daviesac The life and passions of Lady Barber Who was Lady Martha Constance Hattie Barber? And what inspired her generous bequest to the University of Birmingham? Find out in this exhibition focusing on Lady Barber’s life, that of her husband, Sir Henry, their house at Culham Court and its remarkable gardens and collections. A significant part … Read more
Robert Atkinson and the Building of the Barber Institute The Barber Institute is widely regarded as an Art Deco masterpiece. This display explores its gradually evolving concept and actual construction up to its opening in 1939. The story of its architecture – from gradually evolving concept through construction, overseen by the Barber’s first Director, Thomas … Read more
JACQUELINE LAWRENCE Lady Barber’s personal lace collection is the starting point for mixed-media textile artist Jacqueline Lawrence’s series of sensitively observed works. For hundreds of years, lace has provided a decorative aspect to things of practical use. This function- as well as lace’s intricate detail and imaginative design- have fascinated Lawrence, who has also sought … Read more
Panoramic Views on European Coins and Medals London, Amsterdam, Hamburg, Barcelona, Venice and Budapest… Explore the historical landscapes of all these cities – and more – in Cityscapes: Panoramic Views on European Coins and Medals at the Barber Institute of Fine Arts. The third in a series of prestigious shows organised in collaboration with the British Museum, Cityscapes highlights how, … Read more
Equestrian Themes in the Barber’s Collection of Works on Paper The domesticated horse has enjoyed a special relationship with man for millennia as a crucial partner in warfare, hunting, agriculture, leisure and other major aspects of our existence. This display of prints and drawings from the Barber collection explores our relationship with this animal, prized … Read more
Portrait of Countess Golovina Moscow, about 1797/1800 Oil on canvas 83.5 x 66.7 cm Countess Golovine sweeps up her shawl and looks at us with startling candour. Vigée-Lebrun met and befriended Varvara Nikolaevna Golovina (1766–1821) in Russia in the late 1790s during the artist’s exile from revolutionary France. She described Golovina as a ‘charming woman’ who … Read more
A Mother and Child by the Sea Dresden, 1840 Oil on canvas 21 x 31 cm A mother and child welcome home a fishing boat, presumably containing the child’s father. The combination of the magical light effect and the fact that so much remains hidden encourages different interpretations. Dahl’s father was a fisherman in Norway … Read more
Jockeys Before the Race Paris, exhibited 1879 Oil, essence, bodycolour and pastel on paper 107.3 x 73.7 cm Degas’ racing pictures generally concentrate on the undramatic moments before the start. Here, the starting-post bisects the composition, creating an instantaneous effect, suggestive of a snapshot. Figures and horses are obscured, cut by the frame and shown … Read more
The Urban Landscape as Photographic Panorama ‘The Urban Landscape’ is the theme for this year’s project. Now in its third year, the Barber Institute’s photographic competition Function III, in collaboration with Birmingham Institute of Art and Design (BIAD), showcases the best young, creative talent. The theme also incorporates our exciting new exhibition Cityscapes: Panoramic Views … Read more
Sarah Taylor Silverwood The city and its relationship between humans and architecture are the starting point for Sarah Taylor Silverwoods finely detailed drawings and text-based works. Living City refers to the 19th-century idea of the ‘flaneur’ – someone who walks the streets of the city in order to experience it – and the writings of … Read more
