John Piper (1903–1992) was a major contributor to the artistic and cultural landscape of twentieth century Britain. Through landscape paintings and collages, photographs, abstracts, theatre designs and relief constructions, Piper expressed a sensitivity to the physical characteristics and atmosphere of his native land. Whilst taking influence from Paris-based abstract artists including Jean Hélion and Alexander Calder, Piper was particularly drawn to English churches and monuments. In this, the first major exhibition of John Piper’s work since 2003, is presented a selection of works starting with the artist’s idyllic images of rural Britain in the late 1920s and 1930s through to the depictions of bombed-out churches made during World War Two as Official War Artist, as well as his romantic landscape paintings which were a preoccupation after the 1940s.

On 15 November 1940, the day after the Coventry Blitz, Piper visited Coventry and made a series of drawings of the ravaged city, in particular of the cathedral and other gutted churches. He returned to Coventry in the 1950s when Basil Spence commissioned the artist, with Patrick Reyntiens, to design a huge stained glass window for the city’s new cathedral, which was consecrated in 1962. This exhibition, presented as Coventry prepares to become City of Culture in 2021, makes direct reference to Piper’s significant contribution to the city.

You and your friends are warmly invited to the opening of

The exhibition will be opened by the Very Revd John Witcombe MA MPhil, Dean of Coventry

Limited free bar availableFree entry

This exhibition has been organised by the Mead Gallery in association with Tate Liverpool.

JOHN PIPERTue 1 May– Thu 21 Jun 2018Open Mon – Sat, 12 noon – 9 pm Now open Sundays and Bank Holidays 12– 5pmFREE ENTRY

Mead GalleryWarwick Arts CentreUniversity of WarwickCoventry CV4 7AL meadgallery.co.ukBox Office: 024 7652 4524

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John PiperMon 30 April 2018 6— 8pm

John PiperInterior of Coventry Cathedral, the morning after the Blitz, 1940Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry, UK / Bridgeman Images© The Piper Estate