Exhibition
Gillian Ayres: A Life in Colour
4 Jul-20 Sep 2026
The Box
Plymouth PL4 8AX
Gillian Ayres, Sang the Sun in Flight, 2009. Credit: © Estate of Gillian Ayres RA CBE.
Overview
Come and explore the life, work and legacy of pioneering female artist Gillian Ayres (1930-2018).
Ayres was a formidable and brilliant artist who came of age in a post-war British art world that was dominated by men. She remained entirely faithful to painting as it went in and out of fashion and the huge vibrant works she produced are a testament to her fearless and unwavering commitment.
Gillian Ayres: A Life in Colour brings together 26 of Ayres’ vibrant paintings. Tracing her bold and expressive style, they span seven decades of creative practice. Seminal works such as Hampstead Murals from the late 1950s and works created at her rural North Devon home in the 1990s and early 2000s are shown alongside Harlyn Bay, made when she was just 15 years old.
Known for her energetic brushwork and rich use of colour, the exhibition showcases the feeling and emotion that guided Ayres, giving you the chance to encounter the fearless experimentation and emotional intensity that defined her approach to painting.
Ayres’ deep connection to the landscapes and rural life of South West England were an enduring source of inspiration for her. She lived in a remote spot on the North Devon/North Cornwall border from 1987 until her death in 2018 and the rhythms, colours and expansiveness of life in the countryside allowed her to create some of her most ambitious and monumental works.
She was shortlisted for the Turner Prize in 1989, elected to the Royal Academy in 1991, and appointed a CBE in 2011. Her paintings and prints are held by major museums and galleries worldwide including Tate, the British Museum, MoMA New York, the Yale Center for British Art, and the National Gallery of Australia.
As well as being one of Britain’s most influential and radical female artists Ayres was a significant figure in arts education and was the first female Head of Art at Winchester Art Collect from 1978-1981. A concurrent display marking the 170th anniversary of Arts University Plymouth will highlight the city’s own long-standing commitment to creative education.