New exhibitions at Gainsborough’s House

Between 4 November – 15 November 2024, we will be preparing our exhibition spaces to welcome three new, fantastic exhibitions. These will be available to visit from 16 November 2024 – 20 April 2025.

There are three new exhibitions to enjoy at Gainsborough’s House in Sudbury over the coming months:

The Image of the Artist: Portraits from the Royal Academy:

The exhibition considers the role of the artist by exploring images of Royal Academicians past and present which are going on display from the collection of the Royal Academy. The works show how artists have sought either to reveal or disguise their identities, in both cases controlling how their image is presented. From the founding members of the Royal Academy such as Thomas Gainsborough RA and the huge group work by Henry Singleton of forty Academicians, to portraits of Patrick Proctor RA, Jean Cooke RA and David Hockney RA, this rich and thought-provoking exhibition provides an insight into the lives and identities of Britain’s leading and celebrated artists.

Picture Perfect: A Century of Fashion Photography from the National Portrait Gallery:

This exhibition showcases the role that fashion plays in defining culture. These portraits have been captured by some of the world’s most celebrated fashion photographers such as Cecil Beaton, Irving Penn, Norman Parkinson and Miles Aldridge. The subjects are all style icons over the last hundred years including The Beatles, Twiggy and Lily Cole. Fashion styles continually evolve and this survey charts how fashion photography itself contributes to contemporary culture. The exhibition has been curated in collaboration with the National Portrait Gallery and is part of the Inspiring People project funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Art Fund.

John Macfarlane & The Art of Theatrical Designs:

John Macfarlane, graduate from Glasgow School of Art, is an international stage and costume designer. He worked on designs for both operas and ballets. Among his most famous designs are the new Swan Lake for The Royal Ballet, Frankenstein for The Joffrey Ballet in Chicago, and Tosca for New York’s Metropolitan Opera. The exhibition at Gainsborough’s House is the opportunity to showcase a selection of his designs for operas and ballets.

Find out more about information about your visit on the Gainsborough’s House website.