Bridget Riley

Paintings from the 1980’s to 1994 by one of the UK’s foremost international artists explore the primary sensations of colour and light in an ever changing natural world in this, Bridget Riley’s first solo exhibition in the North West for twenty years.

Bridget Riley is, without a doubt, one of the leading internationally renowned abstract artists of our times. She first came to international prominence in the 1960’s and remains a leading influence on the new generation of contemporary artists today.

Her track record of exhibitions is outstanding. She has shown at the Museum of Modern Art, New York and was the first woman ever to represent Britain at the Venice Biennale (1968), the internationally prestigious arts exposition. The British Council has undertaken a retrospective international tour of her work to Japan, the USA and Australia. More recently, she has showed at the Hayward Gallery (South Bank Centre), London. Bridget Riley is also the subject of many national and international publications, articles and reviews.

Her exhibition at Castlefield Gallery will be her first solo exhibition in the North of England for the last 20 years.

Bridget Riley has taken the decision to show at the Castlefield Galley for a number of reasons. Our credentials of exhibiting well known artists over the last 10 years (Sir Anthony Car, Henry Moore and Patrick Heron for example) are an important factor. The quality of experience that Castlefield offers as a relaxed and informal environment is perfect for a focused show of her work.

There is also Bridget’s ongoing commitment to the principle of artist-run spaces that attracts her to Castlefield Gallery and the more attractive timely exposure of her work to the maximum Northern audience both during the Manchester Festival as well as the start of student term.

Bridget Riley’s exhibition at Castlefield Gallery serves to consolidate our reputation as a leading contemporary art space both regionally and nationally. The implications of this exhibition however, go beyond that of the exhibition itself. It serves to endorse the younger, emerging artists working in the North West region that Castlefield Gallery is committed to show and this in turn creates important regional benefits. The interest the exhibition is already attracting from the Manchester public and from other arts and commercial organisations is considerable.