An art gallery interior featuring three artworks. On the left, a large dark green abstract painting; in the centre, a colourful geometric sculpture resembling a campfire; on the right, a vibrant triangular painting with stripes. The space is bright and minimalistic.

Kaleidoscope: Colour and Sequence in 1960s British Art

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About Kaleidoscope: Colour and Sequence in 1960s British Art

Shown together in this exhibition, these works create a visual feast of colour and form and look as fresh and dynamic as they did some 50 years ago.

- Jill Constantine, Arts Council Collection

Bringing together outstanding examples of painting and sculpture from the Arts Council Collection and other major UK collections,  Kaleidoscope examined 1960s visual art through a fresh and surprising lens.

British art of the 1960s is often noted for its bold, artificial colour, alluring surfaces and capricious shapes and forms, yet these exuberant qualities are often underpinned by a clearly apparent order, founded on repetition, sequence and symmetry.

Kaleidoscope represented the work of over 20 artists including David Annesley, Anthony Caro, Robyn Denny, Tess Jaray, Phillip King, Kim Lim, Jeremy Moon, Mary Martin, Bridget Riley, Tim Scott, Richard Smith, William Tucker and William Turnbull. Curated with the writer and curator, Sam Cornish, the exhibition offered fresh insight into a period of British art which has attracted surprisingly little critical attention. Beyond its art historical significance, the idea of repetition and symmetry is immediately accessible to a wide audience. Together the works created a visually arresting display and a feast of colour and form in the gallery. 

  • A spacious gallery features three contemporary sculptures: a red zigzag structure, a large blue circular form, and a sleek white angular piece. A black and white abstract artwork hangs on the wall, with large windows revealing a green landscape outside.
  • A spacious art gallery featuring three abstract artworks. On the left, a large green and black painting; in the centre, an orange sculptural bench; and on the right, a colourful geometric piece with layered shapes. The floor is polished concrete.
  • A spacious art gallery featuring various contemporary artworks. On the walls, there are colourful paintings and geometric designs. In the centre, a blue sculpture and an orange rectangular platform add to the modern aesthetic of the space.

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