As I step off the train at Rugby, I realise I’ve passed through this station many times on journeys to Birmingham or further north, but never actually set foot here. Today, I’m here for a major sculpture exhibition that pairs works from the Rugby Art Gallery & Museum’s collection with those from the Ingram Collection, marking the former’s 25th anniversary.
Entering the gallery, I’m greeted by an Elisabeth Frink bird sculpture teetering on a plinth, its wings swept back as if balancing on delicate thermals rather than resting on solid ground. Behind it, a Frink cormorant rendered on paper spreads its wings more serenely, as if drying off after flight.
Opposite these two striking birds from the Ingram Collection hang the more bucolic animals drawn from Rugby Art Gallery’s own collection. It’s a gentle introduction to the gallery’s collection, which includes excellent figurative works: a large-scale drawing by Claudette Johnson, a pair of Lubaina Himid portraits placed within drawers, and pieces by Bridget Riley and Anthony Caro.
The exhibition is divided into thematic sections – animals, abstraction, and figurative – and the latter stands out. Here, an oversized sculpted head by John Davies sits beside a small portrait of his elderly father by Leon Kossoff. There are intimate drawings by Henry Moore, a rare and tender portrait by Maggi Hambling, and a self-portrait by Gillian Wearing, unusually presenting herself rather than a constructed persona, making her seem more vulnerable.
Younger artists are also well represented: Lucy Gregory’s hand-operated spinning legs are playful and unsettling, while Yibel Liu’s grotesque figure sprouts multiple animal heads from its neck.
Like a typical Londoner, I usually go abroad whenever I leave London. But this thoughtful, varied exhibition makes a convincing case for why art lovers should look closer to home – exploring the wider UK in search of art can be just as rewarding.
Beyond the Canvas at Rugby Art Gallery & Museum is on until 7th June, entrance is free.
All images are copyrighted and courtesy of Rugby Art Gallery and Museum.
