Study visit: Joseph Beuys

Leeds City Art Gallery has recently reopened after major (£4.5million) refurbishment and on Saturday 9 December tutor Bryan Eccleshall will be leading a wide-ranging study visit to see how it looks.
Of particular interest is how the collection – familiar to many OCA students – has been rehung in the spaces. A large and colourful wall painting — Xanadu by Lothar Götz — has been installed on the Victorian staircase and, from the glimpse I caught of it a few weeks ago, it looks wonderful.
A large glass roof — hidden for forty years — has been revealed and within that space is one of the well-regarded ‘artist’s rooms’. Showing here is a collection of works by German artist Joseph Beuys.
Beuys died in 1986 at the height of his powers; a unique and influential figure in post-war European art. However, he’s a tricky artist to encounter as his work exists between performance, sculpture, and drawing. Seeing a collection of his works is a great way to get a grip on his approach to making art. Works relate to one another and motifs and materials are used like a language across his oeuvre. If you have an interest in alchemy, environmentalism, sculpture, art and society, or politics, then this is an important show.
Also showing are works from the permanent collection and there’ll be time to look at and discuss these pieces, some of which are like old friends.
To reserve your place please email enquiries@oca.ac.uk or alternatively to request a place on a study visit please click here and complete the form.
Image Credit: Leeds City Art Gallery, Joseph Beuys Joseph Beuys for the cover of Wirtschaftswoche [Business Week] 43/76 1976. ARTIST ROOMS National Galleries of Scotland and Tate. Acquired jointly through The d’Offay Donation with assistance from the National Mermorial Fund and Art Fund 2009. © DACS 2017. Photo © National Galleries of Scotland (Antonia Reeve).

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