From Maria Balshaw, Director of Manchester City Galleries and Whitworth Art Gallery

Update

Spring has sprung in a big way here at Manchester Art Gallery as Raqib Shaw’s exhibition arrives with a riot of colour in the paintings and an extraordinary installation of willow, spring flowers and foliage around our perimeter railings and entrance hall. We hope you love the art reaching out beyond our gallery walls.

Elsewhere across the gallery, many favourite pieces - like Ford Madox Brown’s Work - have returned and other significant paintings have come out on display as we use our atrium and balconies to show even more of the collections we hold here in Manchester. Our Dutch oil paintings are all being redisplayed too with the help of the curatorial expertise at the National Gallery.

As we move towards summer, the tremendous creative energy of the Manchester International Festival takes hold of the city and we’re proud to be part of it, working with Hans Ulrich Obrist from London’s Serpentine Gallery to re-stage a 20th anniversary presentation of the legendary do it exhibition.

Lots for our visitors to do then.

We hope you enjoy the season.

Cover Image: St. Sebastian of the Poppies (detail), 2012, Raqib Shaw.© Raqib Shaw Photo: Prudence Cuming Associates Ltd.

Manchester Art Gallery has a world-class fine and decorative art collection, with over 25,000 works ranging from Pre-Raphaelite paintings to bold new contemporary art, as well as drawings, sculpture, furniture and ceramics.

Our sister venue, the Gallery of Costume at Platt Hall in Rusholme, holds over 21,000 pieces of clothing, accessories, photographs and more, spanning the history of dress from 1700 to fashion today (see the reverse of this leaflet for what’s on here).

We regularly change our exhibitions and displays; so as well as showing some of your favourite, familiar artworks, there is always something new. We also loan works from our collections to other galleries world-wide, promoting Manchester internationally and widening access to our collections.

Raqib Shaw15 February –26 May Manchester Art GalleryFree entryEnter the gallery past a magical series of willow and spring flower installations to discover the dark, unsettling world of Raqib Shaw’s art. Beneath the seductive surface of his jewel-encrusted works, you’ll find a disturbing land inhabited by terrifying monkey warriors and other mythical beasts.

Exclusive to Manchester and Prague, this new exhibition comprises recent paintings, sculptures and works on paper.

Shaw has created a striking response to Manchester’s famous Cheetah and Stag with Two Indians, by George Stubbs for the exhibition. The original painting made a lasting impression on the artist as a young boy and has inspired this provocative new work, now on display alongside the original.

What’s new

About Manchester Art Gallery

#RaqibShawThe exhibition is a collaboration between Manchester Art Gallery and Galerie Rudolfinum.

St Sebastian of the Poppies, 2012, Raqib Shaw.© Raqib ShawPhoto: Prudence Cuming Associates Ltd.

Karl Fritsch JewelleryUntil 27 MayJewellery icon Karl Fritsch has a world-class reputation for making distinctive and highly coveted rings from gold, silver and precious gems that are works of art in their own right. Designed to complement the Raqib Shaw exhibition, this is Fritsch’s first solo UK show and includes pieces for sale from £100 upwards.

#KarlFritsch

Between the Wars27 April – 13 OctoberThis display brings together paintings, sculptures, works on paper, craft and design to express the various styles and concerns of British art in the turbulent period between the wars.#ArtBTW

Radical Figures: Post-war British Figurative Painting16 March – 2014Drawn largely from the Arts Council Collection, this display explores the pioneering role that painters such as Francis Bacon, Lucian Freud and David Hockney played in the reinvention of figurative art in the second half of the 20th century.

#RadicalFigures

New displays across our galleries that showcase highlights from our unique collection.

Four People Sunbathing, 1955, Michael AndrewsArts Council Collection, Southbank Centre, London ©The Estate of Michael Andrews, courtesy of James Hyman, London.

