1813–1876) 'Reading from Caversham Hill' oil on canvas

Acquired by the RFA in 2023 with the help of the Sidney Gold Legacy 


Edmund John Niemann was a highly prolific and greatly celebrated landscape artist. His extremely large portfolio covered scenes across the length and breadth of Britain and his most famous works are those depicting the river Thames. In the early 1840s, Niemann produced a series of publications under the title of ‘A Tour Around Reading’. It is thought that the RFA's painting of 'Reading from Caversham Hill' was part of this series. Investigations by the Bucks Free Press report that when moving to Reading in 1840, the artist firstly lodged at No. 56, London Road before moving to No. 33, Oxford Road, in the centre of the town.



Rebecca Swainston

'Duality with Horse' 2020

oil on canvas

Acquired by the RFA 2021


Rebecca is a painter and printmaker. Her work addresses the human condition in psychologically charged images which are richly textured and coloured. The work interweaves ideas of the changing nature of identity and perception to explore the shifting nature of existence. Rebecca draws on contemporary and personal events and observations as well as beliefs and ideas from many cultures. work is powerfully emotive.


The collection is not limited to two-dimensional art and includes sculpture, ceramics, jewellery and silverware, much of it with Reading connections. The RFA actively supports and engages with the local arts having commissoned a wide range or artists and makers, working in a variety of medium, whose work is now represented in the Museum. 



ART STORIES is at Reading Museum until 22nd February 2025

The Reading Foundation for Art was established as a Registered Charity (268844 ) in 1974. 

The Foundation relies heavily upon the generosity of local donors, without whose support and contributions the collection cannot flourish. Contact the Trustees at rffa@readingmuseum.org.uk

To view the collection and learn more visit the collection website at www.rffa.org.uk


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Images of works: © Reading Borough Council.      Reading Foundation for Art is a registered charity No. 268844  Reading Museum, The Town Hall, Blagrave Street, Reading RG1 1QH
 

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