An exhibition showcasing works purchased through the Art Fund International scheme opens at the New Art Gallery, Walsall this Friday, 1 October.
Metropolis is a show bringing together artists whose works all address the phenomenon of the modern urban environment.
Most of the pieces have been acquired through Art Fund International, our £5 million scheme which is bringing the best of contemporary international art to UK public collections.
The New Art Gallery Walsall, Birmingham Museums & Art Gallery and Ikon Gallery, Birmingham form one of the five consortiums taking part in the initiative. Metropolis represents an interim stage in their collecting process.
Featured artists include: Algerian-born Mohamed Bourouissa, Russian artist Semyon Faibisovich, Frankfurt-based Jochem Hendricks, Indian artists Jitish Kallat, Dayanita Singh, Sharmila Samant, Finnish photographer Ola Kolehmainen, Poland-born, Palermo based Aleksandra Mir,Chinese artist Zhang Enli and Italian artist Grazia Toderi.
We set up Art Fund International in 2007, when we allocated five museums £1m each to spend on acquiring outstanding works of contemporary international art. Each museum presented us with a clear collecting strategy and have been given a five-year period in which to acquire works that fit their chosen theme. The collecting period ends in 2012.
www.artfund.org