Home, Land and SeaArt in the Netherlands 1600 –1800From 24 MayThis new display juxtaposes fifty of our most important Dutch and Flemish paintings with contemporary art and a new sound installation by local young people. See works by Old Masters, including Jacob van Ruisdael and Pieter de Hooch, alongside pieces by major contemporary artists, including Mat Collishaw and Gavin Turk. These dramatic interventions shed new light on the stories and symbolism of the historic works, some of which are being displayed for the first time in many years.This display is supported by the National Gallery, the Art Fund, Aurelius Trust and the Friends and Patrons of Manchester Art Gallery.

#HomeLandandSea

Art for All: Thomas Horsfall’s Gift to ManchesterFrom 7 JuneManchester philanthropist Thomas Horsfall believed firmly in the social benefits of art and successfully lobbied to change the law so that school children could visit museums and galleries as part of their education. He also set up an art museum in Ancoats in 1895 to connect the city’s poor with the natural world through images of nature. Local children have helped with this exhibition that explores Horsfall’s collection and the relationship between art, nature and people.Supported by DAC Beachcroft.

#Horsfall

The Tallest of Tales Alison Erika Forde27 July – 10 November Forde creates fairytale images made from mass-produced pictures and charity shop bric-a-brac. With influences including book illustrations, folk art and kitsch, she fills her work with mischief and dark humour.Alison Erika Forde is represented by The International 3, Manchester.

#AlisonErikaForde

Kitchen interior with man bringing fish for sale,1657, Hendrick Sorgh.

do it 2013 – a world premiere for Manchester International Festival5 July – 22 SeptemberFree entryHelp make groundbreaking new art by taking part in do it – an evolving exhibition created from a series of instructions written by artists. An eclectic mix of things for you to do at the gallery and at home, the instructions range from the active to the absurd to the philosophical.

Initiated by curator Hans Ulrich Obrist with artists Christian Boltanski and Bertrand Lavier 20 years ago, do it has been enacted in 50 different places, making it the widest-reaching and longest running ‘exhibition in progress’ ever to occur.

To celebrate its 20th anniversary, and in homage to the original idea, this new exhibition premieres 70 brand new instructions. It brings together artists from the first do it experiments with a new generation of contemporary artists from Ai Weiwei to Adrian Piper to Tracey Emin to Richard Wentworth.

#doit2013

Image: Moon over Takasaki, 1998, Fischli & Weiss Courtesy the artists

Friday 5 July 2pm – 6pm

Saturday 6 – Sunday 21 July 10am – 6pm

Monday 22 July – Sunday 22 September 10am – 5pm

(Open till 9pm every Thursday)

do it is a generative exhibition conceived and curated by Hans Ulrich Obrist. do it 2013 is produced by Manchester International Festival and Manchester Art Gallery, in collaboration with Independent Curators International (ICI), New York.

What’s On Gallery of Costume April–September Free entry

www.manchestergalleries.org

About the Galleryof Costume

Knitted Elegance: Creative fashion since the 1950s7 February – 2 JuneKnitwear can be sophisticated as well as practical, beautiful as well as warm, chic as well as homely. Outfits by designers including Vivienne Westwood, Yves Saint Laurent, Sonia Rykiel, Missoni, Moschino, Alice Temperley and Maria Grachvogel all feature in this new display.

Community knitters and members of Wythenshawe’s Studio One and Rusholme’s M3 have responded with knitted sculptures in our stairwell and dining room.

Cover Image: Detail of frogging from jacket by Kate Moss for Top Shop, 2010

Right: Knitted Elegance: ‘New Look’ hand knit suit,1954

Manchester Art Gallery’s sister venue is the Gallery of Costume at Platt Hall in Platt Fields Park, Wilmslow Road, Rusholme.

Just two miles south of the city centre, this lovely Georgian house showcases six centuries of British fashion from our extensive costume collection.

Exhibits range from exquisite 17th and 18th century embroidered clothes and accessories to contemporary couture and high street trends, via Victorian opulence and wartime austerity.

A tea room sells fairtrade teas and coffee and homemade cakes. Groups are welcome – ideally book in advance for groups over 10 people. Please call 0161 245 7245 for details.

Admission is free.

What’s new

Christian Dior: Designer in focus12 June 2013–12 January 2014Christian Dior’s brief but supremely influential career began with his iconic ‘New Look’ in 1947. He reigned supreme in Parisian fashion for ten years until his untimely death in 1957.

