Sussex Art Galleries and Collections

Sussex is home to major art galleries and small, individual galleries and studios too.

As well as a collection of Old Masters, Pallant House Gallery in Chichester has one of the best collections of 20th century art in the country. On show is Pop Art by Peter Blake, Richard Hamilton and David Hockney, Surrealist fantasies by Man Ray, Magritte and Dali, and post-war modernism by the likes of Lucien Freud, Howard Hodgkin and Henry Moore.

In Eastbourne, the Towner Art Gallery is currently closed but set to re-open in spring 2008 in an exciting, new, £8.5m purpose-built gallery in the Devonshire Park cultural quarter. Collections include works by greats like Picasso, Sussex artist Eric Ravilious and contemporary stars Julian Opie, Wolfgang Tillmans and Tacita Dean.

The De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill-on-sea, the UK's first public building built in the Modernist style, has two bright and spacious galleries showing a rolling programme of innovative exhibitions of contemporary art by leading national and international artisits.  In contrast is bohemian Charleston Farmhouse, the country home of Bloomsbury Group artists Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant from 1916 to the 1970s. Charmingly ramshackle, it’s filled with the artists’ work, from paintings and murals to painted furniture, ceramics and textiles.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the downland village of Ditchling became an artists’ colony, home to engraver and type designer Eric Gill, weaver Ethel Mairet and artist Frank Brangwyn, among others. Ditchling Museum has a rich collection of their art, crafts and applied arts and the village remains a mecca for artists and crafts people, with many interesting galleries. Brighton Museum & Art Gallery’s exciting collections include fashion, world art and internationally renowned 20th century Decorative Arts featuring Art Nouveau and Art Deco furniture, Lalique glass, and chairs by contemporary designers. 

Up to the minute information about events, festivals and venues can be found at Arts in Sussex; about local arists and makers at Made in Sussex and about the wider cutural offer of Sussex at Culture Sussex.