The Millinery Works Art Gallery

JOHN BIRATBY - A FAMOUS UNKNOWN

The 1950s saw the final assault on Victorian morality begin in earnest. In England a group of artists and writers

 known as the  ‘angry young men’ unconsciously contributed to the intellectual assault that was finally to undermine

Victorian traditionalism.

Among them was the artist John Bratby, one of the leaders of the so-called ‘Kitchen Sink School’ of painters.

Widely acclaimed at the outset of his career - he had his first one-man show at the Beaux Arts Gallery in 1954, 

he was recognised by the Royal Academy as a brilliant painter, and was elected ARA in 1959 and RA in 1971.

  John Bratby RA

  13 November - 1 December 2002

This exhibition, staged to coincide with the launch of the first ever book on the ‘angry young man’ John Bratby brought together work      that ranged from his early ‘kitchen sink’ years through to the final years submerged with Patti in the splendour of Venice.

The show represented the continued reappraisal and re-discovery of one of Britain’s great post second world war painters whose fame and renown in the fifties and sixties is matched only by the obscurity and fall from grace that followed.

The works selected illustrated Bratby’s passion for painting and his exuberant use of colour, with the oil paint forced out of the tubes with great bursts of energy.

The event also hosted the book launch of ‘BRATBY’ by Peter Davies who was  present to sign copies of his new book on the opening night.

The gallery also hosted a lecture by Davies where he will be discussed ‘John Bratby the Opportunist’ on Sunday 17 November.

Peter Davies's book 'Bratby'.

The first biography of the artist. It is available for £19.99p plus package & postage from art@millineryworks.co.uk

For further information email art@millineryworks.co.uk 

Home page

Previous exhibitions

Forthcoming exhibitions