This unique exhibition features Paris and London couture, many outfits recently acquired by the Gallery of Costume. Stunning displays include day, cocktail and evening wear, and represent many of Dior’s seminal collections.

Christian Dior with model Dorothy Emms, 1957. ©2004 TopFoto

What’s more...

Manchester Art Gallery has a dynamic programme of activities seven days a week.

Thursday latesSee art in a new light with a mix of talks, live music, film screenings, food and drink – join us on Thursdays when we open until 9pm.#Thursdaylates

Wonder WomenSpecial Thursday lates events run in March and April as part of Wonder Women: Radical Manchester. Find out more at www.creativetourist.com/wonderwomen#wonderwomenmcrAbove: Our display includes a photograph showing the arrest of a Suffragette on Oxford Road, Manchester, on 4 October 1909.

Talks, tours and workshopsActivities linked to our collections and exhibitions run seven days a week.Call us or visit our website for details of what’s on and when.

Eat, drink and shopOur cafe at Manchester Art

Gallery serves hot and cold food including great fish and chips and delicious home-made cakes, as well as teas, coffees, beer, wine and soft drinks. Join us on Thursday evenings, and enjoy a drink and bite to eat (til 8.45pm).

Manchester Art Gallery shop has postcards, jewellery and gifts including beautiful art books, catalogues and prints inspired by our collections and exhibitions. You can hold all kinds of private events, parties and weddings at Manchester Art Gallery. Please contact: eventsteam@manchester.gov.uk or call 0161 235 8866.

Free fun for children and families Enjoy the gallery with children and borrow a free Explorer Tool Belt or Story Bag on your visit. Free drop-in family events take place most weekends and during school holidays as well as monthly art clubs tailored for babies to 11 year olds.

manchestergalleries.org0161 235 8888

Explore our collection onlineWe have a searchable database of over 30,000 works of art at www.manchestergalleries.org

There are over 2,000 oil paintings from our collection on a BBC website Your Paintings. You can view them here www.bbc.co.uk/arts/yourpaintings/

Your Paintings is a joint initiative between the BBC, the Public Catalogue Foundation (a registered charity) and participating collections and museumsfrom across the UK.

Visit us for freeManchester Art Gallery Mosley Street Manchester M2 3JL Tel: 0161 235 8888 www.manchestergalleries.org

Open Monday–Sunday 10am–5pmand Thursdays 10am–9pm

Support usWe can’t do it without you. Thanks to everyone who supports us.

Access Manchester Art Gallery is fully accessible. The Gallery of Costume has wheelchair access to the ground floor. There is disabled parking close to both galleries. Guide and hearing dogs are welcome.

Manchester Art Gallery and the Gallery of Costume are owned and managed by Manchester City Council.

Gallery of CostumePlatt HallRusholmeManchester M14 5LLTel: 0161 245 7245Open Monday–Friday 1–5pmSaturday–Sunday 10am–5pm(Pre-booked groups welcome Monday–Friday, 10am–1pm)

Become a Friend or PatronJoin the Manchester Art Gallery Friends and from as little as £30 per year you can: - Meet curators and artists- Go behind the scenes- Get to know new people and enjoy an exclusive welcome tour- Enjoy Friends – only trips and social events- Receive invitations to selected exhibition previews.

Patrons receive special benefits.

For more information and to join go to: joinmagfriends.com or call 0161 235 8814.

We’re extremely grateful to the following for their support:

Director’s Circle BruntwoodCobden House ChambersCole & CoDewhurst Torevell & Co LtdHill DickinsonPetros Development Company LtdSt Johns BuildingsWrather & CoWRG

Executive Circle Charles Stanley, The Personal Investment ServiceEmerson Group LimitedHurstIan Simpson Architects Ltd

Manchester Science ParkPannoneQuorum Estates

SupportersEversheds

Corporate partnersFarrow & Ball – Official paint supplierThe Midland Hotel, Manchester– Official Sponsor of the Patrons’ schemeTaylor O’Brien – Strategic and Creative Partner

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www.manchestergalleries.org

What’s On Manchester Art Gallery April –September Free entry